Kamchatka is a physical-geographical region, part of the Koryak-Kamchatka-Kuril physical-geographical country.
The entire country is part of the Pacific Cenozoic fold belt, formed in the zone of active contacts (subduction) of lithospheric plates - the Eurasian, Pacific and North American.
This entire territory, but mainly the east of Kamchatka and the Kuril ridge, is characterized by volcanic and seismic processes, contrasting neotectonic movements, the presence of island arcs and deep oceanic trenches. Island arcs are chains of islands that are usually arc-shaped and formed as a result of volcanic processes in subduction zones. It is here that active contacts of the Pacific and Eurasian lithospheric plates occur: their convergence, the subsidence of the oceanic plate and its “leakage” under the continental plate (under the island arc), as well as the “reprocessing” of the oceanic crust and the formation of the continental crust.
Island arcs are huge ridges that typically extend along the inside of a deep-sea trench. The trench is a geosynclinal trough, and the island arc is a geoanticlinal uplift - the result of a general uplift at the site of the geosynclinal trough - part of the folding.
The deep structure of the island arc is a shaft of basaltic crust, on which a layer of volcanic and sedimentary rocks is planted, and in the case of a mature stage of the island arc, a granite layer. Island arcs are characterized by modern volcanism of the central type, numerous volcanoes with andesitic or liparitic lava composition.
In some cases, island arcs have a double system: internal and external arcs, parallel to each other and with a depression between them. This is how the Kuril Arc works. The inner ridge corresponds to the Kuril Islands themselves and their underwater foundation. The outer ridge is the underwater Vityaz Ridge, the surface part of the outer ridge appears only in the very south in the form of the Lesser Kuril Islands.
In the north, both ridges continue on land, on the Kamchatka Peninsula. In this case, the inner ridge corresponds to the structures of the Sredinny Kamchatka Range, and the outer ridge corresponds to the structures of the mountains of eastern Kamchatka. The example of Kamchatka shows that at a certain stage of development, island arcs can merge with each other, forming a single land mass. Other examples of such a merger are the Japanese islands or the island of Cuba, formed as a result of the merger of several, and in Cuba, three island arcs of different ages.
Most of the Kamchatka Peninsula has a long history of crustal development. The oldest section in terms of age is located in the axial part of the peninsula - the Sredinny Ridge - this is the continental crust itself.
To the west and east of the axial part there are areas of transitional (from oceanic to continental) earth's crust.
Some of the most interesting elements of the morphostructure of the transitional sections of the earth's crust in Kamchatka are: block-folded horst-anticlinoria (plateaus or sections of the Eastern volcanic highlands), as well as longitudinal and transverse graben-synclinoria (lowlands or river valleys).
The earth's crust has different mobility. Sedimentary rocks in folded areas or geosynclines initially lie horizontally.
Tectonic movements (seismic phenomena, earthquakes, volcanism) remove layers from a horizontal position and disrupt the primary form of occurrence. These disturbances are called dislocations (or secondary forms of occurrence). Depending on the type of tectonic movements, dislocations are divided into folded (unbroken) and discontinuous.
Folded dislocations or disturbances in the original occurrence of rocks are expressed in the wave-like bending of layers of rocks without breaking their continuity.
Fig.1. Folded dislocations: 1 - anticline, 2 - syncline
Fault dislocations are formed as a result of intense tectonic movements, accompanied by a break in the continuity of rocks and displacement of layers relative to each other. The displacement amplitude during the discharge can reach 1-2 km. Tectonic ruptures, like folds, are extremely diverse in their shape, size, and displacement.
Fault dislocations include normal faults, reverse faults, grabens, horsts, strike-slip faults and thrust faults.
A graben is a structure bounded on two sides by faults along which its central part is lowered.
A horst is a structure that has a shape opposite to a graben, i.e. its central part is raised.
This is due to the fact that a graben is a failure associated with tensile forces, while the formation of a horst is caused by compression.
Faults can occur singly or form complex systems, for example, multi-stage grabens and horsts.
Three graphical examples/drawings of breaking dislocations:
Fig.2a. Fracture types of dislocations.
Rice. 2b. Types of tectonic ruptures: 1 - fault; 2—reverse fault; 3 - thrust; 4 - shift; 5 - cover
Rice. 2c. Combination of faults: 2 – graben; 3 - horst; 5—grabens and horsts in a complex rift
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Kamchatka is a young, emerging region; the folded mountains here are greatly complicated by fault tectonics. This determined the appearance of horst-anticlinoria and graben-synclinorium.
In general, anticlinoria and synclinoria are large and complex bends and ruptures of folded rock strata with a general rise or fall in the center, which extend for tens and hundreds of kilometers. Particularly large formations are called meganticlinoria and megsynclinoria.
But for Kamchatka, due to its youth, it would probably be more correct to use the terms horst-anticlinorium and graben-synclinorium. Their isolation from neighboring mountain ranges is usually accompanied by the presence of “border”/bounding faults. Valleys and river beds also “inherit” the lines of cracks and tectonic faults. Volcanoes and hot springs are usually located along dislocation lines. All these features are concentrated in the east of Kamchatka, a whole “bouquet” - just look at the map: the valley of the Kamchatka River and even its turn - almost at a right angle.
The main strike of the mountain ranges and lowlands follows the coastlines with a predominant direction from north-northeast to south-southwest.
Earthquakes are frequent throughout the territory, sometimes reaching magnitude 9.
Earthquakes and tsunamis are associated with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, with wave heights of up to 50 m.
In the mountains, the main types of morphosculpture are nival and glacial landforms, formed respectively by the activity of perennial snowfields and glaciers. In total, Kamchatka has more than 400 glaciers and perennial snowfields of various sizes, with a total area of about 870 sq. km.
The distribution is mainly of cirque and valley glaciers. The most developed are cirque glaciers, but valley glaciers are larger in size. The longest glacier is Bilchenok - 17.7 km and an area of 21.8 square meters. km, located on the Plosky Dalniy volcano (Klyuchevskaya group).
However, the shapes of cirque glaciers are in some cases more interesting.
Car or armchair - a natural bowl-shaped depression (resembling the seat of a chair with a back and solid armrests) in the upper, apical part of the mountains. The karas have steep, often sheer, back and side walls, and a gently concave bottom, usually occupied by a glacier. On average, the width of the carts is 1-2 km, with a height of the back wall of about 300 m, but sometimes they can reach large sizes. In some areas there are accumulations of firn or seasonal snow. Where glaciers have retreated, the bottom of the lakes is filled with water - this is how most high-mountain lakes are formed.
Modern glaciation is formed under the influence of Pacific Ocean cyclones. The spread of glaciers is prevented by volcanic activity, the abundance of hot underground waters and the outlets of hot water sources. Therefore, glaciers are located mainly on high mountain ranges and volcanoes.
The height of the snow line decreases from 2800 - 3000 m in the Klyuchevskaya Sopka area towards the north and south.
In low-lying areas there are lacustrine, alluvial, fluvio-glacial and marine accumulative plains.
In physical and geographical terms, Kamchatka is divided into five large geomorphological regions (according to G.M. Vlasov):
Rice. 3. Kamchatka Territory, physical and geographical map
1. Western Kamchatka Lowland - a hilly plain 60-80 km wide. In its coastal-Okhotsk part, dissected marine terraces up to 200 m high are developed. With distance from the Sea of Okhotsk, denudation-erosive relief with elements of glacial relief prevails.
2. Mountain zone of the Sredinny Range, absolute heights rarely exceed 2000 m. Its southern part has an erosion-tectonic high-mountain relief with sculptural glacial forms; the northern part has a volcanic relief in the form of the remains of extinct volcanoes and dissected plateau-like hills, steeply plunging to the east and gently sloping down to the Sea of Okhotsk. These hills are high leveling surfaces that are covered with ancient Quaternary lavas.
3. The Central Kamchatka Depression is an intermountain depression, limited by sharp tectonic ledges and filled with glacial-lacustrine-alluvial deposits. Most of the depression is occupied by the Kamchatka River valley.
4. The zone of the Eastern Ridge and its spurs, as well as the hills of the Eastern volcanic highlands, elongated in the northeast direction. The system of spurs includes the following ridges: Ganalsky, Valaginsky, Tumrok, Kumroch and other smaller ones. The altitude rarely exceeds 1200-1500 m, despite the low altitude, the typical high-alpine terrain with pronounced glacial forms.
