A column of "stones," ash, and gas was erupted to 6-7 km height on 25 March, following a series of earthquakes the preceding day. Subsequent explosions on 25 and 31 March sent tephra clouds to 15 km altitude and caused heavy ashfall. No damage has occurred to populated areas. The present activity at Bezymianny, which last erupted March 1965-March 1970, is reportedly the strongest since the great eruption of 1955-57.

Further Reference. Bogoyavlenskaya, G.E., Ivanov, B.V., Budnikov, V.A., and Andreev, V.N., 1979, The eruption of Bezymianny volcano in 1977: Byull. Vulkanol. Stn., no. 57, p. 16-25.

Geological Summary. The modern Bezymianny, much smaller than its massive neighbors Kamen and Kliuchevskoi on the Kamchatka Peninsula, was formed about 4,700 years ago over a late-Pleistocene lava-dome complex and an edifice built about 11,000-7,000 years ago. Three periods of intensified activity have occurred during the past 3,000 years. The latest period, which was preceded by a 1,000-year quiescence, began with the dramatic 1955-56 eruption. This eruption, similar to that of St. Helens in 1980, produced a large open crater that was formed by collapse of the summit and an associated lateral blast. Subsequent episodic but ongoing lava-dome growth, accompanied by intermittent explosive activity and pyroclastic flows, has largely filled the 1956 crater.

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