Beauty of the Valley of the Geysers: Before and After Landslide on June 3, 2007

Abstract

Kamchatka is a huge natural museum of volcanology; its exhibits are active and extinct volcanoes as well as different associated formations, including geysers, fumaroles, and thermal springs, as shown in Figure 1. Dangerous slope processes such as landfalls and landslides are rather frequent phenomena for the present-day hydrothermal fields of Kamchatka. Formations of various scale and age are recognized there as being resultant of landfalls and landslides. Thus, the large landslide on June 3, 2007 (pictured in Figure 2) is not a unique phenomenon for the Valley of the Geysers. This natural catastrophe has strongly changed the Valley of the Geysers landscape: Geyizernaya River is now dammed up by landslide depositions, and as a result a new lake has been formed and some of the geysers have been destroyed. Nevertheless, the Valley of the Geysers still remains one of the main objects of ecological tourism in Kamchatka. The Valley of the Geysers is also part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site Volcanoes of Kamchatka.
The photos taken in the Valley of the Geysers in different years before and after the landside on June 3, 2007 are presented in this report as examples of the environmental impact of the landslide. The main information on the landslide is briefly summarized here as well.
The unique and complex landscape of the Valley of the Geysers did not become less interesting for visitors. A picturesque lake has appeared here, as well as nearly vertical parts of dislocation plane on the caldera slope (wall length - 800 m, height - about 150 m). Thes and other results of catastrophic landslide are displayed in Figures 3-13.