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Krasheninnikov

Kamchatka's Twin-Cone Caldera in the Wilderness

Elevation

1,816 m

Last Eruption

2025

Type

Caldera with intra-caldera stratovolcanoes

Country

Russia

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows and surges
  • Large explosive eruptions (VEI 4+)
  • Ash fall and tephra deposits
  • Lahars and debris flows
  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskLow
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity1 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Active
Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

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Interesting Facts

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Krasheninnikov contains two overlapping stratovolcanoes within a single 9 × 10 km caldera — a rare twin-cone configuration.

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The northern cone features a remarkable nested structure: a crater within a crater within a crater, each containing a smaller cone.

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Named after Stepan Krasheninnikov (1711–1755), who wrote the first comprehensive scientific description of the Kamchatka Peninsula.

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The volcano lies within the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to the famous Valley of Geysers.

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Krasheninnikov's 2025 eruption was its first confirmed activity in approximately 500 years.

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The caldera-forming eruption's tephra directly overlies a 39,000-year-old marker layer from nearby Uzon caldera, constraining its age.

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Holocene cinder cone zones extend 15–20 km beyond the caldera, indicating deep structural control along a NE–SW fissure system.

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The southern cone was active for approximately 4,500 years (11,000–6,500 BP) before activity migrated to the northern cone.

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Krasheninnikov is accessible only by helicopter, making it one of the most remote monitored volcanoes in the world.

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The volcano is surrounded by an extraordinary concentration of active volcanoes, including Kronotsky (3,528 m) and the Uzon-Geysernaya caldera.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Krasheninnikov volcano still active?
Yes, Krasheninnikov is classified as active. Its most recent confirmed eruption occurred in 2025 — the first in approximately 500 years. The volcano has produced 32 recorded eruptions over the past 10,000 years, including three VEI 4 events. KVERT (Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team) monitors it through satellite observations and regional seismic networks. The 2025 eruption demonstrates that this volcano can reactivate after long periods of apparent quiescence.
Where is Krasheninnikov volcano?
Krasheninnikov is located in eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, at coordinates 54.596°N, 160.270°E. It lies within the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The volcano is extremely remote — accessible only by helicopter — with no permanent settlements nearby. It is flanked by Kronotsky volcano and the Uzon caldera complex, which hosts the famous Valley of Geysers.
What makes Krasheninnikov geologically unusual?
Krasheninnikov's most distinctive feature is its twin-cone structure: two overlapping stratovolcanoes built within a single 9 × 10 km caldera. The northern cone is particularly remarkable, featuring a nested crater structure — a cone within a crater within a crater. This complexity reflects a long history of constructive and destructive volcanic episodes over thousands of years, with activity migrating from the southern to the northern edifice.
Is Krasheninnikov dangerous?
Krasheninnikov poses minimal direct threat to human populations due to its extreme remoteness within the uninhabited Kronotsky Nature Reserve. However, larger eruptions can produce ash clouds that affect transpacific aviation routes — a concern shared by many Kamchatka volcanoes. The volcano has produced VEI 4 eruptions in the past, demonstrating capacity for significant explosive activity that could generate high-altitude ash plumes.
Who was Krasheninnikov named after?
The volcano is named after Stepan Petrovich Krasheninnikov (1711–1755), a Russian naturalist and explorer who traveled through Kamchatka from 1737 to 1741. His posthumously published work 'Description of the Land of Kamchatka' (1755) was the first comprehensive scientific study of the peninsula and remains a foundational text in Russian geography and natural history.
Can you visit Krasheninnikov volcano?
Krasheninnikov is extremely difficult to visit due to its remote location within the Kronotsky Nature Reserve. Access requires special permits from the reserve administration and helicopter transport from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the regional capital approximately 200 km to the south. Guided expedition tours to the Valley of Geysers and Kronotsky Nature Reserve sometimes include aerial views of Krasheninnikov, but ground visits to the caldera are rare and logistically challenging.