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Kamchatka
Peninsula Russia
Kamchatka is without
exaggeration one of the most spectacular regions in Russia. It
occupies the area of 470,000 sq. km, which equals the size of
France, Belgium and Luxembourg combined, and separates the Sea
of Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean. One should not confuse
Kamchatka with Siberia; this name is used for the peninsula
itself and the closest part of the continent, including
Karaginsky Island and the
Komandorsky Archipelago.
The mountain ridges - Sredinny, Valaginsky, Ganalsky and Kumroch
- stretch from the north to the south giving the peninsula the
shape of a giant fish. There are more than 160 volcanoes on the
peninsula (29 of them are active), due to the fact that it lies
on the Great Pacific “ring of fire”. Volcanoes and volcanic
peaks, cyclones and underground heat created here a mixture of
twenty climate zones and a great variety of flora and fauna. But
the main attractions of Kamchatka are volcanic calderas, stone
sculpture “parks” and lakes in craters,
geysers
and mineral springs,
all in pristine condition.
The Cossack, Vladimir Atlasov,
apparently "discovered" Kamchatka in 1697. He built two forts on
the Kamchatka River, which became Russian trading camps. The
native Koryak, Itelmen, Chukchi and Evens tribes were beaten
down by these traders, and their population greatly diminished.
Out of the few that remain, the Chukchi live in the northeast,
Evens are in the central part of the peninsula and the Koryaks
live on the west coast. They still live by traditional reindeer
herding and sea fishing, which provide both food and clothing,
and still preserve their culture and traditional lifestyles,
which is the reason why one of the most remote regions is
visited by so many people every year.
The main settlement of the peninsula
and the capital of Kamchatka Region is the city of
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The city is located on the
southeastern shore of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Petropavlovsk's
streets wind around green volcanic hills where city residents
still pick berries and mushrooms. Covered with white snow, the
peaks of Koryaksky, Avachinsky and Kozelsky volcanoes rise over
them. And there are eternal moorage ribbons going along the
Avacha Bay.
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North West Russia ||
Altai Russia ||
Yakutia Russia ||
Caucasus Mountains Russia ||
Karelia Russia
Golden Ring Russia ||
Kamchatka Peninsula Russia ||
Far East Russia ||
Siberia ||
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