The elevations of the volcanic highlands include a number of plateaus or horst-anticlinoriums, each of which includes groups of active volcanoes. For example, a horst-anticlinorium located in close proximity to the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, on the left bank of the Avacha River. It includes the Koryakskaya (3456 m) and Avachinskaya (2741 m) hills.
5. To the east of the ridge zone there is a chain of mountainous peninsulas Kamchatsky, Kronotsky, Ozernoy, which are also sections of volcanic plateaus, a continuation of the volcanic highlands, 400-500 m high, sometimes up to 700 m, above which rise the cones of extinct and active volcanoes.
The eastern volcanic highlands look like a high plain (up to 750 m), divided into flat columnar lava plateaus - “barns” or “valleys”. These plateaus are dominated by volcanoes, the peaks of which are covered with eternal snow.
Tolbachinsky volcanic massif in the east of Kamchatka, in the southwestern part of the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes. From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to the massif is 343 km, to the nearest villages: Kozyrevsk, Mayskoye - from 50 to 68 km.
I offer you, friends, a series of photographs taken by Sergei Sapozhnikov during a tourist trip to Tolbachinsky Dol.
Basic moments
Kamchatka is sometimes called the “edge of geography,” and in Soviet times the name of this peninsula, one of the largest in the country, was firmly assigned to the last desks in school classes. They even joked about the students who took their places there: “He’s sitting in Kamchatka.” Indeed, this land is associated with such concepts as “distant”, “remote” and so on. However, today Kamchatka has undoubtedly become much closer than ever before. And all thanks to the active development of the region’s tourism infrastructure. What you won’t be offered here for a good rest: these are rich excursion programs, and exclusive tours with hunting and fishing, underwater sports, cruises along the famous Avachinskaya Bay, not to mention horseback riding and ornithological travel and, of course, medical and health-improving and cultural and ethnographic tourism. It is also worth mentioning snowmobile and helicopter tours, but this will not be a complete list.
Kamchatka bears against the backdrop of a volcanoKamchatka is a land of pristine nature, so it is not surprising that there are as many as 3 state reserves, 5 natural parks, 19 nature reserves, which are also protected by the state, and 169 other unique natural sites. A total of 18% of the territory of this remote, in many ways harsh, but so alluring region is protected. Thus, the UNESCO World Heritage List includes 6 specially protected local natural sites, united by the common name “Volcanoes of Kamchatka”. But at the same time, no statistics, even the most impressive, can replace those unforgettable feelings and emotions that await everyone who sets foot on this earth at least once. Today we say to everyone: welcome to Kamchatka!
Geography and climate
Kamchatka stretches 1200 km in length, but its width is half that – 500 km. This elongation provided the peninsula with the role of a natural border between the Pacific Ocean, the Bering and Okhotsk Seas, which wash the region on three sides. On the eastern side are the Commander Islands, in the south – the Kuril ridge, which is part of the Sakhalin region. In the north, already by land, the peninsula borders on the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, in the northwest – on the Magadan Region.
Kamchatka is a kingdom of mountain ranges: wherever you cast your gaze, you are sure to meet your gaze with them. The local mountain-volcanic relief originates in the distant geological past, when, apparently, the peninsula was either absorbed by the ocean or freed from its embrace. Numerous volcanoes burned this region with fire and ash in ancient times. A significant part of them, namely 141, became extinct over time, but 28 volcanoes are still active today. Earthquakes also remain a common occurrence in Kamchatka: local seismic stations record up to eight hundred tremors per year.
Mountain range panoramaThe peninsula, as well as the Karaginsky and Commander Islands, form a subject of the Russian Federation within the Far Eastern Federal District - Kamchatka Territory, which appeared on the map of the country on July 1, 2007 as a result of the merger of the Kamchatka Region and the Koryak Autonomous Okrug. The administrative center of the region is the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
The Kamchatka Territory is one of the largest regions in the Russian Federation: its area exceeds 464 thousand km², which is 2.8% of the country’s territory. However, it cannot be called densely populated: only 345 thousand people live here, which is 0.2% of the Russian population. They are commonly called Kamchadals, and they are engaged in reindeer husbandry, hunting, fishing and processing of fish, logging, and ship repairs.
Speaking about the climate of the peninsula, it should be noted that it is greatly influenced by the proximity of the waters of the Okhotsk and Bering Seas, as well as the Pacific Ocean. These vast expanses of water influence seasonal temperature fluctuations and give the climate, especially in coastal areas, a maritime character. In general, the weather conditions of Kamchatka can be called oceanic: they are relatively mild, characterized by a large amount of precipitation - up to approximately 2000 mm per year. The height of the snow cover is also quite impressive: 2.5-3 m. The average temperature in winter and summer remains unchanged for many years: in July +13 degrees Celsius, in January – 16.4 degrees minus.
In the south of the peninsula (that’s probably why it’s south) there are no severe frosts in winter, but, oddly enough, in summer it’s not at all hot here - there are a lot of rainy days and fogs are frequent. But in the northern and remote areas of Kamchatka, the climate takes on a distinctly continental character, influenced by the large expanses of land on the Asian continent and the protection from the seas provided by mountain ranges. These features make winter longer, and, on the contrary, shorten the summer period. It is not surprising that most excursion tours are organized in early summer, and trips in winter are less frequent. In the central part of the region, winter temperatures can reach -40 degrees, but in summer the heat reaches 30 degrees.
Another special feature of Kamchatka’s climate is the presence of strong winds. They bring with them heavy rainfall to the peninsula, the largest amount of which falls in the southern regions. In general, speaking in general, the weather in Kamchatka changes a hundred times a day. However, this circumstance does not bother the local population in any way. Kids go out to frolic outside even in a snowstorm, ride sleds, and make snow women. Both children and adults do not pay attention even to earthquakes: for them, 3-4 points are “little things in life.”
History of Kamchatka
Since ancient times, the territory of modern Kamchatka has been inhabited by representatives of various nationalities: Ainu, Koryak, Itelmen, Kamchadal. According to one version, the name of the entire peninsula came from the name of the latter.
The first Russians to visit these areas are considered to be Mikhail Stadukhin and his companions, who went here in 1651. For two whole months they wandered in search of the Penzhina River. As a result, they stumbled upon a right tributary and, having rafted along it on kochas, explored the western coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Around the same time, industrialist Sava Anisimov and former Cossack Leonty Fedotov settled in these areas. By modern standards, these were real crime lords, because, being very enterprising, they found a way to impose tribute on local communities while remaining completely unpunished.
In 1697, the expedition of Vladimir Atlasov, consisting of 120 people, reached the eastern coast of Kamchatka. She set off from the Anadyr fort and overcame the very difficult Koryak ridge to cross. After this, brave travelers explored the west coast. They even built a fort in the upper reaches of the Kamchatka River, which they called Verkhnekamchatsky. In 1700, Atlasov met with Semyon Ulyanovich Remezov, an encyclopedist and cartographer of Siberia. The result of their cooperation was a more detailed and reliable map of the Kamchatka Peninsula with all the necessary descriptions.
The development of the territory of this rather harsh region at the beginning of the 18th century deepened even more. The southern coast of Kamchatka was explored by the expedition of Vitus Bering in 1729, as a result of which Avacha Bay and Kamchatka Bay were put on maps. In 1740 the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky was founded. A year later, the Bolsheretsky fort was erected, an office and a command post were located on its territory, as well as food warehouses and even a church was erected. There were also trading shops here, as well as four dozen private houses. In addition, a military garrison of 70 soldiers was stationed in the fort.
In 1803, the Kamchatka region was formed as part of the Russian Empire; in subsequent years, however, it more than once passed from one jurisdiction to another. In August 1854, the combined forces of British and French troops tried to capture the peninsula, but the troops of the Russian garrison successfully repelled the enemy attack.
Tourist potential of the peninsula
Despite the by no means tropical climate, the Kamchatka Territory, this distant and fabulous land, is attractive to tourists and receives them all year round. The development of relevant infrastructure has recently received a noticeable impetus here. In such picturesque places as the Valley of Geysers, Lake Kurilskoe, Nalychevsky Natural Park, the Opale and Zhupanova rivers, as well as at the Khodutkinsky, Malukinsky and Tumrok hot springs, tourist camping centers, hunting lodges and even entire hunting camps, shelters, and parking lots are equipped.
