Kamchatka 
Kamchatka Peninsula in the far east of Russia. Kamchatka, a peninsula comparable in size to Japan, is washed by the Pacific Ocean and the Bering and Okhotskoe Seas.
This region is very sparsely populated, averaging less than 1 person per square kilometer. Most of the inhabitants live in the regional capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, but a traditional way of life continues in the peninsula's many scattered villages.
The pink area on the map of Russia is the Kamchatka Krai which includes some of the mainland to the north.
Time zone
Kamchatka time is 11 hours ahead of UTC (UTC+11) and 8 hours ahead of Moscow Time (MSK+8).
Climate
The climate is harsh in the northern region - sub-arctic, on the coast - the sea with the monsoon character in the inland areas - continental. Winter is long, snowy, average temperatures in January and February from -12 ° C ... -24° C. Summer is short, cool and rainy, the average temperature in July and August from 10 ° C up to 16 ° C .
Nature
During the spawning rivers of Kamchatka are attracting large numbers of tourists - fans of fishing, as well as natural fishermen - Kamchatka's bears. Many rivers of Kamchatka are good for the sport of rafting.
In the center of Kamchatka is found Eurasia's only Geyser Valley. More than 150 thermal springs are scattered throughout the peninsula.
Flora and fauna
In Kamchatka, about 220 species of birds. Of these, Pacific gulls, puffins, cormorants Bering Sea, the Pacific black guillemot, guillemot, Fulmars are representatives of the bazaars. Set of representatives of predatory fauna, including the Steller's sea eagle, sea eagle, golden eagle, peregrine falcon, osprey, hawk owl, etc.
Fauna of land mammals are: the Kamchatka sable, ermine, otter, hare, muskrat, fox, moose, caribou, bighorn sheep, lynx, polar wolf, skunk, weasel, etc. From the large predatory animals of the forest zone most visible and best known view was and remains the Kamchatka brown bear.
Though the flora and fauna, as is characteristic of northern regions, is not marked by diversity, more than half of the world's Steller's Sea Eagles, as well as the largest population of brown bears, are found here.
On Kamchatka you also find the last stretches of Siberian taiga.
The waters around Kamchatka are inhabitated by the rare gray whale and approximately 300,000 seals, sea lions, otters and other sea creatures.
Kamchatka is also home to one of the largest surviving wild salmon populations left in the world.
Considerable part of the Kamchatka peninsula is allotted for protected areas. Among them - the 3 state reserves, 5 national parks, 8 reserves and 23 federal - local, 105 natural sites, 2 spa areas, and some other types of protected areas.
Volcanoes
Volcanoes are the main attractions of the Kamchatka Peninsula. A total of Kamchatka has more than 160 volcanoes, of which 30 is considered active. The largest active volcanoes on the peninsula — Klyuchevskoy (the largest volcano in Eurasia with altitude 4750 m), Ichinsky, Koryak and Kronotsky hill.
Volcanoes are included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Since volcanic activity is associated formation of many minerals, as well as the manifestation of gidrogeotermalnoy activity: education fumaroles, geysers, hot springs, etc.
Tour Highlights:
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - one of the oldest cities in the Far East. Founded October 17, 1740. Panoramic city tour accompanied by a story about the nature of Petropavlovsk, on the volcanoes surrounding the city and hills. During the tour you will get acquainted with the history of the development banks Avacha Bay, the formation and structure of the city, its founders Bering, Chirikov, the heroic defense of the city from the Anglo-French squadron during the Crimean War, and also can enjoy an amazing panoramic view from the lookout on Nikolskaya hill.
Avacha bay is an extensive deep closed bay of round shape, an area about 215 km2, connecting with the Pacific Ocean rather narrow strait. Avacha Bay is one of the largest and most convenient bays in the world. Bay is very beautiful, thanks to the rocks, hills surrounding the beach. With bay views of the Koryak, Avachinsky, Vilyuchinsky volcano. At the entrance to the bay you can watch a rock "Three Brothers" are an official monument of nature and a symbol of Avachinskaya bay of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Of the large mammals found sea otters, sea calf, sea lions, humpback whales, killer whales and dolphins, among the birds - ducks, geese, gulls and others. On the shores of the bay can Avachinskaya bears, foxes and other animals.
Starichkov Island is a sanctuary, home to colonies of water birds. On this small piece of land is situated a few nests of white-tailed eagles, as well as maturation small agile Largo (variegated seals). If you are lucky, on the way to the island, you can see dolphins or killer whales. Starichkov Island is inhabited by colonies of the Bering Sea and the red-faced Cormorant, Pacific Gull, Kittiwake, Pacific, and spectacled guillemot, Slender-billed murres and Thick, ordinary old man, puffins and ipatki.
Bystraya (Rapid) River flows along the southern part of the Mid-Range of Kamchatka, its rate of flow - 0,5-2 m / sec. The depth of 1-3 meters, width of 20-100 meters.
