Sarychev Peak (Russian: вулкан Пик Сарычева, Vulkan Sarycheva, variants: Japanese: 芙蓉山 Fuyō Mountain,[1] Fuyō-san,[2] Fuyō-yama,[3] Fuyo-zan,[4] Huyō San, Japanese: 松輪富士 Matsuwa-fuji)[5] is an active stratovolcano covering almost the entirety of Matua Island in the Kuril Islands, Russia. It is a young, highly symmetrical stratovolcanic cone. The height of the plume during the 2009 eruption was estimated at 12 to 18 kilometres (7.5 to 11.2 mi).[6]
The volcano erupted June 11–21, 2009,[7][8] sending out ash plumes.[9] As the volcano is near some of the main air routes between East Asia and North America, there was some disruption to air traffic.[10]
During an early stage of the eruption, on June 12, 2009, the International Space Station passed overhead and astronauts photographed the event.[11] A hole in the overhead clouds, possibly caused by the shock wave from the explosion, allowed a clear view of the plume and pyroclastic flow down the sides of the mountain. A cap-like pileus cloud is visible atop the rising column.[11]
Sarychev Peak previously erupted in 1760, 1805, 1879, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1946, 1954, 1960, 1965, 1976, 1986 and 1989.[7]