Great opportunities for the development of ecological, sports, mountain and ski tourism, as well as sport fishing and hunting, diving, rock climbing, snowmobile and dog sled racing, open up thanks to the presence of volcanoes and glaciers, thermal and mineral springs, that is, local natural diversity and most its flora and fauna untouched by civilization.
The list of tourism opportunities in Kamchatka also includes hiking or trekking, rafting on lowland and mountain rivers, which can be combined with both sports and recreational fishing, climbing mountain peaks, descending from volcanoes using helicopters, and extreme ski tourism. Separately, it should be said about diving: despite the fact that Kamchatka waters are cold, their flora and fauna are in no way inferior to tropical seas.
Sights of Kamchatka
Not far from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 30 km to the north, stretches the majestic Avacha group of volcanoes. Two of them - Avachinsky, whose height is 2741 m, and Koryaksky (even higher: 3456 m) - are active. This volcanic ridge is called the hallmark of the peninsula, and it is this ridge that greets travelers arriving at Yelizovo airport. The foot of the Avachinsky volcano has become a favorite vacation spot not only for tourists, but also for the Kamchatka residents themselves. In the summer, local residents take the already traditional “weekend routes” - with an ascent to its crater. In winter, skiing and skiing on snow-covered slopes are practiced. Avachinsky last demonstrated its formidable character in 1990-1991: the eruption was accompanied by the outpouring of powerful lava flows.
From the northwest, another ridge adjoins the Avachinskaya volcanic group, enclosing the valley of the Nalycheva River in a semicircle. Among these ridges there are also two active volcanoes: Dzendzur, its height is 2521 m, and Zhupanovsky, 2927 m. In the upper reaches of the river there are many hot and cold mineral springs. And in its valley lies the Nalychevo Natural Park, where many hiking trails lead, the routes of which are not complete without climbing to the craters of active volcanoes and swimming in healing mineral waters.
The most active volcano in Kamchatka remains Karymskaya Sopka, its height is 1568 meters. Sometimes it calms down, but not for long, and such periods of calm are certainly followed by eruptions with emissions of ash and lava, which can last for many years in a row. The last such eruption began in 1996 and continues to this day. Karymskaya Sopka is famous for its many hot springs located at its very foot. The Karymskaya River attracts tourists with a whole cascade of waterfalls, and hot springs pulsate on the shore of the lake of the same name.
One of the most visited “volcanic” areas of Kamchatka among tourists is the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes, which occupies an area of about 7,000 square kilometers and has 12 fire-breathing giants. Travelers are attracted by landscapes created by volcanic activity, cinder plateaus devoid of life, and piles of lava flows. It is here that Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the highest volcano in Eurasia (4850 meters), “hides”. Tourists and climbers visiting this area see with their own eyes the amazing volcanic processes and feel the powerful breath of the Earth. Climbing peaks and peering into craters, these courageous people test their will and stamina. On this unique territory, the Klyuchevsky Natural Park was formed back in 2002.
The Kronotsky State Biosphere Nature Reserve, one of the oldest protected areas in Russia, located on the eastern coast of Kamchatka, is rightfully considered one of the attractions of the peninsula. It owes its appearance to the Kamchatka sable, whose fur is so valuable that this representative of the local fauna has been considered the main wealth of the region for many centuries. If it were not for the ban on its fishing established in 1882, the animal would probably have disappeared.
On the territory of the reserve there are Boiling hot springs, or rather 14 km southwest of the Kizimen volcano or Shchapinskaya Sopka, in a swampy floodplain. They are also called Nizhne-Shchapinsky springs. The composition of the water is hydrocarbonate-magnesium, the total mineralization is 2-3 grams per liter. It also contains iron, phosphorus and manganese ions in large quantities. In addition, the water, similar in composition to the Caucasian Narzans, contains carbon dioxide.
A unique place of volcanic activity not only in the Kamchatka region, but also on the entire planet is the caldera of the Uzon volcano. Unlike its cone-shaped counterparts, it is a deep depression 9 by 12 km, which is approximately 40 thousand years old. The word “caldera” does not mean anything scary or life-threatening: it denotes such a natural phenomenon as steam coming from underground, which is why Uzon is also called “floating earth.” Walking on the ground of the caldera - and you will have such a unique opportunity if you find yourself here - literally to the marrow of your bones you feel the indomitable energy of the earth’s depths and you clearly begin to understand that our planet is alive, it breathes. In addition to the powerful columns of steam coming from the hot springs, the caldera is also notable for its mineral lakes, bubbling mud pots and numerous streams of various colors, which look simply magical against the backdrop of the surrounding rocks.
After mainland Kamchatka, the greatest interest among tourists is the Commander Islands, which are sheltered by the Pacific Ocean at a distance of 250 km east of the peninsula. The islands themselves and the 30-mile water area surrounding them constitute a single Komandorsky Natural Biosphere Reserve, where a zone of economic activity is preserved. Within its boundaries, the indigenous inhabitants of the islands - the Aleuts - practice both traditional and modern areas of environmental management.
The main attractions of the reserve are the rookeries of representatives of the local fauna: fur seals, sea otters, sea lions. Tourists are also attracted to the islands of Ariy Kamen and Toporkov, where you can see colonies of rare bird species. Among the attractions, one cannot fail to mention the amazing beauty of Gladkovskaya and Poludennaya bays, as well as the unique natural monument “Steller’s Arch”. It is a geological structure that really resembles an arch, the height of which is about 20.6 m. This rocky outcrop is the hallmark of the reserve, and it offers beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.
The Commander Islands have many mountain rivers rich in fish and cascading waterfalls. On Bering Island there is the only village of Nikolskoye in the entire archipelago, which is also the center of the Aleutian national region. This settlement is connected with Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky only by air. There is a unique local history museum, the collections of which contain rare exhibits. For example, a cannon from the legendary packet boat "St. Peter", the commander of which was Vitus Bering himself, or the skeleton of Steller's cow. Interesting examples of decorative and applied art of the Aleuts are presented here. If you find yourself in Commander Bay, you can visit the grave of Bering, the discoverer of the archipelago. Note to tourists: a visit to the Commander Islands is usually included in the tour program upon prior request and is a one- or two-day helicopter excursion.
Well, now we invite you to move to the Valley of Geysers, which is rightfully considered the “pearl” of this Far Eastern Russian peninsula. In general, geysers are a very rare phenomenon in nature; they are found only in a few areas of our planet, and when in 1941 they were discovered in Kamchatka by geographer T. Ustinova, this event became a real sensation. Today, the region has 22 large geysers, as well as many boiling colored lakes, pulsating springs and mud pots. The largest among the geysers are Zhemchuzhny, Fountain, Giant and Bolshoi, whose names speak for themselves.
The Valley of Geysers can be called exclusive, because it remains the only place on the planet where the geological processes of the formation of the Earth are still ongoing. And this is its main difference from the geysers of Iceland, New Zealand and the USA. The Kamchatka Valley welcomes tourists, showing itself very vigorously. Your eyes will see jets of swirling steam, multi-colored splashes rushing upward, and a slight smell of sulfur will invariably be detected in the air. Excursion programs usually start from the Big and Small geysers - the most powerful, beautiful and picturesque. Next comes the Goblin, striking with its unearthly form the Gates of Hell, the Double and the already mentioned Fountain. The biggest surprise for travelers is usually the eruptions of the valley's largest geyser, the Giant. Just imagine: it “shoots” about 27 tons of boiling water to a 30-meter height in just 45 seconds!
Geyser "Giant" 
Another unique and unforgettable place in Kamchatka is the Khodutkinsky hot springs, located in the south of the peninsula, at the foot of the Priemysh and Khodutka volcanoes (the latter, in fact, gave them their name). To be more precise, they are located right in the crater of a volcanic explosion. The uniqueness of the springs is that you can swim in them all year round.
No less famous and popular are other hot springs – Timonovskie, which are located relatively close to the city of Elizovo (90 km). Hot baths in them are indicated for those suffering from diseases of the musculoskeletal system, gynecological ailments, metabolic disorders, diseases of the digestive system, dermatological pathologies, lesions of the peripheral nervous system, and water from these sources can also be drunk. And she really helps!
Recreation and entertainment
So, your dream has come true, and in front of you it is Kamchatka! What should you devote your time to in this wonderful region, so multifaceted that at some point it may seem that you are not on Earth, but on some other unknown planet? The question, as they say, is a dead one. But we know the answer to it, and there will be several options for this answer.
