Ebeko Volcano

Ebeko rises to 1,156 metres at the northern end of Paramushir, seven kilometres from Severo-Kurilsk, and it is among the most consistently active volcanoes in the chain - explosions throwing ash several kilometres up occur in bursts lasting months, and the town is dusted regularly and has its water supply affected by acid runoff from the mountain. It is also unusually accessible for an active volcano: a walk or a short off-road drive from town leads to a crater complex with several vents, fumarole fields, sulphur deposits and acid lakes coloured yellow-green and turquoise by dissolved minerals. That combination - easy access and genuine activity - is exactly the risk, since ash bursts happen without warning and the fumarole gas is dangerous in still air. Paramushir sits in a border zone requiring permits, reached by helicopter or ship from Kamchatka, both weather-dependent.

What you actually see

• The crater complex - several vents with fumarole fields and sulphur deposits.
• The acid lakes - yellow-green and turquoise water coloured by dissolved minerals.
• The activity - ash explosions occurring in bursts, dusting the town below.
• The access - a walk or short drive from Severo-Kurilsk to an active volcano.

When to go

July to September. A day from Severo-Kurilsk. Check the volcano's alert status - it closes during eruptive episodes.

Honest expectations

Ash explosions occur without warning and the mountain is closed at times - check the status rather than assuming. Volcanic gas in the crater is genuinely hazardous in still conditions. Getting to Paramushir needs border permits and weather-dependent transport from Kamchatka.

Nearby

Severo-Kurilsk is the only town; Onekotan and Krenitsyn are south.