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Kamchatskaya Oblast

Kamchatkaya Oblast is located on the Kamchatka peninsula and on adjoining part of continent.

Kamchatka, the Russian Far East peninsula, is one of the largest peninsulas on Earth ( about the size of California ) that juts down into the northwestern Pacific from Siberia between Alaska and Japan. It is a beautiful land of contrasting snow and warmth, glaciers and luxuriant vegetation, the mighty Pacific Ocean and brilliant sky. Kamchatka is a special wild place, one of the least spoiled areas of wilderness on Earth. Kamchatka is a mountain country with 29 active and more then 200 extinct volcanoes, with hundreds of hot springs, crystal-clear lakes, streams and rivers. It is now one of the most active segments of the "Ring of Fire", a chain of volcanoes that rim the Pacific Ocean. These volcanoes are still forming, as they have over the past millions of years in the zone where Pacific Plate is colliding with Asia. Some volcanoes are hazardous like 4850-m Sopka Klyuchevskaya, the highest pick in the region. Others are accessible for visitors like Karymsky and Ksudach with their picturesque calderas, crater lakes and hot spring areas. On the average two or three volcanoes erupt each year, so the chances of witnessing the actual eruption are good.

Kamchatka abounds with rivers and lakes. The longest river is Kamchatka river which runs from south to north more then 700 km. Rivers and lakes are rich of fish From May till October different kinds of salmon come up stream to spawning grounds. One of the best of them, for example, is Kurilskoe Lake situated in the south of Kamchatka.

Although sparsely populated by Eskimo and Aleut-related peoples, Kamchatka was not known to Europeans until 18th Century. First "discovered" by Russian Cossacks, the peninsula was also the focus of Peter the Great's decade-long expedition in the middle of the 18th Century. But even since that time for hundreds years it could only be reached by ships and was only visited by trappers and some explorers such as Vitus Bering, Captain Clark, de la Perouse. The presence of some military bases has kept the peninsula shrouded in secrecy throughout the Soviet period, preventing all foreigners and most Soviet citizens the opportunity to travel there. Only since 1990 Kamchatka opened its doors to visitors.

Among the population prevail Russian (over 80 %), up to 7 % make Ukranians, more than 3,5 % fall on indigenous peoples: Koryaks, Aleuts, Chukchis etc. The Kamchatskaya oblast is one of the least populated areas in Russia. Population density is very low: 1 persons occupies 16 square kms of territory. Separate sites of southwest and southeast coasts of peninsula and also a valley of the river of Kamchatka are most populated. The total number of the population of Kamchatka is 400 000 persons, from them 220 000 thousand are inhabitants of Petropavlovsk - Kamchatka city.

Climate is mainly moderate monsoonal, in the centre - moderate continental, in the north - subarctic; quantity of deposits is till 1000 mm per year. Variety and instability of the weather, caused by a geographical position, influence of Pacific ocean, surrounding seas and relief is usual for a climate of Kamchatka. Visitors of Kamchatka should prepare for surprises of weather. So, in June it is possible to meet not thawn snow in many places.

Kamchatka is the unique ecological open-air museum.

There are a lot of sanatorias, rest houses, which have become liked places of rest and treatment of Kamchatka inhabitants and tourists. Mineral water from several wells is used for treatment of many diseases of stomach, liver, kidneys. Especially amazes visitors the opportunity to bathe in open pool with thermal water even during the frosty winter time.
REGIONS OF RUSSIA