Kurile Islands, July 2019: sea Impressions from Alaid, Chikurachki, Fuss, Kharimkotan Volcanoes

Kurile Islands, July 2019: sea impressions from Alaid, Chikurachki, Fuss, Kharimkotan volcanoes

Impressions from our pilot tour to the northern Kurile Islands: from Atlasof Island we spend a full day and night sailing to reach Raikoke the following day.

We leave Atlasof Island with Alaid volcano shredded in low clouds. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Alaid, tallest peak of the Kuriles, dresses itself majestically in rings of clouds. (Photo: Tom Pfei... [info]
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Otherwise, the passage between Atlasof and the western coast of Paramushir Island is in fine weather... [info]
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View back to Alaid, still with rings of clouds around it. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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As we approach Paramushir Island, the tall peaks of Chikurachki (l) and Fuss (r) volcanoes come into... [info]
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Chikurachki volcano, one of the most active in the Kuriles, is emitting a plume of steam and possibl... [info]
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Zoom towards the summit of 1816 m tall Chikurachki with its steam-/gas- plume. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Wider angle of Chikurachiki near the Shelihov Bay. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Shelihov Bay, with remnants of a former settlement. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Soelve photographing birds with his large tele lens. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The complex structure of Chikurachki volcano composed of overlapping volcanic edifices. (Photo: Tom ... [info]
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Closer view to Chikurachki volcano from the W. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Erosion valleys on the slopes of the volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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We're continuing sailing southwards along the western coast of Paramushir Island. (Photo: Tom Pfeiff... [info]
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A seagull decides to follow us. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Its eyes observe what is going on on deck. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Something grabbed its attention during flight. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Close-up (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Chikurachki volcano (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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... and our new friend. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Part of our group is enjoying the great views and amused by the seagull. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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We approach the southern part of Paramushir, dominated by Fuss stratovolcano (1772 m) which forms a ... [info]
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Fuss volcano seen from the west. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Wider angle view of Fuss volcano and older volcanic mountains in the left background. (Photo: Tom Pf... [info]
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Older volcanic ranges on Paramushir Island NE of Fuss volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The crater of Fuss volcano is breached to the NW and contains a young-looking lava dome, possibly fr... [info]
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We slowly sail around the volcano now seen from the SW. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Wider angle view of Fuss Peak volcano from the SW. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Flank of Fuss volcano, showing a thick lava flow layer cut by erosion canyons. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View back to Fuss volcano (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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As we continue southwards, we leave Fuss volcano behind, but our seagull friend stays with us. (Phot... [info]
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Not before long, it decides to use the boat as a ferry. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The seagull will sit still and travel with us for quite a while, effectively saving several miles of... [info]
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The next day in the evening, after Raikoke, we reach Kharimkotan, a large volcano, which forms a 8x1... [info]
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The upper half of the volcano is still covered by thick ash deposits from the catastrophic eruption ... [info]
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The 1933 eruption of Kharimkotan had destroyed the former summit cone of the volcano. (Photo: Tom Pf... [info]
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Sea bird colony near the shore of Kharimkotan. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Ashy slopes of Kharimkotan in the warm evening light. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Kharimkotan at sunset. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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