Karpinsky Group, Volcanic group in Severo-Kurilsky District, Russia

The Karpinsky Group is a volcanic complex at the southern end of Paramushir Island in the Kuril Islands. It consists of two gently sloping cones, with the higher reaching 1,345 meters, set within a caldera about 5 km wide and up to 700 meters deep. The cones are composed of andesites and andesite-basalts, and their slopes show cirques left by ancient glaciation.

The only recorded eruption of the Karpinsky Group took place in 1952. The volcano itself formed between the Upper Pleistocene and the Holocene, and its slopes still carry cirques left by ancient glaciation, once mistaken for eroded craters. Fumarolic and thermal activity continues today.

The volcanic group bears the name of Alexander Petrovich Karpinsky, who established the Geological Committee and advanced geological mapping techniques in Russia.

Access requires special permits and careful planning due to its remote location in one of the far reaches of the Kuril Islands. Visitors should prepare for harsh weather conditions and minimal infrastructure if exploring this region.

Within the twin craters, active fumaroles continuously release gases into the atmosphere. These visible volcanic phenomena demonstrate that intense geological processes still occur beneath the surface.