From the moment you arrive in Kamchatka you’ll be swept up by a Scandinavian-like atmosphere: Ascetic houses with a cool ocean in the background, long winters, hot water springs and geysers, snow scattered with volcanic ash and Erman’s birch trees.
These trees, better known as stone birch trees and ubiquitous throughout the peninsula, are the only trees that cannot be broken by even the strongest of northern winds. If you combine all of these elements, I think you’ll quickly understand why Kamchatka has more in common with Iceland than much of Russia’s Far East. How does one of the remotest and least accessible of Russia’s regions attract tens of thousands of tourists every year despite the high prices and difficult logistics?
Kamchatka is the real “bear state” of the Russian Federation. According to various estimates, there are between 15,000 and 30,000 bears here. Such a high concentration of bears cannot be found anywhere else not only in Russia, but in the whole world. The safest and most impressive place to observe Kamchatka’s bears is at Lake Kurile (200 kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky). To give you an idea of how plentiful the bear population is here, photographer Sergey Gorshkov once managed to shoot 17 bears in a single panoramic shot. The lake is part of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve and you must be escorted by armed rangers to travel in the area.
See the 360° Aerial Panorama of Kamchatka bears at Lake Kurile by airpano.com
The fact that the Koryaksky, Avachinsky and Kozelsky volcanoes, which in good weather conditions are visible from anywhere in Kamchatka’s capital, are talked about in friendly and familiar terms (like domashny, or 'domestic' volcano) by local residents can provoke some shock among travelers: Two of these giants are in fact active and periodically they “sneeze” (at such moments the town residents feel some mild underground seismic shocks) or their summits slightly “smoke.” Living amidst volcanoes has made local residents not only used to such phenomena (many houses in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky are reinforced by special quake proof technology), but also particularly sensitive observers of even the smallest changes in the behavior of their menacing neighbors.
For the best views of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky’s volcanoes, go to Mishennaya hill, while the Petropavlovsk Hotel offers some rooms with good views (prices start from 5,000 rubles, about $100). The only way to reach the other volcanoes in Kamchatka, including the caldera of the Uzon Volcano, Geyser Valley and Death Valley, is to take a helicopter from Yelizovo Airport, located on the outskirts of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Kamchatka’s 300 volcanoes are included as an entry on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Not long ago local residents couldn’t sleep because of the noise made at night by spawning salmon fish—these fish were that numerous. Kamchatka’s low population density and scarce human settlement ensures that the environment is clean and the water pure. The main staple of local cuisine is Pacific fish such as sockeye salmon, hunchback salmon, coho salmon, chinook salmon, scallops, squid and the famous Kamchatka crab.
“Pyatiminutka” red caviar is available only during the summer fishing season, a luxury only available in Kamchatka. You can prepare it right on the river bank along with freshly caught fish and try it on the spot. Even if you manage to visit Kamchatka only in winter, the caviar you’ll find is much fresher than what you can get on the mainland (that’s how Kamchatka residents refer to the rest of Russia). In the local fish market the price for a kilogram of this edible souvenir starts at 2,000 rubles (about $40), although if you ask kindly the vendors may give you a few spoonfuls for free.
Although Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and St. Petersburg are almost the same age, you get the impression that humans have been living here for no more than 50 years. The entire peninsula has only 350,000 inhabitants and the capital, with a population of 170,000, is not known for its bright lights or nightlife that you’d expect to find in big cities.
Until 1990 foreigners couldn’t set foot in Kamchatka and even Russians needed a special permit to come. Now it’s open to everyone. These factors, together with the geyser rivers and valleys, the volcanoes’ huge calderas and the perpetually changing landscapes after volcanic eruptions make Kamchatka one of the few places on earth where you can still feel like an explorer. This land was discovered more than 300 years ago, but even today so little is known about it.
See the 360° Aerial Panorama of Uzon Volcanic Calderabyairpano.com
Kamchatka is a destination for those that can’t afford to stand still. Round trip plane tickets from Moscow start at 20,000 rubles (about $400), while in the summer the cheapest ticket is often 60,000 rubles (about $1,200). A helicopter trip to the geysers can cost up to 90,000 rubles (about $1,800), a liter of gasoline can cost 45 rubles or more (just under $1), and the average lunch bill in a local cafeteria begins at 1,000 rubles (about $20).
There are more amazements for tourists here than just volcanoes and bears. A kilogram of ordinary cucumbers at the supermarket can cost up to 700 rubles (about $14), a kilogram of red peppers 800 rubles (about $16) and a Danone yogurt drink can cost 200 rubles (about $4). In case, we haven’t made it clear, these prices are significantly more expensive than almost anywhere else in Russia.
Even though the salaries of some local residents, such as those serving in the military, range from 50,000-80,000 rubles, the average wage for ordinary laborers is approximately 15,000-20,000 rubles. A holiday in Kamchatka is comparable in price to a safari in Tanzania or for a cruise around Australia. However, due to the weakening of the ruble, Kamchatka has recently become more affordable for foreign travelers.
The Crimean War of the 1850s was fought here? This unexpected fact is initially perceived with incredulity, but it turns out to be true. A victory here was felt as a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, although in Paris, and especially London, it was a sorrowful event. While the Crimean War – which was to prove a difficult loss for Russia – was in full swing (1853-1856), Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky’s small garrison managed to prevail over the superior forces of an Anglo-French squadron that attacked the port of Petropavlovsk, at the time Russia’s main bastion in the Far East.
All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
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