Kamchatka Territory - Territorio della Kamčatka

Kamchatka Territory
Location
Coat of arms and flag
State	Russia
Region	Eastern Russia
Capital	Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Surface	464,275 km²
Inhabitants	319.864 (2014 census)
Tourism site
Institutional website

Kamchatka Territory (Камчаίтка) is a peninsula in the far east of the Russia.

To know

Kamchatka is a unique land where fire meets ice, and contains the southernmost expanse of the Arctic tundra along with 160 volcanoes (29 of which are active). Despite its large size, the peninsula is home to only 400,000 people, half of whom live in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and another 50,000 / 100,000 live in neighboring communities (including Yelisovo). As such, the peninsula is largely uninhabited. You can climb volcanoes, see bears, visit geysers, spend time in natural hot springs, or go fishing along rivers or off the coast.

Geographical notes

Located in the Russian Far East, Kamchatka has a very active territory, consisting of numerous volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, fascinating natural arctic landscapes and even an acid lake. It is home to the southernmost end of the Arctic tundra and is also known for the Arctic ecosystem which includes fish, birds and game. Many of its natural beauties and in particular nineteen of its great volcanoes are protected by theUNESCO.

When to go

The climate of Kamchatka is varied and has several climatic zones, divided along the alpine, coastal and geothermal lines. The summer and autumn months are the most popular with tourists when the maximum temperatures range from 15 ° C to 30 ° C. The high season lasts from June to September. The weather is marine, that is, changing. In summer, temperatures can drop significantly during the night. Storms from the Okhotsk Sea and the North Pacific bring heavy rains. Mosquitoes can cause discomfort in low altitudes and are active until September throughout the summer. Summer temperatures are high enough to allow swimming in Avacha Bay.

Background

Kamchatka was, like much of Arctic Siberia and North America, originally inhabited by indigenous tribes. In the 16th century, driven by tales of a land of fire, rich in fish and furs, Kamchatka was claimed by Moscow Russia. Two Cossack settlements were built in 1697 as fur trading posts.

The peninsula was mapped during Vitus Bering's expedition to explore Russia's Far East and reach North America. In 1740, Bering reached Avacha Bay and laid the cornerstone for the settlement of Petropavlovsk, named after its two ships Saint Peter and Saint Paul. A year later, Petropavlovsk would be the settlement to which the survivors of his expedition would return with the news of his death and the discovery of Alaska, and with artifacts including the "most beautiful fur in the world" (sea otter). which would later reject Russian interest in North America. Petropavlovsk has developed into a strategic stopping point for travelers heading to the Russian Far East, the Kuril Islands and North America.

In 1854, during the Crimean War, an Anglo-French naval fleet bombed Petropavlovsk in what became the heroic defense of the city in which 988 men with only 68 guns fought against 6 ships with 206 guns and 2,540 French and British soldiers. Unfortunately, the Russians decided the city was a burden and when other invaders arrived a year later it was burned down and abandoned. With the sale of the Kurils to Japan and Alaska to the United States, the peninsula lost its importance. After the Second World War, it was considered a military zone and declared "off limits"for Russian visitors until 1989 and for foreigners until 1991.

The peninsula is home to the largest Russian nuclear submarine base and submarine construction yard. The most important event since the defense of Petropavlovsk in 1854 was the downing of Korean Airlines Flight 007 in 1983, after it went off course flying over sensitive military areas, one of the most tense moments of the Cold War during the early 1980s. of the twentieth century.

Territories and tourist destinations

      Kamchatka Territory - Given its particular conformation, the Kamčatka Territory can be considered as a single inseparable region.

Urban centers

Other destinations

Trinity Cathedral a Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Apart from the very few cities, Kamchatka is important and attracts many tourists for its many nature reserves, geysers, volcanoes and lakes. Among the major nature reserves we mention the most important:

How to get

By plane

The Kamchatka Territory has no roads to the outside, so the plane is, beyond the sea, the only way to get here. The airport of Elizovo it is served by numerous and regular flights connecting the region to theAlaska and to the major cities of European Russia. The quickest way is to take a direct flight from Moscow.

By car

It sounds incredible but there are no roads connecting it to other parts of Russia. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky it is the second largest city in the world that cannot be reached by land.

On boat

There is the possibility of arriving by ship, even if it is rather expensive and adventurous trips. Heritage Expeditions organizes cruises lasting 14 days that allow you to visit other islands and even more remote areas otherwise very difficult to reach.

How to get around

By plane

To reach some places, such as the Commodore Islands, you need to fly, which is very expensive (over € 350 for non-residents, one way).

