Russia: Kamchatka

There are few places remaining on this planet that can be called true wilderness and explored only through adventure, but the savagely beautiful Kamchatka Peninsula in the remote Far East of Russia, across the Bering straight from Alaska, is definitely one. This unique region comparable in size to Japan is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its pristine nature, spectacular geysers and 160 majestic volcanoes of the Ring of Fire out of which 28 are active.

In Kamchatka, the land of impressions and contrasts, you can climb the challenging peaks of the mountains, trek through the plains and valleys aglow with colorful lichens and flowers, have a look into the craters of ancient volcanoes, admire the unique Valley of Geysers and the splendor of grand glaciers, dip into geothermal hot springs, take boat trips in beautiful bays among abrupt cliffs, raft wild rivers. Eco-tourists will particularly enjoy wonderful encounters with the rich Kamchatka’s wildlife – orcas, seals, sea eagles, brown bears, spawning salmon, and other winged and aquatic life.

You are welcome to join the unforgettable adventure in Kamchatka and add stunning pictures and impressions to your nature travel collection. 

Time zone:

GMT + 12 (Moscow time zone + 9 hrs)

Geography and description

The Kamchatka region, washed by the Pacific Ocean, the Bering and Okhotskoe Seas, is located in the Far East of Russia. It covers an area of 472 300 sq km (that of England, Portugal, Belgium and Luxemburg together) and includes Kamchatka peninsula and a part of adjoining continent, the Komandorsky islands, Karaginsky island. The western coast of Kamchatka peninsula has a straight boarder line, flat landscape, the eastern one is cut with peninsulas and bays, among wich one of the most beautiful inlets is the Avachinskaya Bay.

There are 2 national parks, 17 state wildlife areas, and 5 nature parks. Five nature protection areas are included by UNESCO in the List of the World cultural and natural heritage as "Volcanoes of Kamchatka".

Kamchatka is often referred to as the Land born of Fire, as the region contains over 10 percent of the total volcanoes found on the Earth. The belt of volcanoes that stretches along the shore of the peninsula makes a part of the Ring of Fire, the string of volcanoes encircling the Pacific Ocean. The geothermal activity in Kamchatka is remarkable: 29 out of 160 volcanoes are still active. 28 out the 29 active volcanoes are located in the eastern part of the peninsula. The most diverse volcanic activity is observed at the Mutnovsky volcano, which displays boiling mud pools and steam, and the Gorely volcano with its craters and intense-blue hot acid lake. The highest volcano in Kamchatka is the majestic Kluchevskoy (4,750m). Among the most beautiful ones some list the Koryaksky volcano (3,456m), which forms a magnificent ensemble together with the Avachinsky volcano only 20 km off Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, and the Kronotsky volcano (3,528m), whose ribbed cone crowned with an icy hat looks over the waters of the biggest Kamchatka’s lake.

Large-scale geysers are found in only 4 places on the planet, and there are 40 of geysers (20 big ones) concentrated in the famous Valley of Geysers in Kronotsky nature reserve of Kamchatka. Some geysers gush forth every 10-12 minutes, others may erupt once in 4-5 hours with wreathes of steam and fountains of boiling water.

The region is extraordinarily rich in water resources. There are 414 glaciers, 100 000 big and small lakes, and 14 000 picturesque rivers and springs. 5-6 rivers including most easily accessible Bystraya (Malkinskaya) and Opala can be offered for rafting and angling.

There are 274 mineral springs in Kamchatka, and more than half of them are hot. The most popular with tourists location of springs is Khodutka (+37C +80C), the nature landscape monument located on the bottom of caldera of the ancient Khodutka volcano, where you can take a thermal bath and swim in a natural thermal pool. Travelers can enjoy the view of the boiling, seetheing, fountaining thermal water or mud boilers, and sometimes take a dip in many places throughout the peninsula. The hot spring of Nalychevo, Paratunka, Bannye, Vilyuchensk, Malki, etc are considered accessible.