Let's start with climbing volcanoes, the tops of which are piles of frozen lava of bizarre shapes and eternal glaciers shimmering in the sun, and the foothills are literally seething with life. Moreover, ascents - both dormant and active volcanoes - are carried out not only by climbers, but also by ordinary amateurs. The main condition: you must be physically healthy. Experienced guides accompany tourists to the top. They have appropriate equipment (helmet, suitable shoes) and are specially trained in the skills of moving on glaciers. The best time for climbing is from March to October.
Climbing the volcanoAnother favorite pastime for extreme sports enthusiasts is river rafting, which is usually practiced from mid-May to mid-October. The most popular Kamchatka rivers for this type of recreation are the Left Avacha, Bystraya (Malkinskaya), Opala, Pymta and the Plotnikova River.
If you are interested in leisurely and relaxing boat trips, you can go on an exciting boat trip along Avacha Bay. While skiing you will be able to explore a unique natural monument – the Three Brothers rocks. You will have access to the open Pacific Ocean: the boat will head towards Starichkov Island, which will be remembered for a long time, because it is near this piece of land that the seal breeding grounds are located. In addition, the ship comes close to bird colonies. And if you also see killer whales, this can be regarded as real luck.
Rocks "Three Brothers"
The Kamchatka region literally attracts hunters like a magnet, and this is not surprising: after all, the brown bear, one of the largest representatives of the bear family, lives here. Its prevalence on the peninsula is also impressive. According to available data, there are from 10 to 20 thousand brown bears here. Hunting for this animal is usually carried out in spring and autumn. Statistics show that approximately a thousand bears are hunted in the region throughout the year.
Avid hunters are no less proud of their bighorn sheep trophy, especially since its extraction requires considerable physical effort, not to mention a lot of practical experience and basic luck. Bighorn sheep found in Kamchatka are divided into two subspecies: Kamchatka bighorn sheep and Koryak bighorn sheep. August-November is the sport hunting season for it. On average, up to 150 individuals are caught per year.
Elk, polar wolf, wolverine, lynx and reindeer are also hunted in Kamchatka. Hunting for elk is carried out from autumn to mid-winter, but for the other named animals it is not so common. The reason is the small number of populations and the inaccessibility of places for shooting. Hunting for a very beautiful but rare bird, the stone capercaillie, is also allowed, but only for one week in May. Meanwhile, fishing remains one of the main industries in Kamchatka. Every year, Pacific salmon of various species swim into local rivers in large numbers. There are a lot of them – hundreds of thousands! Some fish are simply huge, their size exceeds a meter.
It is difficult to imagine Kamchatka, like Switzerland and other alpine states, without such entertainment as alpine skiing and snowboarding. The routes here are laid out for every taste: both for beginners and for extreme riders. Fields of untouched snow stretch for many kilometers between November and July, offering fantastic skiing opportunities. Only in Kamchatka and nowhere else can skiers descend directly into the craters of active volcanoes or go straight from the mountain slopes to hot springs.
Ski centers, in particular, are located directly in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - there are two of them. One is located in Krasnaya Sopka, whose height is 380 m, and the maximum length of the route is 975 m, and the second is in Pokrovskaya Sopka. The maximum length of the latter route is 1305 m, and the height is 418 m. Another popular ski center in the Kamchatka Territory is Mount Moroznaya, located 30 km northwest of the regional capital. The base has two rope tows serving five ski slopes of varying difficulty. Some are intended for professional athletes, others for beginners and those who have just decided to join this type of outdoor activity.
But the most remote area for alpine skiing remains the northern region of the peninsula, located 500 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. This area can be reached by air (2 hours by helicopter) and by land (8 hours by bus). In this part of the peninsula, as we said above, there is the largest cluster of volcanoes and the highest of all active in Kamchatka.
Are you into diving? The Kamchatka region is one of the best places on Earth where you can immerse yourself in this exciting activity. From May to October, dives are organized in the waters of the Avachinsky Gulf of the Pacific Ocean and the bay of the same name. You will have something to see here, because in different parts of Avachinskaya Bay there are sunken ships that lie at different depths, from 5 to 20 m. Many divers, especially beginners, are interested in how safe it is to visit these silent participants in sea disasters? Experts answer honestly: safety is relative. By the way, diving in Kamchatka is easily combined with spearfishing. On the same Avacha Bay, as many as 32 species of fish constantly live.
Transport
The road network in Kamchatka is underdeveloped, so the main transport that delivers both local residents and tourists to remote and inaccessible places is aviation, primarily helicopters. Regular passenger buses, minibuses and cars are usually used within many settlements, such as Ust-Kamchatsk, Milkovo, Ust-Bolsheretsk, Klyuchi, Esso, and, of course, in the capital of the Country of volcanoes and geysers - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
Almost all excursion sites in Kamchatka are usually located outside the cities and are located in mountains, volcanic plateaus, swampy lowlands of rivers and forests, that is, places where it is very difficult to lay roads, so you have to move through such terrain along washed-out tracks, dirt roads, potholes - in a word , off-road. In such cases, so-called all-terrain vehicles are often used to transport tourists, namely snowmobiles with passenger sleds, ATVs, URALs, GAZs, KamAZs.
There is no railway connection between the peninsula and the mainland, which affects the cost of fuel and, accordingly, the cost of travel, since maintaining and operating helicopters and large vehicles in proper condition is an expensive pleasure. Tourists going on vacation to Kamchatka should be prepared for some lack of comfort when moving around the region and relatively high travel costs. But all possible inconveniences are more than compensated by a wonderful time and relaxation, rich in the most vivid impressions and positive emotions.
Where to stay
There are no five-star hotels, as you may have guessed, in Kamchatka. Hotels and recreation centers are mainly located in Soviet-era buildings, but they provide everything necessary to ensure that travelers' vacation is as comfortable as possible. The rooms in them, as they say, suit all tastes and needs, ranging from simple and homely to luxury apartments. A good level of service, not to mention the delicious Kamchatka cuisine, is distinguished by local cafes and restaurants.
If you come to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, you can stay in one of the city hotels or in a rented apartment. Hotels are scattered literally throughout the city, so you can find a suitable option both in the historical center and in its business part. By the way, once you are in the capital of the region, you don’t have to spend all your time in a hotel: you can visit local theaters, museums or visit a night entertainment establishment.
Hotel "Petropavlovsk"
For fans of a more relaxed and measured holiday, we can recommend the Paratunka sanatorium and resort area, located just 60 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. There are recreation centers here, which are small hotel complexes. Each of them is equipped with one or even several swimming pools with hot water from local mineral springs. Vacationers have a choice of both shared buildings and separately located cottages.
How to get there
In the city of Elizovo, 30 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, there is an airport that accepts flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as Magadan, Vladivostok, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Rostov-on-Don, Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk.
We have already said above that there are no railways on the Kamchatka Peninsula. To the above, we add that there are no regular passenger sea flights here.
Despite the fact that many believe that the volcanoes of Kamchatka are not bloodthirsty, in fact, they owe the small number of victims primarily to the fact that people avoid building houses at their feet - there are from 28 to 36 active volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula (depending on the type of classification ) and a huge number of those that are considered asleep or extinct.
But no one wants to take risks, especially considering that volcanic activity here almost never subsides: only at the end of 2014 several Kamchatka hills woke up and began erupting at once - the Shiveluch, Zhupanovsky, Karymsky volcanoes, and others.
What is Kamchatka
The Kamchatka Peninsula is located in the northeast of Eurasia, located on the territory of the Russian Federation. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk, in the east by the Bering Sea, as well as the Pacific Ocean. The peninsula has an oblong shape and stretches from northeast to southwest for about 1200 km, while its greatest width is almost 450 km. Kamchatka is connected to the continent by a narrow (a little less than a hundred kilometers) isthmus.
This peninsula is unique primarily because there are a huge number of volcanoes here - both long-extinct and dormant, and many that are actively active (the volcanoes of Kamchatka occupy about 40% of the entire area of the peninsula).
In total, scientists count about three hundred fire-breathing mountains here, so it is not surprising that volcanic eruptions and associated processes occurring at depth (primarily thermal springs and geysers) shape the local landscape.
The nature of this region is constantly changing, since about three or four volcanoes erupt lava here every year, revealing not only increased volcanic activity, but also causing seismic activity. Volcanoes and geysers of Kamchatka are a fairly typical phenomenon for local residents.
