Kamchatka. On another planet

• Kamchatka. On another planet

Kamchatka - this is pure space. Here you can easily represent a pioneer of distant planets. Volcanic activity is not just radically reshapes the landscape. But also creates a feeling of being somewhere on Mars. And if you imagine that the landscape before my eyes for a second can change beyond recognition, it adds a little peppercorn.

Our journey began with exploring the surrounding area Tolbachik volcano. And there is something to see - fresh lava fields, unique dead wood with emerald moss, lots of lava cones. And it all looks made a space.

Introduction of the lava field. A few years ago, still seething here. Damn I envy those who saw it live. I wonder how the residents of Kamchatka feel when near them always something bahkaet explodes? Force of habit, most likely.

Then began a clean space - cinder cones in the area of ​​the Big Tolbachik fissure eruption. I was not in Iceland, but the scenery something reminded the pictures seen on the network.

Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption took place in two stages - first North, then South breakthrough. We went up to the North breakthrough. This much - to see how the lava dug longest track on the slope. And on top of the cone in the cracks still hot - if you poke a stick into the stones, it is a couple of minutes will light up. And it was necessary to carefully choose where to put the backpack. Otherwise, all melted to hell.

Panorama Northern breakthrough. In the center one can see the lava river, pushed down the slope.

Now imagine this place during his activity. I would not want is on the path of the lava. Great Tolbachik Fissure eruption occurred from 9:45 July 6, 1975. The first stage (Northern break), during which the eruption occurred 18 km south-west of Flat Tolbachik, ended September 15, 1975. He was accompanied by the formation of three large and four smaller cinder cones, and a powerful 15 less intense lava flows. Education cinder cone passed the following scenario: earthquakes, the appearance of cracks, from which later began to spurt pyroclastics, even later growth begins cinder cone.

The first cinder cone operated from July 6 to August 9, completing the work of white ash emissions and reaching a height of 330 meters. He was named volcano Gorshkov, in honor of the Soviet volcanologist. During the eruption of lightning, thunder, observed Elmo lights. The second cone appeared almost immediately after the termination of the first close to him and worked until 15 September, after rising to a height of 300 meters and terminate outpourings of liquid lava. Third cone originated August 17 about second and continued to operate until August 25, reaching 150-meter height.

Landscapes just space.

between the cone visible long established in the years of the road on which the tourists carry large KAMAZ.

In the off somewhere to be our base camp! Already in the territory of Deadwood.

Several helicopters circled over the cones and was setting somewhere among the dead trees.

The camp pitched in the parking lot "Helicopter" where in 1975 made an emergency landing Mi-4, whose tail is still sticking out of the volcanic soil.

This is a dramatic place appeared during an eruption in 1975, when the slag and ash clouds filled the taiga forest. Multimeter layer of volcanic ash has covered while a large part of the forest, and all the vegetation was lost because of its abrasive action from the outside. From green trees after the eruption were only black skeletons, and the area has received eloquent name "Dead wood".

In Soviet times, 8 kilometers from the Dead forests closer to the foot of the volcano Flat Tolbachik was a "base Lunohodchik", she base "Leningrad". It was a training ground, where experienced Rover-1 and Lunokhod-1, there is a real volcanic desert, and relief, as well as soil conditions are really very similar to the moon.

The weather was very harsh - the sky billowing rain clouds closing slope Tolbachik. Actually it should be visible right behind this tree. An interesting play of light among the skeletons of trees.

was something unimaginable in the sky! But the sun quickly hidden in the clouds and the hopes of the sunset melting ...

And then, on the border day and night sky blazed! And so fast it went, it was possible to make a couple of shots. Light attracted waves, clouds pouring red. And along with it came a slanting rain, pouring water lens. You would know how much effort has been expended to ensure that clear photos of the traces of drops!