🌋VolcanoAtlas

Sheveluch

Kamchatka’s Explosive Dome-Building Giant

Elevation

3,283 m

Last Eruption

1999–present (ongoing)

Type

Stratovolcano

Country

Russia

Location

Loading map...

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • 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 Activity27 years agoRecentRecently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Watch
Dormant but monitored. Capable of renewed activity.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All Russia Volcanoes
Explore by country
Stratovolcano Volcanoes
By volcano type
Kamchatka Peninsula
Regional volcanoes

Other Volcanoes in Russia

Interesting Facts

🌋

Sheveluch has produced at least 17 eruptions of VEI 5 or greater during the Holocene — more large explosive eruptions than almost any other volcano in the world’s geological record.

🌋

The volcano’s estimated volume of 1,300 km³ makes it one of the largest volcanic structures in the entire Kamchatka volcanic arc.

🌋

Sheveluch’s 1964 directed blast devastated approximately 100 km² of landscape, prefiguring the much more famous 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens by 16 years.

🌋

The current eruption, ongoing since August 1999, has persisted for over 25 years — one of the longest continuous dome-building eruptions on Earth.

🌋

Sheveluch’s andesitic tephra layers are used by geologists as critical time markers for dating Holocene events across the entire Kamchatka Peninsula.

🌋

The volcano sits near the junction of the Kamchatka and Aleutian subduction zones, where the Pacific Plate dives beneath the Okhotsk microplate at approximately 8 cm per year.

🌋

Ash plumes from Sheveluch regularly reach 10–15 km altitude, threatening the heavily trafficked North Pacific air corridor between North America and East Asia.

🌋

The 9-km-wide horseshoe caldera was formed by a massive sector collapse during the late Pleistocene, one of the largest such collapses documented in the Kamchatka arc.

🌋

Sheveluch is approximately 65,000 years old, making it one of the older currently active volcanic edifices in Kamchatka.

🌋

The volcano is part of the Volcanoes of Kamchatka UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1996.

🌋

Klyuchi, the nearest settlement at 45 km, occasionally receives ashfall from explosive episodes — particularly during the intense November 2022 paroxysm.

🌋

With 103 documented eruptions, Sheveluch has one of the most prolific eruption records of any volcano in the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program database.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sheveluch still erupting?
Yes, Sheveluch has been in a state of continuous eruption since August 1999, making its current eruptive phase over 25 years in duration. Activity is centered on the Molodoy (Young) Sheveluch lava dome complex, which grows through the slow extrusion of viscous andesitic magma within a 9-km-wide caldera. The dome periodically collapses, generating pyroclastic flows down the southern flank and ash plumes that reach 10–15 km altitude. The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) monitors the volcano continuously and issues regular aviation advisories. Intense explosive episodes occurred in 2022 and 2023, confirming that the eruption remains vigorous.
Where is Sheveluch located?
Sheveluch is located in the northern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula in far-eastern Russia, at coordinates 56.653°N, 161.360°E. It rises above the Central Kamchatka Depression approximately 45 km northeast of the town of Klyuchi (population ~5,000) and roughly 80 km north-northeast of the Klyuchevskoy volcano group. Kamchatka itself is a vast, sparsely populated peninsula extending into the North Pacific Ocean, containing over 90 Holocene volcanoes — one of the densest concentrations of active volcanism anywhere on Earth.
How tall is Sheveluch?
Sheveluch’s highest point is the summit of Stary (Old) Sheveluch at 3,283 m (10,771 ft), though this ancient summit is no longer the site of active volcanism. The active Molodoy (Young) Sheveluch lava dome complex, growing within the 9-km-wide caldera, reaches approximately 2,500 m, though its height changes continuously as new dome material is extruded and removed by collapses. By comparison, neighboring Klyuchevskoy — the tallest active volcano in Eurasia — stands at 4,754 m (15,597 ft), about 80 km to the south.
What type of volcano is Sheveluch?
Sheveluch is classified as a stratovolcano (composite volcano) with an active lava dome complex. It produces predominantly andesitic to basaltic-andesitic magma — more silica-rich and viscous than the basaltic magmas of many other Kamchatka volcanoes — which drives its characteristically explosive eruption behavior. The volcano’s current activity is dominated by dome-building: viscous lava slowly extrudes to form a growing dome, which periodically becomes unstable and collapses catastrophically, generating devastating pyroclastic flows and ash clouds.
Is Sheveluch dangerous to aviation?
Sheveluch poses one of the most significant volcanic aviation hazards in the world. The North Pacific air corridor between North America and East Asia carries hundreds of commercial flights daily, many passing within range of Sheveluch’s ash plumes, which regularly reach altitudes of 10–15 km (33,000–49,000 ft) — directly in the cruising altitude range of commercial aircraft. Volcanic ash can cause catastrophic engine failure in jet aircraft. The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) issues regular Aviation Color Code alerts distributed to international aviation authorities for flight route planning.
What happened during the 1964 Sheveluch eruption?
On November 12, 1964, Sheveluch produced a catastrophic eruption featuring a laterally directed blast that devastated approximately 100 km² of landscape on the volcano’s southern flank. The event involved the collapse of the Molodoy Sheveluch lava dome, triggering a debris avalanche and explosive blast similar to — and 16 years before — the famous 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. The eruption column rose to approximately 15 km altitude and deposited ash across vast areas. The event rated VEI 4 and created the crater in which the current dome has been growing since 1999.
How does Sheveluch compare to Mount St. Helens?
Sheveluch and Mount St. Helens share remarkable similarities: both are andesitic stratovolcanoes that produce dome-building eruptions punctuated by catastrophic directed blasts. Sheveluch’s 1964 directed blast devastated ~100 km², compared to St. Helens’ 1980 blast zone of ~600 km². However, Sheveluch is far more prolific: 103 recorded eruptions versus St. Helens’ 19, and 17 VEI 5 events compared to St. Helens’ 2. Sheveluch is also substantially larger (1,300 km³ volume vs ~75 km³) and taller (3,283 m vs 2,549 m). The key difference is population exposure: Mount St. Helens lies near major American cities, while Sheveluch is in remote Kamchatka.
How many eruptions has Sheveluch had?
Sheveluch has 103 documented eruptions in the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program database, spanning from approximately 8500 BCE to the present ongoing eruption. This makes it one of the most prolifically recorded volcanoes in the world. The eruption record is dominated by moderate to large events: 48 eruptions at VEI 3, 26 at VEI 4, and 17 at VEI 5. Most prehistoric eruptions were identified through tephrochronology — the study of volcanic ash layers preserved in soil and ice across Kamchatka.
Can you visit Sheveluch?
Visiting Sheveluch is possible but extremely challenging. The volcano is in remote northern Kamchatka, approximately 600 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. There are no commercial tourist facilities. Specialized adventure tour operators offer helicopter-supported expeditions providing aerial views of the erupting dome. The nearest settlement, Klyuchi, can be reached by rough road or helicopter. Access to the active dome is restricted due to extreme pyroclastic flow hazard. The best visiting season is July–September.
Why does Sheveluch erupt so explosively?
Sheveluch’s explosive character stems from its andesitic to basaltic-andesitic magma composition, which is more silica-rich and viscous than the basaltic magmas typical of many other Kamchatka volcanoes like Klyuchevskoy. Higher silica content means the magma traps dissolved volcanic gases more effectively. When this gas-rich, viscous magma reaches the surface, the trapped gases expand rapidly, driving explosive fragmentation. Additionally, dome-building creates an inherently unstable structure: as the dome grows, it becomes gravitationally unstable and eventually collapses, exposing pressurized interior magma to sudden decompression.