In News:

The Krasheninnikov volcano, located in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, recently erupted for the first time in recorded history. The eruption followed a nearby magnitude 8.8 earthquake and released ash plumes reaching 20,000 ft (≈6,000 m) into the atmosphere. Authorities issued an “orange” aviation hazard code due to potential risks to air traffic.

About Krasheninnikov Volcano

• Type: Active stratovolcano (composite volcano).
• Height: ~1,856–1,886 m.
• Structure: Formed within a 9 km wide collapsed caldera created by a massive eruption ~39,600 years ago that expelled 50 cubic km of dacitic pumice.
• Cones: Contains two eruptive cones; the southern cone has an 800 m wide, 140 m deep crater.
• Past Activity: Last known eruption occurred ~400–600 years ago.

Kamchatka Peninsula – Volcanic Hotspot

• Lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, one of the world’s most seismically active zones.
• Home to 114 Holocene volcanoes (eruptions recorded in the last ~12,000 years).
• Known for frequent explosive eruptions due to subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate.

Stratovolcano – Key Features

• Steep, conical structure with alternating layers of lava and pyroclastic deposits.
• Typically found above subduction zones (e.g., Pacific Ring of Fire).
• Characterized by explosive eruptions due to viscous andesite/dacite lavas that trap gases.
• Account for about 60% of Earth’s volcanoes.
• Example: Mount Fuji (Japan), Mount Vesuvius (Italy), Mount St. Helens (USA).

Significance of 2025 Eruption

• First recorded activity of Krasheninnikov highlights the unpredictability of dormant volcanoes.
• Demonstrates the link between major seismic events and volcanic eruptions in tectonically active zones.
• Raises concerns for aviation safety, regional ecology, and monitoring of Ring of Fire volcanism.