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thumb|Snow has melted from warm volcanic deposits of ash and rock on the flanks of Shivelyuch on April 23, 2026. Image captured by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on [[Landsat 9.]]

Shiveluch (), also called Sheveluch, which originates from the name "suelich" which means "smoking mountain" in Itelmen, is the northernmost active volcano in Kamchatka Krai, Russia. It and Karymsky are Kamchatka's largest, most active and most continuously erupting volcanoes, as well as one of the most active on the planet. Shiveluch erupts around of magma per year, which causes frequent and large hot avalanches and lava dome formations at the summit. Volcanic ash emissions from this volcano often disrupt air traffic connecting the Asian and North American continents.

Geography

Shiveluch belongs to the Kliuchevskaya volcano group, located in central Kamchatka northwest of Ust-Kamchatsk. The nearest settlement from the volcano is Klyuchi, situated from the mountain. The settlement is small enough to evacuate rapidly in case of a major eruption. Shiveluch is one of Kamchatka's largest and most active volcanic structures.

Geologic history

Shiveluch began forming about 60,000 to 70,000 years ago during the Late Pleistocene, and it has had at least 60 large eruptions during the Holocene. Chemically a full spectrum of subduction-zone lava types occur: basalt, mafic andesite, two-pyroxene andesite, hornblende-hypersthene andesite, hornblende andesite, hornblende dacite, rhyolite.

Modern activity

Catastrophic eruptions took place in 1854 and 1964, when a large part of the lava dome collapsed and created a devastating debris avalanche.

April 2023 eruption

Since mid-2022, volcanologists were expecting an imminent large eruption of Shiveluch due to the unstable state of its lava dome. A strong eruption occurred on 11 April 2023 at 00.54 local time. A progressive increase in activity was observed since 28 March in the form of continued extrusion, fumarole activity, and ash emissions. During the initial paroxysmal explosive phase on 11 April, the volcano ejected a cloud of volcanic gas and ash that reached a height of and spread over an area of . Because the height of the eruption columns reached the stratosphere, 200,000 tons of sulfur dioxide were released into the upper atmosphere. Since 12 April, the activity of the volcano decreased, but the eruption continued in the form of ash ejections of lower intensity and height, and strong fumarole activity continued. Infra-red satellite images on 16 April showed that the volcano is forming a new lava dome inside its new crater.

2024 eruptions

On 18 August 2024 an eruption of Shiveluch occurred following a magnitude 7.0 earthquake off the coast of Kamchatka Krai, sending an ash cloud high, and with a length of heading east and southeast. A "code red" warning was issued for aircraft in the area.

Another eruption happened on November 7, 2024 evening. In the morning the volcano was quiet, there were no damages, and the level of volcanic ash settled in populated areas was les than 1mm. After that the volcano was quiet until May 2025.

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Image:Shiveluch activity (ash plume), 2012-11-06.png|Activity on 6 November 2012

Image:Jan 2011 Activity at Shiveluch Volcano.jpg|The heat signature of a pyroclastic flow on Shiveluch in January 2011

Image:Feb 2011 Pyroclastic Flow Remnants at Shiveluch Volcano.jpg|This false-colour satellite image shows the remnants of a large pyroclastic flow on the slopes of Shiveluch.

Image:2010 Activity at Shiveluch Volcano.jpg|Activity on 7 September 2010

Image:Volcanic Plume over Shiveluch Volcano 2010-02-13.jpg|Activity on 13 February 2010

Image:Shiveluch activity, 2009-10-03.jpg|Activity on 3 October 2009

Image:Plume from Shiveluch Volcano.jpg|Shiveluch releases a small plume of vapour, 2009

Image:Shiveluch eruption.jpg|Activity on 9 May 2004

Image:Sheveluch, Kamchatka.jpeg|Activity (red dot) on 17 September 2002

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Notes

References

  • Early 2023 eruptions at Shiveluch & Bezymianny. NASA Earth Observatory images & commentary, April 12, 2023
  • Shiveluch at map
  • Webcam of Shiveluch
  • Shiveluch activity at official site of Institute Volcanology and Seismology DVO RAS
  • Article about volcano at official site
  • Shiveluch at Global Volcanism Program
  • Shiveluch at Volcano Live
  • Article about volcano Shiveluch
  • Google Maps satellite image