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The Russian famine of 1601–1603 was Russia's worst famine, killing perhaps a third of Russians during the Time of Troubles.

Causes

It was probably tied to the eruption of a volcano in Peru named Huaynaputina, which ejected from 16 million to 32 million metric tons of particulates into the atmosphere, notably sulfur dioxide, forming sulfuric acid (see volcanic winter). This prevented sunlight from reaching the Earth's surface, causing massive famine and bitterly cold winters.

Number of dead

During this two and half year period, 127,000 bodies were buried in mass graves in Moscow alone. Widespread starvation killed perhaps two million in Russia (see references).

Outcome

It may have led to the overthrow of Tsar Boris Godunov.

See also

• Droughts and famines in Russia and the Soviet Union
• Holodomor in Soviet Ukraine
• Soviet famine of 1932-1933
• Volcanic winter

External links

• 1600 Eruption Caused Global Disruption Geology Times
• Volcano in 1600 caused global disruption MSNBC.com
• The 1600 eruption of Huaynaputina in Peru caused global disruption Science Centric