- Where is the Kamchatka Peninsula
- History of Kamchatka
- Flora and fauna of Kamchatka
- Volcanoes of Kamchatka
- What to do in Kamchatka
Kamchatka is considered one of the most interesting peninsulas in Russia, as it is distinguished by a peculiar landscape, including geysers, volcanoes, glaciers, as well as unique nature and fauna. Kamchatka attracts those who prefer ecological tourism and love extreme travel. In order to find out where the peninsula is, you need to find the Eurasia peninsula on the map.
Where is the Kamchatka Peninsula
The northeastern part of Eurasia, which is part of Russia, is the geographical location of Kamchatka, the length of which from north to south is 1200 kilometers. From west to east, the width of the peninsula varies from 80 to 440 kilometers, depending on the terrain. Kamchatka, covering an area of 270,000 square kilometers, is washed in the west by the Sea of Okhotsk and in the east by the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea.
In the center of the peninsula, there are the intersecting Sredinny and Vostochny ridges, which form the space for the Central Kamchatka plain, in the lowland of which the Kamchatka River flows. The eastern part of the peninsula has a rugged coastline with coves and bays. It should be noted separately that Kamchatka has about 412 glaciers, 160 active and inactive volcanoes and a significant number of water bodies.
The territory of the peninsula includes the Kamchatka region, which was merged with the Koryak Autonomous Okrug and is currently officially part of the Kamchatka Territory. The largest settlement of the peninsula is the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, where most of the population of the peninsula is concentrated.
History of Kamchatka
Museum of Local Lore in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
The development of Kamchatka by Russian seafarers began in the 16th century, when Mikhail Stadukhin, during his expedition to the island of Taigonos, saw the western shores of the peninsula. Later, another expedition led by Vladimir Atlasov was sent to these places with the aim of annexing new lands to Russia. The result of a long campaign was the consolidation of Kamchatka for the territory of Russia, as well as the construction of the Verkhne-Kamchatka and Nizhne-Kamchatka forts on the peninsula. At the same time, the local population showed fierce resistance, since the inhabitants of Kamchatka had their own formed community and did not want to accept strangers.
In 1700, thanks to the efforts of V. Atlasov, Kamchatka was described in detail by geographers and included in a detailed map of Siberia. In 40 years Vitus Bering arrived to the shores of Kamchatka, having discovered Avacha Bay on his way, and began construction of the future capital of the peninsula. In the middle of the 19th century, the Anglo-French troops attacked the peninsula, but the Russian army won and retained the territorial belonging of Kamchatka to Russia.
Starting in 1855, the rapid development of Kamchatka stopped due to the fact that the port was moved to another place and the trade and economic significance of the peninsula significantly decreased. It was only after the Russo-Japanese War that the government again turned its attention to this remote region of Russia, and as a result, by 1916, the population of Kamchatka was already more than 1,100 people.
Kamchatka is currently an important strategic, natural and cultural site of Russia.
Flora and fauna of Kamchatka
Travelers who come to the peninsula note, first of all, the pristine beauty of nature and the unique fauna. The main factors that influenced the natural diversity of Kamchatka are as follows: features of the historical development of the landscape; the specificity of the mountainous relief; volcanic activity; harsh climatic conditions; the presence of a significant number of reservoirs. Under all these conditions, the natural zones of Kamchatka have been formed over the centuries, creating amazing landscapes. Mountain ranges stretch over most of the peninsula, so about 1200 plant species typical of the highlands can be found here. The forest zone is occupied by shrubs, alder and dwarf pine.
In the short summer period, the flora of Kamchatka is striking in its beauty, as fields covered with colorful flowers lay on top of each other, turning into an alpine carpet. The green background shimmers with lilac, white, yellow, orange, pink colors. The flowering of the silkworm deserves special attention, which can reach a length of up to 3.5 meters.
As for the fauna, Kamchatka is inhabited by such animals as brown bear, bighorn sheep, elk, reindeer, sable, etc. In the local seas and rivers, there are about 550 species of fish, among which salmon, mykizha, sharks, greenling, char, stingrays and gobies stand out. Fishing is the main source of income for Kamchatka.
Volcanoes of Kamchatka
Kamchatka is the only place in Russia with so many volcanoes. If you come to the peninsula, be sure to include a trip to the volcanoes in your excursion program. The most attractive, in terms of tourism, are:
- Ichinsky volcano, considered the highest in the structure of the Sredinny Range. The volcano is notable for its unusual shape and complexity of the routes. Only experienced climbers can climb the Ichinsky volcano.
- Klyuchevskaya Sopka, whose height is 4750 meters, and a group of smaller volcanoes is concentrated around it. This area has the official status of a protected area, therefore, for an excursion to Klyuchevskaya Sopka, you must first obtain a permit.
- Avachinsky and Kozelsky volcanoes located next to each other. Climbing the volcano can be done with an instructor in about 6-9 hours, after which you will have a great opportunity to enjoy the amazing scenery.
- Mutnovsky volcano, which is of particular interest to researchers, since this volcano is the most active. For tourists, an excursion is organized, including an inspection of the crater, but do not forget that travel for safety reasons should take place exclusively under the supervision of a qualified guide.
- Gorely volcano, known for having 10 separate craters in the relief structure, in which there are lakes of volcanic origin. Tourists prefer climbing Gorely due to the minimal complexity of the route.
On the slopes of most Kamchatka volcanoes, snow lies almost all year round, so local travel companies offer their clients a wide range of services in the field of skiing.
What to do in Kamchatka
At first glance, Kamchatka does not seem to be a particularly attractive place for tourists, but with the right organization of your leisure time, you can get the most out of your trip to the peninsula. This list contains the most popular options for recreation in Kamchatka:
- Visit to the valley of geysers, which is the pride of Kamchatka. Endless lakes and rivers, noisy waterfalls, geysers erupting from the ground - all this creates an amazing atmosphere. However, be prepared for the fact that a trip to the valley is quite an expensive undertaking.
- Swimming in pools with healing hot springs. Such procedures can be performed in the village of Partunka, located 70 kilometers from the capital of the Kamchatka Territory. You can drive to Partunka on your own or use the services of local guides.
- Hunting and fishing is one of the most common pastimes among visitors. For this purpose, separate tours are organized to various forest zones of Kamchatka, as well as to numerous water bodies.
- Sledding, pulled by dogs, is a traditional pastime and has its roots in ancient times, when the inhabitants of Kamchatka used sledges as the only acceptable way of transportation.
- Acquaintance with the culture of such indigenous peoples as the Evens, Koryaks, Aleuts, Chukchi, etc. Unfortunately, the number of these small peoples is decreasing every year, but they were able to preserve their ethnic traditions and rituals. If you wish, you can participate in the celebration of the Even New Year, Alhalalai, or take a trip to the ancient camps.
