The Starunya mud volcano — one of the smallest in Europe and the only active one of its kind in Ukraine — is located in the village of Starunya, approximately 25 km from Ivano-Frankivsk. Although modest in size, this natural object has several unique properties that make it interesting for geologists, tourists, and doctors alike.
The volcano itself is a patch of "dirt" on a hilltop, devoid of vegetation, where periodic emissions of a mixture of clay, oil, brine and gases occur. The diameter of the main crater is only about 30 cm, but at the peak of activity, emissions could reach up to three meters in height. In total, the volcano has about eight permanently active craters and twelve more intermittent ones.
One of the most interesting properties of Staruni is its seismic sensitivity: the volcano reacts to earthquakes occurring thousands of kilometers away. After strong tremors (in the Caucasus, Italy, Germany, or even in Central Asia), cracks up to three centimeters wide appear on the surface around the volcano, which close on their own after a few days. There are also sinkholes, the appearance of new rapids and waterfalls, active gas release, and a slow rise of the soil - about one meter in seven years.
The geochemistry of Staruni is explained by the history of intensive development of oil and ozokerite deposits in the 19th and 20th centuries: the penetration of oxygen into groundwater caused the oxidation of oil and chemical reactions with the release of heat, which supports the activity of the volcano. This is why therapeutic mud and mineralized water are found here; the substance contains ozokerite, a natural mineral used in thermal therapy.
Next to the crater, an “eternal flame” burns — a source of natural gas that local residents set on fire over 30 years ago to reduce air pollution; it has not gone out since then. Another important component of Starunya’s value is archaeology: well-preserved remains of prehistoric animals were found in the nearby layers. The most famous finds are a mammoth with preserved remains of grass in its stomach and the bones of two woolly rhinoceroses; the exhibits are now kept in museums in Lviv and Krakow.
Starunya is a unique combination of geology, medicinal resources and archaeology. For the region, it is both a scientific interest and a tourist attraction, requiring attention from ecologists and restorers. Given the sensitivity of the volcano to external influences and its importance for science and medicine, it is important to balance accessibility for visitors, preservation of unique resources and protection of the territory.
