Avachinsky, Active volcano in Kamchatka Krai, Russia

Avachinsky is a volcano in Kamchatka Krai, Russia, rising about 30 km (19 miles) north of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The summit reaches 2,741 m (8,993 feet) and displays a conical silhouette with a horseshoe-shaped caldera at the top.

Avachinsky began erupting in the middle to late Pleistocene. A major landslide 30,000–40,000 years ago formed its horseshoe-shaped caldera, and a new cone grew inside in phases 18,000 and 7,000 years ago. John Ledyard recorded an eruption on 15 June 1779. The last large eruption, in 1945, ejected about 0.25 km³ of magma; smaller eruptions followed in 1991 and 2001.

The name comes from the Itelmen language, spoken by people who have lived on the peninsula for centuries and view the mountains as living beings. Hikers often see smoke rising from the crater, a sign that the mountain remains active today.

Hiking trails lead from the nearest town to the summit, with routes open during summer from June through September. Guided tours help with orientation and offer advice on safety near active fumaroles.

The volcano's Russian nickname is "the death of Petropavlovsk", a joke about the city lying within sight of its slopes. Its horseshoe-shaped caldera formed 30,000 to 40,000 years ago in a landslide that covered 500 km² south of the volcano, beneath today's city.