Avachinsky Volcano from Space {Photo of the Day}

This photo of the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia, highlighting the volcanoes Avachinsky and Kozelsky, was taken by a member of the Expedition 27 crew on board the International Space Station.

The image shows the Avachinsky volcano to the left, reaching 2,741 metres (8,993 feet) into the sky and carrying an extensive historical and geological record of eruptions.

The Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia, located along the Pacific “ring of fire,” includes more than 100 volcanoes, and though none are currently believed to be active or erupting, they are still considered a dangerous range of volcanoes, due to their propensity for eruptions in the past and their proximity to populated areas. The city of Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka, is only located approximately 25 kilometers (15 miles) to the southwest, and is itself built on 30,000–40,000 year old debris deposits from an avalanche that originated at Avachinsky. Such historical data suggests that the city could be subject to a similar event in the future.

Source: NASA Earth Observatory

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