Kamchatka Peninsula

Many imagine this place as an unreachable edge of the Earth, as a land of volcanoes, snowstorms and tsunami waves, and as a mysterious country with winter lasts for 8 months out of the year while summer is barely 2 months.

Kamchatka is located in the north-east of Russia, north of Japan and south of Alaska, between the sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean. Kamchatka is 9 time zones away from Moscow and 12 time zones away from Greenwich. Kamchatka is the first to see the morning of each day. The peninsula territory is comparable in size to France: 1600 km (994 miles) from north to south and 450 km (280 miles) from east to west. A 130 km (81 miles) isthmus connects the peninsula to the Asian continent. There are very few roads across Kamchatka: most people travel by helicopter or boat.

Kamchatka is one of the regions where natural environments have remained wild and untouched. The UNESCO Natural Heritage List includes 6 separate territories sharing a common name of "Kamchatka's Volcanoes." Protected nature sanctuaries take up about 1/3 of the peninsula's territory.

The 20th century made Kamchatka culturally closer to both Europe and America, but not more accessible for travelers. The mysterious peninsula was taken up by military bases and became one of the most tightly-guarded regions of the former Soviet Union. Until 1991 no foreign notional was allowed and even Russian citizens needed a special pass.

Today Kamchatka is open to everyone, be it a scientist or a tourist. Everyone welcome to experience the power if Kamchatka beauty. Some people travel here to reach their next mountain summit, some want to fish or hunt to their heart's content, some dream of skiing on the s volcanoes, some want to test themselves rafting down the mountain rivers. A lot of tourists come to see the world's largest bears — the Kamchatka bears; others come to delight in the rare flowers and birds. And some simply come here to rejuvenate, rest, and be surrounded by nature that is wild and untouched.

There are numerous beautiful and fascinating places to visit; the impressive of them are the volcanoes. There are about 300 dormant and active volcanoes on the peninsular and about 2500 extinct ones. Close to 30 volcanoes are currently active; the Klyuchevskoy Volcano (4750 meters or 15, feet toll) is the peninsula's highest point.

Kamchatka features numerous hot and cold water springs with there tic mineral waters. Paratunka is the area most famous for many resorts, and lodges that are built right next to the thermal water springs. Thousands people come here seeking rest and spa-treatments, as well as to swim in the open-air swimming pools filled with steaming hot waters of the springs.

Kamchatka's ethnographic tourism is very well developed: you will be given an opportunity to meet the native peoples, visit an Itelmen village or an Evens grazing field. Fishing with a spinning or fly-fishing is allowed on most of the region's rivers. There are about 4000 rivers here; the longest one of them, the Kamchatka River, is 700 km (435 miles) long. Some of the favorite fishing trophies are the rainbow trout and all species of Pacific Salmon. Helicopter trips, horse-back riding, rafting, dog- and reindeer-sleighing are exotic and fun.

Kamchatka's best known and most commonly visited tourist destination are the Valley of the Geysers, the Avachinskaya Bay, Paratunka, the Kurt Lake, Nalychevsky Nature Preserve, and the Uzon Caldera. This places are reachable by helicopter. However, travelers must always beware of the capricious local climate. Mountain ranges next to the ocean trigger the most unpredictable weather events: fog, downpours.

No eloquence, no comparisons, no figures can possibly describe Kamchatka's unique natural beauty and diversity. You most come and see it for yourself: to understand Kamchatka is to fall in love with it.