Valley of Death

The Valley of Death (Dolina Smerti) is an anomalous site inside the Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve in Kamchatka, at the foot of the active Kikhpinych volcano. It lies in the headwaters of the Geyzernaya River, 7 kilometers from the famous Valley of Geysers, in the Yelizovsky district of Kamchatka Krai. The site stretches about 2 kilometers, is 100 to 500 meters wide, and sits at roughly 850 meters above sea level. The place is known for animals regularly dying after wandering into a zone of poisonous volcanic gas.

History

The valley was discovered on July 28, 1975, by volcanologists Vladimir Leonov and Viktor Deryagin, who were surveying the canyon of the Geyzernaya River and came upon whole graveyards of birds and animals among the rocks. Three days later, on July 31, a group led by forest ranger Vladimir Kalyaev of the Semyachik forestry reached the same spot from the opposite side. Scientists determined that the animals were dying from toxic gases rising through volcanic fissures — fumaroles at the base of Kikhpinych.

From 1975 to 1983, reserve staff and expedition members studied the valley and collected about 200 carcasses of animals, birds and insects. By their count, 12 mammal species and 13 bird species died there, and more than 25 bears have perished since the valley was discovered. Carcasses of wolverines, foxes, Steller's sea eagles, and even lynxes and wolves — rare for the area — have also been found.

Explanations

Volcanologists explain the deaths by hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and other toxic compounds that escape from ground fissures, produced by Kikhpinych's volcanic activity. The heavy gases form a layer 30 to 50 centimeters above the ground, displacing normal air. High concentrations of hydrogen sulfide can paralyze the respiratory center within a few breaths, while carbon dioxide causes suffocation.

Animals die mainly in the warm season, from May to October, when the valley is free of snow. Thermal spots thaw earlier than the surrounding snow, creating bare patches where gas accumulates — and these patches draw the first migrating birds of spring looking for open ground. Small animals and low-flying birds lose consciousness and drop almost instantly. Large predators such as bears die while scavenging carcasses: each dead animal becomes bait for the next one. When reserve staff remove bodies promptly, this chain is broken and the death toll drops.

Local legends say that shamans once cursed the place for the desecration of a sacred site, and that the valley is home to evil spirits guarding their domain from intruders. There are also stories of a giant underground serpent whose poisonous breath is said to taint the air around it. No human deaths have been officially recorded in the Valley of Death, though visitors have reported dizziness, nausea and weakness.

The Kamchatka valley is not unique: a similar Death Gulch was described in Yellowstone National Park as early as 1888, and releases of volcanic and underground gas caused mass human deaths on the island of Java in 1979 and at Lake Nyos in Cameroon in 1986.

Getting there and practical notes

The Valley of Death lies within the strict-access zone of the Kronotsky Reserve, and independent visits are forbidden. The only way in is an organized tour, usually by helicopter, with the reserve's permission; a request stating the date, purpose and means of travel must be filed with the reserve in advance. Visitors are only allowed to view the valley from an observation point at a safe distance; the excursion lasts 40 to 60 minutes and requires no special physical fitness. Moving through the valley itself is restricted and possible only with specialists equipped with protective gear and gas detectors. The route is not recommended for people with joint, cardiovascular or respiratory conditions. Access to the route may be temporarily limited in May and June.