Valley of Geysers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Valley of Geysers |
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The Valley of Geysers as of September 2006, before the mudflow
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 Location in Kamchatka Krai
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| Location | Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia |
| Coordinates | 54°25′52″N 160°08′20″E / 54.431°N 160.139°E |
The Valley of Geysers (Russian: Долина гейзеров) is an amazing place in Russia. It is found on the Kamchatka Peninsula. This valley is famous for having many geysers. In fact, it has the second largest number of geysers in the whole world!
A geyser is like a natural water fountain. It shoots hot water and steam high into the air. The Valley of Geysers is about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long. It has around ninety geysers and many hot springs. Hot springs are pools of warm water heated by the Earth.
This special valley is part of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve. This reserve is also a World Heritage Site. That means it is a very important natural place that needs to be protected. Getting to the Valley of Geysers is tricky. Most people arrive by helicopter because it is so remote.
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Discovering the Geysers
The amazing geysers of Kamchatka were first found in 1941. A local scientist named Tatyana Ustinova discovered them. She wrote about her findings fourteen years later.
For a while, not many people explored the area. But in the mid-1970s, a full study of the valley began. Scientists even set up a system to watch the geysers automatically in 1990.
Over thirty geysers in the valley were given names. One of the most famous is the Giant geyser, or Velikan. This powerful geyser can shoot water up to 40 meters (130 feet) high! That's as tall as a 10-story building!
A Popular Tourist Spot
Starting in the 1980s, the Valley of Geysers became a popular place to visit. It was promoted as a top tourist spot in the Soviet Union. People from all over the country wanted to see it.
In 1991, foreign tourists were also allowed to visit the valley. About 3,000 tourists came to see the geysers each year. It was a truly unique natural wonder for everyone to enjoy.
The 2007 Mudflow Event
On June 3, 2007, a huge mudflow happened in the valley. A mudflow is like a very thick river of mud and rocks. This mudflow covered about two-thirds of the Valley of Geysers.
Many people were sad about this event. The World Heritage Site organization was also very concerned. A spokesperson from the World Wide Fund for Nature said it was a "tragic" event.
After the mudflow, a new thermal lake started to form in the valley. This lake covered some of the geysers. The mudflow happened while a documentary called Wild Russia was being filmed. So, there is footage showing the valley before and after the event.
The Valley's Recovery
Even though the mudflow was big, the valley started to recover. Scientists found that the damage might not be as bad as first thought. By June 9, 2007, the water in the new lake had gone down. This showed some of the geysers that were covered.
The famous Velikan (Giant) Geyser was not buried by the mudflow. It has been seen erupting again! This shows that nature can be very strong and can recover even after big changes. The Valley of Geysers continues to be a special place.
