Kamchatka
The peninsula looks like a huge fish. It's 1200 km long and 450
km wide. About 400 thousand people live here and 250 thousand of them are
residents of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, an administrative center of the region.
There is neither large-scale industry nor intensive transport communications in
Kamchatka.
Territory of Kamchatka is one of the richest in the world by
natural and recreational resources. Thermal and mineral sources, volcanoes and
glaciers, a well known Valley of Geysers, flora and fauna in majority of places
not even touched with civilization! Grandiose mountains with an abundance
of extinct and active volcanoes (more than 160), set of hot and cold mineral
springs (the are absolutely ecologically pure), the geysers
located in picturesque valleys surrounded with volcanoes with the tops raised to
the sky covered with eternal snows, with the slopes overgrown with violent
vegetation and the Alpine meadows. There are many mountain rivers,
waterfalls and lakes.
Different climate zones are combined here: temperately maritime, strong
continental and arctic.
There are 2 state biosphere reserves, 5 natural parks on Kamchatka. 27% of
territory are referred to a category especially protected. 5 natural territories
are included by UNESCO in the List of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
under a nomination "Volcanoes of Kamchatka". The following natural
parks are among them: Nalychevo, Bistrinsky, Klyuchevskoy, Southern-Kamchatsky.
There are just few areas in the world where geysers can be
found and it's generally accepted that Kamchatka is the most beautiful one! This peninsula, a link in the volcanic chain surrounding the Pacific Ocean, is
one of the most attractive peninsulas.
What can you do in Kamchatka?! Some of you can be attracted by calm
rafting along crystal clear mountain rivers (Bystraya, Kamchatka, Opala
and other rivers) and fishing can be included also in a tour (fishing season is
from May to October). You can climb the volcanoes: Bezymyanny
Volcano (3085 meters high), Mutnovsky Volcano (2323 meter high) to glance at a
magnificent view of the peninsula from the volcano heights, Avachinsky Volcano
(2757 meter high). You'd better to check the information about the requirements
for climbing this or that volcanoes. E.g. you need neither special equipment nor
special training to climb Bezymyanny Volcano, everybody can participate in
climbing. But as for the climbing the active Kluchevskoy Volcano, you should be
in a good physical form and have mountain climbing training. The volcanoes and
mountains of Kamchatka make the peninsula and ideal place for development of winter
sports (there are a lot of well equipped mountain slopes).
Seaport and airport of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky have gained
international status that allows both Russian and foreign tourists visit
Kamchatka with comfort and safety.
You are welcome to Kamchatka! |