How Kamchatka was formed
The Kamchatka Peninsula belongs to the Pacific Ring of Fire, so the oceanic and continental plates constantly collide with each other here. A huge ridge was formed over the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, the total length of which was 2.5 thousand km. In the north of the newly formed ridge, in its wider part, the Kamchatka Peninsula arose, while in the south only individual peaks emerged from the water, forming the Kuril Islands.
It is worth noting that the relief of the peninsula consists of successive lowlands and mountain ranges. It was formed in this way: lava poured out from the bowels of the earth along deep faults and loose volcanic materials (ash, slag) were thrown up, forming high plateaus and volcanoes.
Over time, the volcanoes of Kamchatka have significantly decreased in size. This happened for several reasons:
- Powerful water flows eroded the slopes, forming ravines and gorges;
- The formed mountains were destroyed by wind, sharp temperature fluctuations and even constant melting/freezing of water;
- Glaciers crashed into the peninsula more than once, colliding with the ridges and destroying the rock.
At the same time, the tectonic plates have not stopped their activity and have been colliding with each other for many millennia almost as actively as before. This is one of the reasons that Kamchatka volcanoes have been active throughout the existence of the peninsula, gradually moving from west to east, forming lowlands, two main mountain systems and other hills:
- The Western Kamchatka Lowland, the maximum width of which is about forty meters, hills begin to appear closer to the Sredinny Range.
- The Sredinny Range is one of the main mountain systems of Kamchatka, the length of which is about 900 km and stretches along the watershed of the Sredinny Range, which is located in the center of the peninsula and expands to the south. There is only one active volcano here - Khangar, which last erupted more than 1.5 thousand years ago.
- Central Kamchatka depression with a length of 500 km. The Bystraya and Kamchatka rivers flow here, leading to the Bering Sea.
- The eastern volcanic zone is another, younger mountain system of Kamchatka, stretching from north to south along the entire peninsula. It includes almost all active volcanoes of Kamchatka and about 70% of thermal springs.
Klyuchevskaya Sopka
The height of Klyuchevsky volcano is constantly changing and ranges from 4,750 to 4,850 meters, making it the highest active volcano in Eurasia. It erupts mainly once every 5-6 years and even more often: despite the fact that in 2013 it threw ash to a height of 12 km above sea level, already in January 2015 it woke up again and erupted a six-kilometer column of ash and a huge amount of lava.
Avachinskaya Sopka
Avachinsky volcano is active and located in the north of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - 25 km. Its height is a little more than 2.7 thousand meters, the top is cone-shaped. Avachinsky volcano has a huge crater, the diameter of which is almost half a thousand meters, the height is 700 meters. In its upper part (together with the nearby Kozelskaya Sopka) there are 10 glaciers, the total area of which exceeds ten kilometers of volcanoes.
Since Avachinsky volcano is located not far from Petropavlovsk, and the climb to it is quite simple and takes 6 to 8 hours along a paved path, it is one of the most visited volcanoes in Kamchatka.
Koryak hill
One of the most famous volcanoes of this mountain system is the Koryaksky volcano, located 35 km from Petropavlovsk, whose height is about 3.5 thousand meters. At the same time, local residents cannot imagine the city without it: in good weather it can be seen from almost any points of the city.
In terms of volcanic activity, the Koryaksky volcano is relatively safe (the last major eruption was observed here in the 50s of the last century).
In 2008, there was a release of volcanic gas that could be seen even from space, and the smoke plume stretched for almost 100 km and reached Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
Recently, the Koryaksky volcano, thanks to its extremely steep slopes, has increasingly attracted the attention of climbers. Another advantage for them is that, due to the difficult climb to this mountain, there are no such massive ascents as on more accessible hills. Therefore, only an experienced, well-prepared climber can climb the Koryaksky volcano, otherwise it could very well end in tragedy.
Karymskaya Sopka
Another interesting mountain of the Eastern Range is the Karymsky volcano, whose height is almost 1.5 thousand m. It is extremely active - since the mid-19th century, geologists have recorded about twenty eruptions here (over the past ten years the Karymsky volcano has erupted twice), while , despite the fact that it is separated from Petropavlovsk by 115 km, in the event of strong emissions, volcanic ash reaches there too.
Mutnovskaya Sopka
Mutnovsky volcano is located eighty kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Its height is about 2.3 km and it consists of several cones, which over time merged into a single massif. The northwestern cone, despite its small crater (2 by 1.5 m), has all the signs of volcanic activity.
Despite the fact that the Mutnovsky volcano is active (in total, geologists have recorded about 16 eruptions, the last of which was in 2000), it reminds of itself only by the emissions of volcanic gases and the presence of a huge number of thermal springs - this is where one of the largest geothermal deposits is located on our planet.
Zhupanovskaya Sopka
Seventy kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (in the southwestern side) is the Zhupanovsky volcano, whose height is almost 3 thousand m. This is one of the most active volcanoes of recent times: in recent years it has been erupting extremely actively, and the release of volcanic ash in January 2015 reached 5 km above sea level. Currently, the Zhupanovsky volcano has an orange aviation hazard code - and all tourists who find themselves near it are advised to leave the area.
Gorely Volcano
Gorely volcano is located in the southwest of Petropavlovsk (80 km). This volcano is active, its height is almost 2 km above sea level and it is located in the south of the peninsula. It consists of eleven superimposed cones and thirty craters, the length of which is three kilometers along the ridge. Some of them are filled with acid, others with fresh water. In total, scientists have recorded about 50 eruptions of this hill.
In former times, the Gorely volcano was so active that the underground magma chamber was completely devastated, which is why the plateau gave way and fell down into the resulting voids, forming the volcanic caldera.
Since the eruptions did not stop, a ridge subsequently grew inside it. At the same time, there was so much lava that it even flowed outside the caldera: one of its flows moved in a north-west direction for 9 km, the other – in a south-west direction – for 15 km.
The last time the Gorely volcano was active was in 2010, and this process was accompanied by seismic activity and significant emissions of steam and gas. Over the past few years, this mountain has been silent and does not show itself in any way. Geologists say that the period of rest between eruptions averages about twenty years, and the longest break was as much as sixty (for this volcano, this is quite a long time).
Kronotskaya Sopka
Kronotsky volcano, whose height exceeds 3,538 meters, and the top has a regular ribbed cone. Eruptions at this stratovolcano occur, however, rarely - the last time this happened was in 1923. Not far from it is the famous Valley of Geysers.
Volcano Shiveluch
Shiveluch Volcano is the northernmost active volcano of the peninsula; it is separated from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky by more than 400 km. It has been extremely active lately: in January 2015, ash emission was about 6 km above sea level, and ash clouds were carried 200 km westward.
Currently, the Shiveluch volcano has a height of 3283 meters, whereas previously it was much higher, but as a result of extremely strong eruptions at the beginning of the 21st century, it became lower by 114 meters. Three years later, the Shiveluch volcano threw volcanic ash and lava from its depths to a height of more than ten kilometers - its activity turned out to be so strong that part of its dome collapsed, but a crevice thirty meters deep also formed in it.
Kamchatka is a peninsula that is one of the richest territories in the world in terms of recreational and natural resources. Glaciers and volcanoes, mineral and thermal springs, the famous Valley of Geysers and fauna and flora untouched by civilization in most places have created the prerequisites for the development of sport fishing and eco-tourism. Of interest not only to domestic but also to foreign travelers are turbulent rivers and active volcanoes, mountain peaks over four thousand meters high and the waters of coastal seas with rich ichthyofauna.
Geographical position
The Kamchatka Peninsula on the map of Russia is located in its easternmost part. Its territory stretches from northwest to southeast for more than one and a half thousand kilometers.
The geographical position of the Kamchatka Peninsula on the map is between Chukotka and the Kuril Islands. From the west its territory is washed by the Sea of Okhotsk, and from the east by the waters of the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
This entire territory with its adjacent areas is the Kamchatka Territory - a subject of the Russian Federation. Moreover, the total area of this region is 472.3 thousand square meters. Administrative center of the subject -
Climate
Kamchatka is a peninsula whose weather conditions are influenced by vast expanses of water. Cold currents of the seas (Bering and Okhotsk) significantly reduce the average annual temperatures of air masses. This has a particularly unfavorable effect on the warm season.
The absence of severe frosts in winter and heat in summer are the weather conditions that are characteristic of the southern part of the territory under consideration. The Kamchatka Peninsula, whose coastal climate is maritime, is characterized by a large number of rainy and foggy days.
