Kamchatka (Russian: Камча́тка) is a 1,250-km-long 270,000 km2 peninsula in theRussian Far East, protruding into the northern Pacific Ocean.Kamchatka Krai is a county which also includes parts of the Russian mainland, and some small islands. Though larger thanCalifornia, the krai has only about 315 000 inhabitants (2018); most of them in or near the capital,Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The region bordersChukotka in the north and northeast andMagadan Oblast in the northwest.
Kamchatka is extremely geologically active and has numerousvolcanoes, geysers,hot springs, and even a lake of acid! It contains the southernmost expanse ofArctic tundra in the world and is notable for its wealth of Arctic wildlife, fish, game, and marine life. Furthermore, 19 of Kamchatka's volcanoes constitute the "Volcanoes of Kamchatka"UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- capital of the northern Koryakia region of Kamchatka.
— accessible only via helicopter, and home to the Kronotsky Volcano as well as the Valley of the Geysers.— perhaps the most well known part of theUNESCO World Heritage site, is located within the mammoth Kronotsky Nature Reserve and was the second largest geyser field in the world (and the only inEurasia) with 90 geysers and numerous hot springs in a 6 km-long valley. Sadly it was mostly destroyed by a massive freak mudslide in 2007 that covered two thirds of the field.— beautiful and almost impossibly remote, this reserve offers bear-watching opportunities galore.Kamchatska is a unique land where fire meets ice. It contains the southernmost expanse of Arctic tundra as well as 160 volcanoes (29 of them active). Despite its great size the peninsula is home to just 315,000 people (2018), half of which live in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and another 50-100,000 live in nearby communities (including Yelizovo). As such, the peninsula is vastly uninhabited wilderness where one can climb volcanoes, sport hunt for bears, visit geysers, spend hours in natural hot springs, or go fishing in wild rivers or off the coast. Politically, it is divided between Kamchatka Krai and Koryak Okrug (Koryakia).
Kamchatka, like much ofArctic Siberia andNorth America, was originally sparsely inhabited by native tribes. In the 16th century, spurred by tales of a land of fire that was rich in fish and furs, Kamchatka was claimed by Muscovite Russia. Two settlements were built by Cossacks in 1697 as fur trading posts.
The peninsula was mapped during Vitus Bering's expedition to explore the Russian Far East and reach North America. In 1740 Bering reached Avacha Bay and laid the cornerstone for the settlement of Petropavlovsk, named after his two ships St. Peter and St. Paul. One year later, Petropavlovsk would be the settlement survivors of another one of Bering's expeditions would reach with the news of his death and the discovery ofAlaska. They would also bring artifacts, including sea otter pelts, considered the "finest fur in the world", from Alaska which would eventually motivate Russia's interest in North America. Petropavlovsk grew into a main stopping point for travelers on the way to the Russian Far East, theKuril Islands, and North America.
In 1854 during the Crimean War, a joint Anglo-French naval fleet bombarded Petropavlovsk in what became known as the heroic defense of the city in which 988 men with just 68 guns defended it against 6 ships with 206 cannons and 2,540 French and British troops. The Russians realized the city was a liability and when more invaders came a year later the city was abandoned and burnt to the ground. With the sale of the Kuril Islands toJapan and Alaska to the US, the peninsula waned in importance. Following World War II Kamchatka was deemed a military zone and was placed off limits to Russians (excluding residents) until 1989 and to foreigners until 1991.
The peninsula hosts the largest Russian nuclear submarine pen and submarine construction yard. A major event during the Cold War in the early 1980s was the intentional shooting down by the Soviet Union of a Korean Air (Flight 007) civilian airliner that inadvertently drifted off course when flying over an extremely sensitive military area in Kamchatka.
Kamchatka's climate is diverse and encompasses several climate zones divided along alpine, coastal and geothermal lines. The most popular time for tourists to visit is during the summer and autumn months, when max temperatures range from 15 °C (59 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F) (in the winter the average temperature is -25 °C (-13 °F)). The high season lasts from June to September. The weather is marine and therefore changeable. In the summer temperatures can fall significantly at night; rain and humidity brought by the Sea ofOkhotsk and thePacific Ocean are not uncommon, and rainfall can add up at 1000 mm per year. Mosquitoes are active until September and may cause some discomfort, but only appear in low altitudes. Swimming in the Avacha Bay is a popular activity in the summer months.
There are no roads connecting Kamchatka with other parts of Russia. Indeed, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk is the second-largest mainland city in the world which cannot be reached by road (the largest beingIquitos).
Arriving by plane is the only practical way of reaching Kamchatka. All commercial flights arrive at Yelizovo, only 16 km from Petropavlovsk-KamchatskyPKC IATA (which airlines list as the destination). There are regular flights between Petropavovsk-Kamchatsky andMoscow (Aeroflot, Transaero),Saint Petersburg (Rossiya),Novosibirsk (S7, Rossiya),Irkutsk (S7),Khabarovsk (S7, SAT Airlines), andVladivostok (S7, Aeroflot). Yakutia flies an Antonov 24 toMagadan and on toYakutsk weekly or every two weeks (seasonal) on Wednesdays. Yakutia Air has seasonal service betweenAnchorage, Alaska, and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. They also offer seasonal flights from Tokyo. Korean Airlines offers frequent charter flights fromIncheon in the summer.
It may be possible to hitch a ride on boats from the Kuril Islands,
Depending on your destination there are Russian and Japanese jeeps as well as 6WD Ural and Kamaz trucks with a booth for passengers as 4WD tend to be incapable of handling the majority of dirt roads, especially in snow.
The bus stations that have routes around the region are located in both Yelizovo and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
Kamchatka Aviation Enterprise[dead link] serves numerous destinations on the peninsula:
Vityaz Aero offers helicopter charters.
Dogsleds are used instead of taxis in Esso.
Kamchatka is renowned for its outstanding natural beauty. There are many places to sight see. The bravest tourists can trek for months. The best way to see things is to cooperate with local tour agencies, as it will save you time (but not money).
There are two types of day sightseeing in Kamchatka. The first kind can be reached by car and on foot for2583 руб at the most. The second type involves taking a helicopter, which can cost up to29065 руб. It is quite easy to find a tour agency, as there are plenty of them, or to join a group of tourists.
and51.457222157.0986116Kurile LakeExcursions by helicopter are dependent on the weather and on having a sufficient number of passengers, both of which are unpredictable. Typically Mi-8 helicopters are used, which requiring about 20 passengers to be economically viable. The helicopters are about 25 years old and are basic and rugged inside but generally feel safe. If you really want to go, allow forseveral spare days in Kamchatka (one traveller spent 13 days in Kamchatka and only managed to travel to his second-choice destination on the 12th day).
As of July 2011, the cost of excursions to Kurilskoye lake/geysers was24000-27000 руб payable in cash (but this should be an experience of a lifetime). This equates to about 3 hours of actual flying, and so it is comparable to helicopter rides elsewhere.
With its vast pristine nature, Kamchatka is a great but challenging resort foroutdoor life.
Some shops accept credit cards, but this acceptance is not widespread. Most Bankomats (ATMs) limit cash withdrawals to either6000 руб or10000 руб (note that some will charge a 2% fee in addition to whatever your own bank charges). As at July 2011 Rosbank, Gazprom Bank, and Bank of Moscow did not charge a fee.
It may be possible to hitch a ride on a boat heading fromPetropavlovsk-Kamchatsky toSevero-Kurilsk in theKuril Islands.
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