These go on to spawn 40 thousand chinook salmon species, over 300 thousand individuals sockeye salmon, 20 million pink salmon species (in some crop years), over 100 thousand individuals of chum salmon and more than 200 thousand individuals coho salmon.
Bystrinsky region called "Kamchatka Switzerland" and the name corresponds to the best possible way to this beautiful natural sites. Natural hot water outlet in Esso are not too plentiful, but beneath the village was discovered underground hydrothermal pool, and now the hot water reaches the surface. Water is heated greenhouses and all the houses, as well as supplies of hot thermal water swimming pool located in the heart of the village.
No one visiting the village is complete without examination of the exposure Bystrinsky museum - the only ethnographic museum in the Kamchatka region. He is a kind of calling card Bystrinsky national region. Located in the center with. Esso, on the banks of the mountain freezing river Uksichan. Here you can see the unique items of shamanism, the original attributes of the Evens.
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The Valley of Geysers and Caldera of Uzon:
The Valley of Geysers - Geothermal Reserve on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Geyser Valley, a tributary of the Kronotsky Gulf Pacific, part of the Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve.Each of the geysers is of a certain mode, erupting in a characteristic only of his rhythm, but they all operate with clockwork precision. Temperature termoproyavleny - up to 98 So.
It's a health resort zone, located 30 kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Stretches along the river valley Paratunka and its tributaries at a distance of about 30 kilometers. Gained popularity because of the numerous hot springs. In each location there motels, recreation center or motel is thermal pool.
Kurilskoe Lake - the second largest freshwater lake, Kamchatka, is located in the South Kamchatka State Reserve and is the largest spawning ground for salmon on the peninsula. In the lake on the river Lakeland every year (from August to December) to spawn comes to 2.5 million individuals invaluable Ozernovskiy population of sockeye salmon. Sockeye salmon spawning along the coast and in the numerous rivers and streams flowing into the lake. It attracts large numbers of raptors and fish-eating birds (osprey, eagle, merganser) and animals (otter, fox, ermine, wolverine, bear). Animals in this period, feed almost exclusively on fish eggs and salmon. Neighborhood and the shores of Lake Kuril long been known as a place of maximum concentration of Kamchatka's brown bears. But not only the thrilling spectacle bear fishing will amaze you - the lake itself extraordinarily beautiful. Lake untouched by civilization, as it is located in the South Kamchatka Sanctuary and before it can fly a helicopter. It is located, surrounded by volcanoes Elijah hill and Wild Comb. Beautiful and its islands: Heart Alaid, Chayachy and Samang.
Natural Park “Nalychevo” - one of the finest places in Kamchatka. In it - all manifestations of Kamchatka nature: active volcanoes, hot and cold mineral springs, stone-birch forests, alpine meadows, scenic lakes and rivers, giant grass, the sea coast.
In the central part of the park in the intermountain basin in a relatively small area - 40 km2 - is concentrated several hundred from hot (with temperatures ranging from 14 to 74 ° C) and cold mineral springs. Thermal mineral water Nalychevo Valley raznobrazny, their resources are large, and balneology value invaluable. Water biggest Nalichevo hot springs are a very rare type of worldwide field such waters are rare.
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Khodutkinskiye thermal springs
Khodutkinskiye thermal springs on the bottom of the caldera, formed at the site of an ancient volcano Khodutka thyroid, a vast flat meadow, which is lined terraces of the river right Khodutka among kamenoberezovogo forests and tall grasslands are more than two dozen outlets of thermal waters. They form an extensive lake and river hot a length of 1 km and a width of 15-20 meters and a depth of 0.5 to 2 m. The river makes Hot 115 l / sec of water, heated to 49 `C (upper) to 37`C. The temperature of the sources located on the banks of the river and at the bottom, at 80 `C.
Malkinskiye hot springs are located in a picturesque area, 5 km east of s.Malki on the left bank r.Klyuchovki (left tributary Bystraya River). The river valley here has a width of 0,4-0,5 km and is bounded on both sides of hills, covered with stone-birch forests. In a small thermal area covered by gravel, is located 6 groups of griffins in which thermal water sources is mixed with cold water river.
Souvenirs
Traditional Kamchatka's souvenirs are crafts of stone, wood, leather, ivory, teeth and claws of a bear, traditional national beadwork.
In all bookstores and gift shops have literature on the Kamchatka Peninsula, DVD, video, brochures and maps.
At fish markets in abundance smoked: sockeye, chinook, coho, and Greenland halibut, red rockfish, greenling, salmon roe of various species of salmon, salted herring, as well as salt-cured flounder and smelt catfish. The assortment of fresh salmon and saltwater fish: saffron cod, cod, pollock, halibut, squid and octopus, Kamchatka frozen shrimp, canned variety.
Nuances: fresh and smoked fish, we recommend to buy at fish markets. Fresh fish in supermarkets, not sold frozen is not always better. It is best to buy fish at market as fresh fish vendors bring each day in the morning directly from the river, most vendors of smoked fish have a shop in the area of Petropavlovsk.
