Massive landslide destroys natural wonder of Russia's Valley of
Geysers A massive landslide has all but obliterated one of
Russia's most spectacular natural wonders, the Valley of
Geysers. The valley, in the Kronotsky national reserve in
Kamchatka, the far-eastern peninsula famed for its volcanoes,
contained about 90 geysers, as well as a number of thermal
pools, and is the region's most popular tourist attraction. A
snow-covered mound collapsed on Sunday "within seconds" and
caused a landslide, about a mile long and 600 feet wide, that
buried two thirds of the valley, a park ranger, Valery Tsypkov,
said on Russian television. The landslide dumped millions of
cubic metres of mud and stones and destroyed most of the
valley's geysers and dozens of thermal springs. It stopped only
yards from the valley's only hotel. Tourists and park personnel
had to be evacuated, but no injuries were reported. Natalya
Radugova, director of the Kronotsky national reserve, said: "The
splendour of the valley has changed beyond rec