Sarychev Peak

Sarytschew volcano on the island of Matua, view from the south of Raikoke

The Sarytschew (Russian вулкан Сарычева, Sarytschew Volcano ) is a stratovolcano on the Kuril island of Matua in the Far East of Russia. The volcano is geologically relatively young and shows a very symmetrical cone assembly.

The mountain was named after the explorer and officer in the Imperial Russian Navy Gavriil Sarytschew ( 1763-1831 ).

The volcano Sarytschew, one of the most active volcanoes in the Kuril Islands, dominates the north-western part of the island of Matua. The andesitic central crater was formed in a caldera with a diameter of 3 to 3.5 km. Younger lava flows and deposits of pyroclastic flows cover all sides of the volcano. Eruptions have been observed since 1760, with explosive eruptions alternated with quieter Lavaaustritten. The largest historical eruption of the volcano occurred in 1946, with the pyroclastic flows reached the coast.

On 12 June 2009 a new outbreak of the volcano began with the discharge huge clouds of ash. Because the volcano is near international air routes between East Asia and North America, the air traffic was partially obstructed.