"Devil with horns" that erupts a huge river smoke: Stratovulkan in Russia showed activity

In focus. Technology has appeared its Telegram channel. Subscribe not to miss the latest and most intrusive news from the world of science! The amazing shot was taken by the NASA Aqua satellite during a particularly active eruption phase, which lasted from June 22 to December 31, 2023. The sudden burst of activity led to the release of two streams of lava in the form of horns and a giant pillar of smoke, ash and toxic gases, which temporarily paralyzed air traffic in the area.

According to researchers from the NASA Earth Observatory, a pillar of smoke reached a maximum height of 12 kilometers and stretched more than 1600 kilometers across the Pacific. It should be noted that the colors in the picture are distorted: the streams of lava were reinforced by infrared radiation so that they could be easier to see, and the clouds surrounding the volcano were given a blue tint to be easier to distinguish them from eruption.

Klyuchevsky volcano is an active stratovolkan on Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, where there are more than three hundred volcanoes. The peak of Klyuchevsky volcano is located at an altitude of 4754 meters above sea level, which makes it the highest in Europe and Asia, according to the program for the study of the Global Volcanism of the Smithson Institute.

According to the Global Volcanism Study Program since the beginning of the 21st century, the volcano has already survived at least 18 different phases of eruption, and in the last century its peak has been erupted more than 60 times. The last eruption phase of this majestic mountain began in April 2025 and continues, although volcanic activity has decreased by May.

Interestingly, Klyuchevsky volcano is located in the immediate vicinity of the volcanic nameless - the smaller volcano size of about 3000 meters in height. The adjacent volcano is less active than Klyuchevsky, and before the 1955 eruption was considered extinct. Since then, he has erupted several times. There are four more volcanoes from Klyuchevsky 32 kilometers from Klyuchevsky: they are all relatively young - formed over the last 10,000 years.