Bakening Volcano

Bakening (Russian: Бакенинг) is an extinct stratovolcano 2,277 meters high in the eastern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, within the Milkovsky municipal district of Kamchatka Krai, at the junction of the Valaginsky and Ganalsky mountain ranges. The volcano is a watershed for three of the peninsula's largest rivers at once: the Kamchatka River, which flows north, the Avacha River, flowing south, and the Bystraya River, flowing west.

Relief and geology

The volcano sits on the rim of an ancient caldera, whose floor holds Lake Ditmar and the source of the Bystraya River. Bakening's relief is cut by deep ravines (barrancos), with jagged ridges and slopes that break off into sharp cliffs. The surface is made up of porous light and brown lavas — amphibole-pyroxene andesite — along with lava and lapilli flows.

History

The volcano used to be called the "Kamchatka Summit" because of its position on the watershed of three peninsula rivers. Its last eruption is thought to have happened more than 2,500 years ago, before our era.

Valley of Seven Lakes

The area around the volcano is known as the Valley of Seven Lakes — a scatter of lakes formed in solidified lava flows. It includes Lake Demidov (Dalneye), Lake Vysokoye, Lake Kostakan, Verkhne-Avachinskoye Lake, Lake Bezymyannoye (also called Medvezhye, "Bear Lake"), Lake Mayskoye and Lake Ditmar inside the caldera. At the volcano's foot, at an elevation of 897 meters, lies another lake also called Bezymyannoye (Medvezhye). Nearby there are hot springs with a comfortable water temperature of 25 to 30 degrees. Vegetation in the area varies from dry, almost desert-like, to lush.

Legends

According to the traditions of Kamchatka's indigenous peoples, spirits ruled by dark forces live on Bakening volcano. Local residents are said to have considered the mountain home to a powerful dark spirit.

Getting there

Bakening volcano is visited as part of multi-day hiking trips across Kamchatka: such tours last around 12 days and cross rugged volcanic terrain. The route allows combining the climb with fishing and bathing in the nearby hot springs.