Tendürek Mountain crater explored by researchers

Archaeologist Onur Benli and climber Zayim Cemal Altay have successfully descended into the crater of Tendürek Mountain, one of Turkey’s youngest and most active volcanic formations. Located on the border of Van’s Çaldıran and Ağrı’s Doğubayazıt districts, the shield volcano features a large crater approximately 300 meters deep and 1,100 meters in diameter.

During their exploration, the pair documented rare footage of fumaroles, including active gas and steam vents. Benli described the scene as resembling ‘the mouth of a dragon’ and a ‘hellish pit’ due to the intense sulfurous gases and boiling mud. Temperature measurements taken at some of the active vents reached 84 degrees Celsius, confirming that the volcano remains geologically active despite its last major eruption in 1855.