In Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, a region renowned for its spectacular and untamed wilderness, authorities have reopened several major tourist destinations. The “Volcanoes of Kamchatka” nature park network announced that travelers can once again access iconic routes within the South Kamchatka Nature Park, including the Gorely volcano, its vast caves, the dramatic Opasny Canyon, and the trail leading to the base of the formidable Mutnovsky volcano.
These popular sites were abruptly closed to the public on July 30 as a critical safety precaution following a powerful earthquake. The seismic event, with its epicenter in the Pacific Ocean, sent shockwaves across the region, registering tremors of up to 8 points on the nearby Northern Kuril Islands. The quake triggered a tsunami threat for both Kamchatka and the North Kuril district, where a state of emergency was declared after four successive waves caused damage to port infrastructure.
Following a period of stabilization and thorough safety assessments, authorities have deemed the area safe for the public to return. Transportation links, including sea and helicopter services in the heavily impacted Severo-Kurilsk, have been fully restored, and the local port has resumed normal operations. The reopening of the tourist trails was positioned as a final step in the region’s return to normalcy after the natural disaster.
However, this return is overshadowed by a stark new warning from scientists. Just as tourists are being welcomed back, volcanologists in Kamchatka have detected a significant “thermal anomaly” at the Mutnovsky volcano, signaling a dangerous increase in its internal activity. Citing this and recent seismic shifts, experts have elevated the volcano’s aviation alert code to “Yellow,” indicating a state of unrest.
The Kamchatka Branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences issued an unusually blunt statement, declaring that visiting the Mutnovsky volcano is now considered “EXTREMELY DANGEROUS” and is “categorically not recommended.” The scientific body urged all tourists and local guides to treat the information with utmost seriousness and strictly adhere to the new safety protocols, creating a perilous paradox for adventurers drawn to the region’s volatile beauty.