Kikhpinych

About Kikhpinych

Kikhpinych, the youngest stratovolcano of the Eastern Volcanic Zone of Kamchatka, contains three summits constructed along a roughly E-W line above the eroded Pleistocene Pik volcano, NE of the Uzon caldera. Growth of the modern volcano began during the mid-Holocene about 4,800 years ago with construction of the Zapadny cone. After a long quiescence, the younger Savich cone was built about 1,400 years ago, which included strong explosive activity that destroyed part of the Zapadny and Pik cones. Numerous young lava flows mantle the flanks of Savich; it was last active about 400 years ago, when the Krab lava dome grew on its E flank. Numerous thermal fields are found throughout the complex, including two geysers (now the site of vigorous fumaroles) that were active in the summit crater of Stary Kikhpinych prior to burial by a rockfall avalanche that occurred sometime between September 1981 and July 1982.