Russian volcanoes show in space photo

GREENBELT, Md., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Astronauts on the International Space Station 240 miles above the Earth have captured a stunning image of Russian volcanoes, NASA says.

In the image, the snow-covered peaks of several volcanoes on the central Kamchatka Peninsula are seen poking their heads above cloud cover obscuring the surrounding lowlands, NASA's Earth Observatory staff reported.

A plume of steam and ash plume is visible extending from the summit of the 9,500-foot Bezymianny volcano.

Also visible are the much taller 15,000-foot Kamen volcano and the 15,800-foot Kliuchevskoi volcano.

Kliuchevskoi is Kamchatka's most active volcano, last erupting in 2011.

This region of Russia is known for its volcanic activity and eruptions are relatively frequent.

When the image was taken the ISS was about 240 miles above the Sea of Okhotsk and more than 430 miles to the southwest of the volcanoes, NASA said.