Moving deeper and further north, you can notice a change in weather conditions. The climate of these areas is more continental. It is influenced by the landmass of the Asian continent. This territory is protected from sea air masses by mountain ranges. These factors influence the lengthening of winter, characteristic of these latitudes, and the shortening of the summer period.
Another feature of the Kamchatka climate is the location of the territory in a zone of cyclonic intense activity. Due to this, strong winds often blow on the peninsula. Cyclones bring precipitation with them. Most of them fall in the southern regions of Kamchatka (up to 1200 millimeters throughout the year).
Natural phenomena
Kamchatka is a peninsula on which a special combination of climatic and physical-geographical conditions contributes to the emergence of dangerous hydrological processes. These include mudflows and snow avalanches, catastrophic and sharp rises in river levels after large amounts of rain, as well as channel deformations, ice jams, etc.
Kamchatka is a peninsula that is part of the so-called fire belt, which includes volcanic ridges. Mountain-building and other geological processes often occur here. They result in earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Relief
The entire surface of the Kamchatka Peninsula is a territory in which there is an alternation of parallel strips of volcanic ridges and lowlands. Thus, along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk there are hummocky tundras, swamps and ridges overgrown with forest. This is the territory in which the Western Kamchatka Lowland is located. To the east of it stretches the largest mountain system of the peninsula - the Sredinny Range. It is dissected by gorges and river valleys. The northern part of the Sredinny Range has preserved traces of active volcanic activity, which was observed here relatively recently.
The highest point of this mountain range is This is an active volcano (3621 m), the top of which is covered by a powerful ice cap. The Kamchatka Peninsula, the relief of which behind the Sredinny Ridge turns into a vast depression, carries the water of two rivers - Kamchatka and Bystraya - from this territory to the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk. Next is the Vostochny ridge. It stretches for six hundred kilometers. The Kamchatka Peninsula, the relief of which in this area includes a mountain range, is represented by the following ridges:
Ganalsky, having pointed tops and jagged ridges. - Valaginsky, which includes the active Kizimen volcano (the highest point is located at an altitude of 2485 km); - Kumroch and Tumrok (in the north).
The next zone of the peninsula is most visited by tourists. This is where the Eastern Volcanic Region is located. The territory stretches from the southern part of the peninsula (from Cape Lopatki) to the northern. This area ends (he is active).
The Kamchatka Peninsula, whose volcanoes are concentrated precisely in this territory, is very attractive to tourists. The natural attractions of the region are concentrated here, as well as most of the cold mineral and thermal springs.
Rivers of Kamchatka
The peninsula is characterized by a rather dense hydrographic grid. A little more than six thousand both large and small rivers flow through its territory. Basically, their length does not exceed two hundred kilometers. Only seven carry their waters more than 300 km. The largest river on the peninsula is Kamchatka. It has a length of more than seven hundred and fifty kilometers.
Almost all rivers are turbulent. Many of them have rapids and waterfalls. The largest rivers of the peninsula are Bolshaya and Kamchatka. They are navigable only in the lower part near the mouth.
In volcanic areas there are so-called dry rivers. Water appears in their beds only when the snow melts.
Lakes of Kamchatka
The peninsula's numerous reservoirs have different origins. Lakes in lowlands and floodplain areas of rivers are often swampy. One of these is Nalychevo. At higher elevations, the lakes occupy depressions of hilly terrain. The largest of them are the Dvukhyurtochnoye and Nachikinskoye reservoirs.
Many lakes were formed as a result of volcanic activity. Some of them (Karymskoye, Kurilskoye, etc.) are located in depressions that arose when certain sections of the earth's crust subsided, or in explosion craters. There are lakes located in volcanic craters (Kangar, Ksudach, Uzon), as well as in tectonic depressions (Askabachye).
The largest reservoir on the peninsula is a reservoir formed in a river valley that was blocked by lava flows. This
Flora
Where the Kamchatka Peninsula is located, strong winds blow and there is a short summer. These factors, as well as the isolation of the territory from the mainland and loose volcanic soils, gave a special character to the vegetation of the harsh region. The species composition of the flora is not particularly rich. There are just over a thousand fern and flowering plants here. Among them there are species that are not found anywhere else.
Forests on the peninsula occupy one third of its area. White and stone birch, alder and spruce, Kuril larch and willow, rowan and poplar, hawthorn and bird cherry grow here. Berry bushes are represented by honeysuckle and lingonberry, blueberry and crowberry. Cranberries are found in swampy areas.
In high mountain areas, dwarf species of alder, birch and willow grow. Shelomaynik is widespread. On the high mountain plateaus you can find only unpretentious tundra vegetation.
Fauna
The natural areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula are favored by bighorn sheep and brown bears, wild deer and elk. Here you can find marmot and hare, muskrat and otter, sable and mink, fox and arctic fox, wolverine and squirrel, lynx and wolf. Steller sea lions and seals, as well as bearded seals, live in the coastal areas of the seas. On the Commander Islands you can find seals and sea otters.
Among the birds there are species that remain on the peninsula in winter. However, some birds fly to warmer climes. The list of permanent residents in these places includes wood grouse and golden eagles, crows and cuckoos, eagles and magpies. You can find wintering swans on the peninsula.
The numerous rivers of Kamchatka are constantly inhabited by grayling and char, as well as mykiss. Salmon fish come here to spawn. In some lakes you can find crucian carp. In the seas surrounding the peninsula, flounder and cod, pollock and herring are caught.
Tourism
Kamchatka Territory is a unique mountainous region of Russia. Here you can see ecologically clean wildlife with fauna and flora untouched by human activity. The attention of travelers will be attracted by the unique phenomena of the peninsula, natural monuments and the original culture of its few nationalities.
Tourist routes in Kamchatka, as a rule, pass through areas isolated from civilization, where wild mountain nature is located. There is a high probability that the weather will suddenly worsen, hurricane winds will blow and heavy rain will fall.
Features of holidays in Kamchatka
Those who are planning to spend their holidays in the easternmost region of Russia should keep in mind that there is no possibility of access to the main tourist sites by public transport. Any means (air or ground) can only be delivered individually to its destination. In this case, you will also need to pay for the return flight. If you decide to relax on your own, then keep in mind that Kamchatka is the territory of modern mountain building processes. On the peninsula there are constant changes in relief and a lot of magnetic nature. That is why you should not rely on maps and satellite navigation when passing routes. In the event of an emergency or an emergency, you can only rely on yourself.
A special feature of holidays in Kamchatka is that there are no regular short excursions and routes on the peninsula. The only exceptions are small cruise trips along Azachinskaya Bay. Helicopter excursions with a visit to the Valley of Geysers are also available here.
The Kamchatka Peninsula is the most unique mountain region in Russia. The Kamchatka region is located in the northeast of Russia. It occupies the territory of the Kamchatka Peninsula, the part of the mainland adjacent to the north of the peninsula, as well as Karaginsky Island and the Commander Islands (Beringa and Medny). It is washed from the west by the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk, from the east by the waters of the Pacific Ocean and its Bering Sea. Kamchatka has quite a few attractions, but the most important and impressive thing that it is famous for is its volcanoes, its “stone torches”. There are few places on the planet where you can see so many volcanoes at the same time.
Tourists are attracted by the exotic. These are landscapes of unique beauty; rafting on fast mountain rivers; climbing volcanoes and observing the eruption of one, and sometimes two or three of the 30 active Kamchatka volcanoes; summer skiing and snowboarding from snow-covered mountain slopes; bathing in healing thermal mineral springs; visiting bird colonies, rookeries of sea animals, the caldera of the Uzon volcano and the beautiful Valley of Geysers - one of the seven wonders of Russia, as well as the opportunity to get acquainted with the most interesting ancient culture of the indigenous peoples of the North - the Koryaks, Itelmens, Evens and Chukchis. But still, let's return to volcanoes...
The volcanoes of Kamchatka are an unforgettable sight. There are several active and many extinct volcanoes in Kamchatka, which occupy about 40% of the peninsula's territory. Active volcanoes mean not only active ones that emit magma, but also those exhibiting fumarolic activity. In general, during the historical period there were not many eruptions that were dangerous to human life. Volcanoes and the areas around them are constantly changing.
