Hephaestus Mud Volcano (Temryuk)

The Hephaestus mud volcano, also called Mount Hephaestus and known locally as Gnilaya Gora ("Rotten Mountain"), is an active mud volcano on the eastern edge of Temryuk in Krasnodar Krai, on the Taman Peninsula in southern Russia. It is one of the best-known spots in the area for mud baths: volcanic mud bubbles up in its crater all year round.

History

The volcano is named after Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire and the forge. The folk name Rotten Mountain refers to the loose, unstable soil of the hill. It became widely known after a major eruption in February 1815. In the 19th century the first mud bath for soldiers was built at its foot, but a strong eruption destroyed it in 1902.

What to see

The volcano is a truncated cone about 67 metres above sea level. Its main crater, roughly 23 by 13 metres, is filled with dark grey mud through which gas bubbles rise. The mud ranges from grey and bluish grey to greenish, and stays at about 22 °C.

The mud contains iodine, bromine, boron, selenium, sulphur compounds and carbon dioxide, and has long been used for treatment: it is believed to help with inflammation and to be good for the skin. In the mud bath the body barely sinks, which feels almost like weightlessness. Afterwards visitors rinse off in the showers or, more often, in the nearby lake.

Legends

In antiquity, when Greek colonists lived on the Taman Peninsula, there was a belief that the entrance to Hades lay somewhere here. The bubbling craters and the smell of underground gases kept the legend alive.

Getting there

The volcano is in Temryuk, near 2/1 Peschany Lane. From the town centre you can take a taxi or a minibus and walk the last stretch. By car you can drive to the foot of the hill, where there is a car park. Organised tours also run here from Anapa and other Taman resorts.

Good to know

Entry is paid, and according to travel guides the season runs from May to September. There are showers, left-luggage lockers and a cafe by the volcano. The ground around the crater is unstable, so keep to the prepared paths. Bring an old swimsuit, a towel and water: the mud is hard to wash out of clothes.