Kamchatka is sparsely populated, averaging less than 1 person per square kilometer. Most of the inhabitants live in the regional capital, Petropavlovsk, with Soviet-style 5-story concrete buildings, but in the peninsula’s remote villages the traditional lifestyle is preserved. The local economy in Kamchatka is depressed; large-scale mining and logging are down. By visiting Kamchatka, you can help the local economy and population.

Climate

The climate in Kamchatka is of the sea monsoon type, more severe in the west than in the east. The climate is moderate continental in the central and northern part, and changes to the sea type in the south. Instability and rapid changes of weather are characteristic of the region.

Summer lasts from mid-June to mid-September, July is the warmest month. Night temperature can drop significantly; rain is not uncommon in summer. Winter is long and allows for skiing till mid-May. The average temperature in February is -15C -16C the central and northern parts, and -11C in the east; in August +12C +16C respectively. The absolute minimum is -49C-60C in the central and northern parts of the peninsula and -24C-26C on the islands; absolute temperature maximum in Kamchatka is +34C.

The average annual precipitation is 600-1100 mm, though the maximum can be as much as 2600 mm (on the south-eastern seaside).

Weather - Please Note
Anyone contemplating a visit to Kamchatka should be aware that it is a land ruled by the weather. Though not serious, delays and changes to the program can therefore be expected.

Flora and fauna

The flora and fauna as in any northern region is not particularly diverse in terms of species number. However, more than half of the world’s Steller’s Sea Eagles, as well as the largest population of brown bears, are found here.

There are 37 kinds of wild animals including glutton, beavers, sable, ermine, fox, otter, lynx, wolverine, rams, and deer. The brown bear is considered the symbol of the peninsula. The waters near Kamchatka are inhabited by the rare gray whale and approximately 300,000 seals, sea lions, otters and other sea life.

Among the bird population, seagulls, albatross, cormorants, toporki are characteristic of the seaside; white-tail eagles, peregrines, merlins, sea-eagles occur in the mountains; partridges, capercaillies, golden eagles, fish-hawks, and owls dwell in the forest areas. Kamchatka is the only habitat of the Steller’s sea eagle’s population (population of 4,000 birds).

Kamchatka is also home to one of the largest surviving wild salmon populations left in the world (all kinds of Pacific salmon). Spectacular salmon spawning takes place in mid-June. Salmon trout, grayling, loach inhabit the rivers. King salmon, hunback salmon, Siberian salmon, blue-back (red) salmon, silversides come to the peninsula’s river for spawning.

In the vegetation of Kamchatka, the most common species are Erman’s Birch that covers one third of the entire area; Elfin Cedar, brushwood of 1.5-2 m high whose thick carpets make it most hard for travelers to traverse the areas; Shelamannik, a huge grassy plant 3 m high; and Puchka (Heracleum dulce), an insidious plant with sweet juice that leaves blisters and sores on the skin that ache for months. Larch, fur and poplar forests are cut down as timber. Kamchatka is an area where Sarana lily grows (on the preservation list), as well as large-flowered Slipper, one of the rarest and the most beautiful Russian orchids.

People

Population: 390 000
Nationalities: 176 including Russians (80%), Itelmens, Koryaks, Chukchas, Aleus, Evens (indigenous populations appr 3%).
Language: Russian and indigenous dialects
Religion: Russian Orthodox, Islam, Animist

How to get there

There daily flights from Moscow, and two flights a week from St Petersburg.

Within the region, the most common way of traveling around is by road transportation. Only road near Petropavlovsk, the main city, is paved, therefore, Russian off-road cars and trucks are normally used. Some places are accessible only by helicopter or by small private sea boats.

Water

The region is considered environmentally clean. The tap water as well as water in the rivers and springs is drinking.

Things to buy

Products of fur, leather, bone, sea fruit

Links

http://www.avachabay.com (maps)
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/avo3/atlas/kamchmain.htm
http://www.KamchatkaPeninsula.com/kieg.html