On boat

It is possible to use some ferries and small boats to reach the Kuril Islands. Also to reach the Commodore Islands there is the possibility of embarking on the ferry of the public company "Kamčattransflot", from Petropavlovsk-Kamčatskij, at a price that is about one third of that of the air route. Or you can look for a passage on one of the fishing boats that always make the route from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky or from Ust'-Kamchatsky, towards Nikolskoye, on the island of Bering, but these are not regular connections and you risk getting stuck on the island. for weeks.

On the train

Until 2015, the entire Kamchatka Territory lacked a railway network.

By bus

The public bus service (Russian: маршрутка, "marshrutka") is one of the few means of transport that can be relied on to be regular. It ensures the connection between Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Ust'-Kamchatsky, turning north-west to Esso, and south-west to Oktyabr'sky. During the winter, a series of tracks become practicable (the Зимники, "zimniky"), allowing you to reach the towns and villages of the northern part of the peninsula, such as Palana.

Other

In some cities immersed in nature reserves (such as Esso), dog sleds are in service instead of buses and taxis, which are still the most efficient means of transport within the region if you decide not to stop in the big cities.

What see

Kamciatka is one of the most impressive regions in the world from the point of view of landscape-natural beauty. Volcanoes (many of which are active), valleys, forests, geysers, rivers and the ocean, combined with the very low population, give a spectacular opportunity to experience a corner of the world largely untouched by mass tourism and human presence. Since the surroundings of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky it is possible to go on excursions to the slopes of the numerous mountains and volcanoes that surround Avacha Bay. Tourist agencies that offer the possibility to book guided tours are always active. You can go from a simple excursion to a stay at a thermal spring, up to fly over an erupting volcano by helicopter (this is quite a rare opportunity). The only warning is not to expect too many comforts: even in the capital the comforts are not all taken for granted, and the wi-fi, for one thing, is quite difficult to access, requiring the user to purchase a local subscription (and internet cafes are very expensive).

What to do

• Salmon fishing
• Climb the various volcanoes
• Ski
• Sleigh rides
• Bear hunting campaigns
• Water sports on the great lakes of the region
• Excursions by land vehicles - You can make day excursions with jeep and walking tours. The achievable goals are typically:
  • Hot springs and waterfalls
  • Pacific coast
  • Volcanoes: Avachinsky, Mutnovsky, Kozelsky, Gorely
  • Blue lakes
  • Itel'men, Pimchakh ethnic village
• Helicopter excursions - Longer and more expensive than the previous ones. There are several local agencies that organize tours, so you won't have any difficulties. Remember that helicopter excursions depend on both weather conditions and the number of passengers, both of which are unpredictable. Mi-8 helicopters are typically used, requiring around 20 passengers to be economically viable. The helicopters are around 25 years old, they are pretty standard and sturdy on the inside, but they are generally safe. Helicopter tours are expensive but are once in a lifetime experiences. The achievable goals are typically:
  • Valley of the Geysers
  • Kuril Lake (or Kurilskoye Ozero)
  • Volcanoes: Avachinsky, Mutnovsky, Ksudach
  • Calderas of the Uzon volcano
  • Watch the bears

At the table

Giant crab dishes are the specialty of the region and are very cheap (about 5% of the price of the corresponding dishes in Europe). For the rest, a lot of potatoes and a lot of fish, especially salmon, given the abundance and climate . For opposite reasons, however, other types of meat and, above all, fresh fruit and vegetables are quite expensive, and even more so if you travel to the Commodore Islands.

Safety

The region is very safe in terms of petty crime and violence, but it is advisable to take the usual precautions (do not linger in dark places at night, stay away from drunks, etc.). The only real danger here is nature: very active volcanoes, jets of hot steam from the subsoil, large numbers of bears and ferocious animals. It is therefore advisable to visit the nature reserves only accompanied by guides or after having read all the safety regulations.

The Pacific plate is pushed by the Okhotsk plate a few kilometers off the Kamchatka coast, and the peninsula is geologically very' active. Two very powerful earthquakes hit the peninsula in 1737 and 1952 with magnitudes of 9.3 and 9.0 respectively. The latter caused a tsunami that devastated the Hawaii and even reached the New Zeland and the Chile. In addition to these two mega earthquakes, strong earthquakes occur very often. A 6.0 magnitude earthquake occurs every 3-5 years, while a 7.0 magnitude earthquake occurs every 10-15 years.

In the mountains, use suitable windproof clothing, sunscreen and hats and be careful because temperatures can drop by several degrees.

Do not walk off the trails especially if you are on snowy slopes.

Beware of bears approaching the suburbs of cities, not to mention in the wild and remote nature. Do not leave food, not even small pieces and cans, on the trails or campsites. Bears have a very keen sense of smell and once they try the food they will come back several times. Make noise, talking is advisable during the trek because the bears will avoid unusual and mostly loud sounds.

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Kamchatka Territory
• Commons contains images or other files on Kamchatka Territory