The volcanoes of Kamchatka are not known for their bloodthirstiness: in the memory of people living here, there are not many eruptions that could become deadly. The dark silhouette of a volcano in the clear pre-dawn sky does not pose a threat - for residents of Kamchatka this is usually a sign of good weather. And yet, being close to volcanoes, it is difficult to convince yourself that these are nothing more than geological objects. 
Each of the Kamchatka volcanoes is beautiful in its own way. There are more than three hundred of them on the peninsula, and twenty-nine of them continue to operate!
Cheap flights to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
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Uzon Caldera
The caldera (this term refers to a ring-shaped failure) of the Uzon volcano was formed about 40 thousand years ago on the site of a huge volcano, destroyed by a series of explosive eruptions.
The last cataclysm inside the caldera (8500 years ago) left a trace in the form of an explosion crater about a kilometer in diameter. Over the ensuing centuries of active hydrothermal activity on Uzon, a unique symbiosis of volcanism and wildlife was formed. The bottom of the caldera is a fairly flat depression, raised 650 meters above the sea. The sides, composed of black basalts, rise another 500-960 meters. The lowest parts of the caldera are swampy and tundra areas in the southwest and west. Here there is a large, but shallow and cold Central Lake, a warm, non-freezing Fumarole Lake and a mass of small and medium-sized warm and cold lakes and swamps. From the south, marshy, swampy tundra with areas of dry meadows, abundantly overgrown with berries - blueberries, honeysuckle and crowberry - also approaches the thermal field directly. 
In the east and northeast there is a slight increase in the caldera floor level. Here, as well as on the low hills in the western part of the caldera, evergreen dwarf cedar grows. In the central part, closer to the northern side of the caldera, there are rare clumps of fairly tall birches. There are both Kamchatka stone birches with curved branches, disfigured by growths, and straight-trunked ones.
Located on the territory of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, Uzon is classified as a specially protected natural site.
The diameter of the caldera is about 10 kilometers, and in it, behind the steep walls, as if in a museum, almost everything that Kamchatka is famous for is “collected”: hot springs and cold rivers, poisonous mud pots and clean lakes full of fish, berry tundra and birch forest, mountains and swamps, animals and birds. Geologists and botanists, geochemists and microbiologists, zoologists and volcanologists - scientists of various specialties strive to get to Uzon. Here, in hot springs, as if in laboratory retorts, natural minerals are born; incredible algae and bacteria live in the scalding solution, for which poisonous boiling water is the most desirable environment; huge bears, shrouded in steam, wander through the hot Uzon clay; Swans call to each other on warm lakes:
There is hardly a place on Earth where autumn beauty is as bright as it is short. Autumn Uzon is unforgettable: the tundra is furiously red, stone birches sparkle with gold, columns of steam, like the smoke of sacrificial fires, rise vertically into the blue sky. In the mornings, quiet music sounds in the birch groves: frost-covered leaves are falling, ringing. But with the first squalls of autumn storms, the foliage flies away, the tundra fades under the frost, and only mud pots boil and boil multi-colored clay.
Volcano Klyuchevskoy
The largest active volcano in Eurasia. Height – 4750 meters above sea level. It has an almost perfect, unusually beautiful cone. It is part of the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes along with Kamen, Bezymyanny, Ploskiy Tolbachik and others. The age of the volcano is about 8000 years.
The first eruption of Klyuchevsky volcano was recorded in 1697 during his famous campaign by Vladimir Atlasov, the conqueror of Kamchatka. On average, volcanic eruptions occurred once every five years, in some periods - annually, sometimes continuously for several years. However, they never imagined a serious danger for the city of Klyuchi, which is located 30 kilometers from the volcano. Eruptions are accompanied by explosions, gas-ash emissions and ashfalls.
Grayish clouds of vapors and gases swirl above its top without ceasing. When there is no wind, they rise in a column to the sky and, having reached the atmospheric current somewhere, stretch out into the distance in a giant trail. The soaring either weakens or intensifies, and then explosions are heard, and a reddish glow flashes over the top.
This normal state for it can last for years, but once every 5–6 years, and sometimes less, having accumulated a reserve of energy, the volcano enters the next active phase of its activity. Powerful explosions continuously follow each other, hot volcanic bombs fly out in the thousands, luminous streams of lava flow down the slopes, ash clouds rise for many kilometers, covering the surrounding area with a gray coating of ash, turning a sunny day into twilight or dark night.
This is a relatively low (1486 meters) and relatively young volcano - the most active volcano in Kamchatka. In the 20th century alone, 23 eruptions occurred, the last one began in 1996 and, gradually fading, lasted more than two years. Karymsky eruptions are accompanied by explosions, emissions of ash, and bombs from the central crater. As a rule, the lavas of the Karymsky volcano are so viscous that fire flows do not always reach the foot of the volcano. And although the height of the volcano is small compared to the volcanoes of Klyuchevskaya Sopka, it nevertheless stands out clearly in relief with its regular, slightly truncated cone-shaped peak, on which there is a shallow (about 30 meters) bowl-shaped crater. 
The last eruption of Karymsky was different in that, simultaneously with it, an underwater eruption began in Lake Karymsky, which is located 6 kilometers from the volcano. During the 18-20 hours that the eruption lasted, more than 100 underwater explosions occurred, accompanied by tsunami waves up to 15 meters high. The lake was literally boiling: its temperature rose sharply, and the content of salts and acids quickly reached such a concentration that all lake life died, including the herd of “kokanee” - lake sockeye salmon, specially settled in Lake Karymskoye by ichthyologists. As a result of this eruption, Lake Karymskoe turned from an ultra-fresh reservoir into the world's largest natural reservoir with acidic water.
Volcano Maly Semyachik(Maly Semyachik)
This is a volcanic ridge about three kilometers long, on the crest of which there are three craters. The site of modern activity is the southwestern part of the volcano’s summit, which is a deep oval-shaped crater with a diameter of about 860 m - the Troitsky crater. The Troitsky crater was formed about 400 years ago as a result of a powerful explosion followed by collapses. Modern eruptions of the Troitsky crater occurred in 1804, 1852-1854.
At the bottom of the crater there is a lake with light green water. The unusual color of the water is caused by small particles of sulfur carried out by underwater fumaroles. 
In the crater lake, a deposition of sand layers was discovered, which was interrupted by an outpouring of lava. But later, in the same crater, the formation of sandstone began again, which was then cemented by iron oxides. Scientists believe that this combination can lead to the formation of new life.
Maly Semyachik is the only active volcano in the area with known eruption dates. Today Maly Semyachik is one of the wonders of Kamchatka nature, and anyone who managed to reach its foot simply must climb to the edge of the crater. The spectacle that opens up to the eyes is unforgettable: a two-hundred-meter crater drop, a steaming green lake, a riot of colors on the inner walls. In clear, windy weather you can descend into the crater. You can stand on the slate-black beach, admiring the emerald, poisonous surf and tornado-like “genies” rising above the surface of the lake. But the coastal “breeze” that causes coughing will soon force you to leave this abode of underground “spirits”.
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Gorely Volcano
The active Gorely volcano is located 60 km in a straight line from Petropavlovsk, on the high Gorelinsky Dole, 900–1000 meters above sea level. The volcano is a ridge-shaped massif 1829 meters high, rising from the bottom of an elliptical caldera. Previously, there was a large shield volcano with a base diameter of about 30 km. The top part of it sank, forming a caldera 9 × 14 km, from the bottom of which eruptions began through a chain of craters that appeared at different times. The craters overlapped each other, the growing cones merged. As a result, a modern elongated massif was formed. 
The remains of an old volcano surround the caldera with a low ridge. The bottom of the caldera in the northern and southern parts is flat, covered with sand, slag and lava fragments. Gorely volcano, which is a chain of 11 craters superimposed on each other, with lakes, fumaroles, as well as many (about 40) side cinder cones with lava flows. During the volcano's past eruptions, lava flows were interspersed with ejections of loose materials. Lava flows and blocks cover almost the entire caldera floor and the slopes of the central cones. Lava flows also flowed outside the caldera. One of them - the northwestern one stretches to the Left Karymchina River for 9 km, the other - the southwestern one, 15 km long, filled a large section of the valley Left Opal. Apparently, the volcano got its name due to the abundance of lava - “burnt rock”. In the last two centuries, only ash eruptions have occurred. The eruptions are clearly visible from Petropavlovsk.
Despite the inconspicuous appearance of this volcano, a collection of various craters on its summit part is completely unique. 
