PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, September 7 (RIA Novosti) - The discoverer of one of Russia's most valuable natural treasures, Kamchatka's Valley of the Geysers, Tatiana Ustinova has died aged 97, an official at the Kronotsky National Park said.

Kamchatka's geysers were discovered in 1941 by local research assistant and geologist, Tatiana Ustinova and her guide Anisifor Kurpenin. Although Ustinova published her findings very little research was completed until the 1970s, when a survey was conducted of the region.

"According to Ustinova's wishes she will be buried in the Valley of Geysers," the spokesman said, adding that it was an unprecedented case as no one has ever been buried in the park before.

Kamchatka is home to the world's second-largest geyser field with around 100 geysers until a mudslide in June 2007 buried half of them. However, just two years a new geyser was discovered, Prikolny (Peculiar), the first since the 1960s.

Ustinova lived in the region until 1946 and published a book on the subject in 1951. She moved to Canada in 1989 to be near her daughter.

A geyser is a hot spring which intermittently discharges water and is accompanied by steam. They are generally found in volcanic regions.