Avachinsky is an active, complexly constructed beautiful volcano of the Somma-Vesuvius type, with a perfect regular cone 2751 meters above sea level. There is no consensus on the origin of the word "Avacha". According to one version, the word “Avacha” takes its roots from the Itelmen name of Avacha Bay “Gshuabach”. “Kshchu” - “bay”, “Apache” - “father”. According to another version, the Itelmen called the Avacha River “Suaacha”, marked on the maps of the pioneers as “Vavacha” or “Avacha”. And according to the third version, from the word “Avachkh” - “fiery”, this is how the Itelmens called the Avachinsky volcano and the red-haired Russian Cossacks. Which Itelmen word became the primary source in the formation of the word “Avacha” remains unknown. 
Until recently, Avachinsky volcano was one of the most active in Kamchatka. It arose several tens of thousands of years ago, and its regular cone rose higher than the Koryak one. But gigantic explosions demolished its upper part and formed a caldera with a diameter of almost 4 km. The last eruption of Avachinsky occurred on February 25, 1945.
The active volcano Koryakskaya Sopka (Streloshnaya Sopka) is a true beauty, which in its height surpasses all other volcanoes in the Avacha group, its height is 3456 meters. The volcano’s cone is also memorable because deep incisions are clearly visible on it, even if they are covered with snow. Koryaksky and Avachinsky represent a magnificent panorama of the area, clearly visible from tens of kilometers away. 
The most active activity of the Koryaksky volcano coincided with Avachinsky, that is, it occurred 7 and 3.5 thousand years ago. The Koryakskaya Sopka volcano has its own characteristics. They are that it is very rarely in the active stage. Unlike its tireless neighbor Avachinsky, the Koryaksky volcano has awakened only three times in historical times and is still active today, but its activity is very moderate.
North-west of the Zhupanovskaya Sopka volcano is the Dzendzur volcano. This is a large but heavily destroyed stratovolcano, which is somewhat inferior in height to Zhupanovsky (its height is 2285 meters). On the southern side of the crater, a passage has formed with frozen lava flows of a rare rope shape, along which the Zhelob stream flows. 
There is no reliable information about the volcanic eruption in historical times. Of interest to tourists is the inspection of the Dzendzur fumarole field, the panorama that opens from the top of the volcano.
Volcano Vilyuchinsky
The Vilyuchinsky volcano is located southwest of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, immediately beyond the Avachinskaya Bay. The Vilyuchinskaya Sopka volcano is a natural monument, which is partially located on the territory of the South Kamchatka Natural Park, included in the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage List in 1996 in the category " Volcanoes of Kamchatka". The volcano is surrounded on three sides by the picturesque valleys of the Vilyucha, Paratunka and Bolshaya Sarannaya rivers. The volcano got its name from Vilyuchinskaya Bay. 
The volcano is extinct, represented by a regular cone, 2,173 meters above sea level. To the north of the Vilyuchinsky volcano there are volcanic formations represented by numerous small cinder cones and lava domes. Among them lie two lakes - Zelenoe and Topolevoye, which owe their appearance to the activity of these volcanoes. At the base of the volcano there are also more acidic rock varieties, and in the southeastern part there are hot springs.
The Ostryi Tolbachik and Plosky Tolbachik volcanoes (Tolbachik, Tolbachinskaya Sopka, Tuluach) form a large volcanic massif that occupies the entire southwestern part of the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes. The base of the massif is represented here by a shield volcano of middle-upper Pleistocene age. The diameter of this shield volcano is 22 km and the height is 1500 meters. By the end of the Upper Pleistocene, the Ostry and Plosky Tolbachik volcanoes formed on this pedestal. These are two fused stratovolcanoes with characteristic structural features, morphology and completely independent eruption centers. 
The Ostry Tolbachik volcano is a stratovolcano and has a sharp, icy peak. The southeastern part of the peak is represented by a large open cirque of collapse. The volcano reaches a height of 3682 m. Its lower part is covered by a thick cover of ice and firn, which has spread to the western part of the Plosky Tolbachik volcano. They are interesting both for scientists and for tourists and climbers. The volcano is extinct. Perhaps it operated in the Holocene, in parallel with the Plosky Tolbachik volcano.
The caldera of the Ksudach volcano is a natural monument located on the territory of the South Kamchatka Natural Park, included in the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage List in 1996 in the “Volcanoes of Kamchatka” category.
The ancient volcano Ksudach was formed at the turn of the early and middle Pleistocene and reached a height of 2000 m. Its activity rhythmically resumed several times, resulting in the formation of several calderas of different ages and volcanic cones. 
The entire eastern part of the caldera of the Ksudach volcano is occupied by two lakes – Klyuchevoye and Nizhneye. Lake Klyuchevoe has an oblong shape, its size is 4x2 km. It is surrounded on almost all sides by steep walls 400-500 meters high; On the northwestern shore there are thermal springs that form the Hot Beach. The heated sand and pumice platform stretches for a distance of up to 200 meters. Thermal water outlets are dispersed and seep through the fine pumice of the shore of Lake Klyuchevoe. Lake Nizhneye, 2 km long, has a drainage through the Teplaya River, which, a kilometer from the source, falls into a narrow gorge with a beautiful waterfall 10 meters high. The natural complex has a unique flavor. Currently, Ksudach is in the stage of weak fumarolic and hydrothermal activity.
Ksudach - one of the most exotic objects in Kamchatka - has been declared a Natural Monument of a landscape-geological nature.
Mutnovsky Volcano (Mutnovskaya Sopka, Mutnaya Sopka, Povorotnaya Sopka) is a natural monument, which is partly located on the territory of the South Kamchatka Natural Park, included in the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage List in 1996 in the “Volcanoes of Kamchatka” nomination.
Mutnovsky Volcano is one of the largest volcanoes in Southern Kamchatka, located 70 km from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. 
The Vulkannaya River, cutting through the bottom and western walls of the North-Eastern Mutnovsky crater, at the exit from it forms a powerful eighty-meter waterfall, and below it forms a deep canyon - Opasny. The canyon and waterfall give the volcano a unique aesthetic value and, along with other criteria, place it among the natural monuments of world significance.
Mutnovsky volcano is a unique object and for this reason attracts close attention of researchers and tourists.
Mutnovsky Volcano is also famous for the fact that on its slope there is the only geothermal station in Kamchatka, and not far from it you can see a kind of mini-valley of geysers, which many consider no less beautiful than its more famous original. Also not far from the active craters are thermal springs, the most notable of which are Severo-Mutnovskie and Dachnye with steam-gas jets, boiling boilers, warm lakes and heated swamps. The Vulkannaya River, emerging from the crater, forms a waterfall 80 m high and forms a deep “Dangerous” canyon in the loose sediments. The combination of these features gives Mutnovsky uniqueness and allows it to be considered on a par with the most outstanding thermal manifestations of the world.
On the banks of the Ozernaya River, there are the famous “Kutkhiny Bati” - pumice “obelisks” that resemble vertically placed giant boats. According to the Itelmen legend, Kuthu - the God and Creator of Kamchatka - before leaving the peninsula, he lived for some time near the Kuril Lake and fished in the sea and on the lake in these stone boats. Leaving Kamchatka, Kuthu placed his bats on the shore, and since then this place began to be considered sacred by the Kamchadals.
After an eruption, many volcanoes become silent for many years, entering the stage of fumarole activity. A fumarole is a stream of gas with a very high temperature: 300-500 degrees C and even 800 degrees C. Releases of vapors and gases with a lower temperature are called solfatars. Most of Kamchatka's active volcanoes are in the fumarole and solfataric phases of activity. The volcano is like a giant flask in which, according to the mysterious laws of nature, chemical substances are mixed, heated and reacted.
Mud pots and mud volcanoes are the small wonders of Kamchatka. They are found in different areas, but most of all in the Uzon caldera and the Valley of Geysers. You just need to inspect them with great care. Getting into boiling clay is much worse than just getting scalded: the clay is not boiling water, it cools slowly, and you can’t wash it off right away. One can only admire and envy the bears, watching how they dashingly cross the steaming thermal areas.
Mud volcanoes act almost like real ones: they smoke and “erupt,” only the intensification of their “volcanic activity” occurs after rain, and in dry, hot weather the volcanoes “fall asleep.”
Kamchatka is famous not only for its natural resources, the beauty of its landscapes and such natural phenomena that amaze the average person as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, geysers gushing water and steam, and salmon running. Kamchatka is also famous for its history. 
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