Kamchatka rivers

Over six thousand large and small rivers flow through the region, but only a few of them have a length of more than 200 km and only 7 - over 300.
  The largest rivers are Kamchatka, Penzhina, Talovka, Wyvenka, Oklan Penzhina River, Tigil, Bolshaya (with Bystry), Avacha.
  The insignificant length of the Kamchatka rivers is explained by the proximity of the main river watersheds from the sea coast.

On the peninsula there are two main ranges - Sredinny and Vostochny, which extend in the meridional direction. From the outer (western) slope of the Middle Ridge, rivers flow into the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk, from the outer slope of the East - into the Pacific Ocean. And those that arise on the inner slopes of these ranges flow into the central valley, along the bottom of which the largest river of the peninsula - Kamchatka.

The rivers of our region, although shorter, are more full-flowing than the rivers of the European part of the USSR: from each square kilometer of the catchment area they receive 15-25 liters of water per second - almost twice as much as the European ones.

Types of rivers.

By the nature of the river flow, the regions are divided into several groups. The most common are mountains, the sources of which lie near the main watersheds. They are the largest on the peninsula and are formed from melting snow. However, most of the nutrition they receive from groundwater. Some of these rivers flow throughout the mountains, the other part only in the upper reaches.

In mountainous regions, rivers flow in narrow valleys with steep slopes. As a rule, they have a rapid rapids current, and when they go out onto the plains, they have a calm one: they break into numerous channels and branches, meander strongly (loop), forming many old women. Near the sea, the flow of rivers is slowed by tidal waters. Their mouths often turn into long estuaries, which is especially characteristic of the west coast. When they enter the sea, they usually form “cats” and “braids,” bars are observed at the mouths (bars are shallows created by the tidal sea wave, making it difficult for ships to enter the mouth).

The upper reaches of Kamchatka, Avachi, Bystroy, Tigil, Penzhina and others are very characteristic of mountain rivers. The lowland rivers include Kamchatka, Penzhina and others in their middle and lower reaches.

The third group is dry rivers. They cut through the slopes of volcanoes and carry their waters to the receiving pools only in the summer, during snowmelt. In the rest of the year, water seeps into loose volcanic rocks and rivers disappear from the surface of the earth. An example is Yelizovskaya and Khalaktyrskaya.

River nutrition is mixed. Most of it is groundwater and water obtained from melting snow in the mountains and valleys. The role of ground nutrition increases in dry years, and snow, on the contrary, in high water years. Rain nutrition is essential for the rivers of the west coast, where its share in some years can be 20-30 percent. There are rain floods in autumn, sometimes exceeding spring flood in height.

Freezing and opening. Due to abundant ground nutrition, ice formation is unstable on many rivers, and large ice-free areas and wormwoods are found. In winter, ice often appears only off the coast, places with a fast current and the middle of the river are usually free of ice. Freeze-up begins in November or even in December, and only in the north of the region somewhat earlier. In the north and northwest, where the climatic conditions are more severe, medium and small rivers at rifts freeze to the bottom, forming ice.

The opening of rivers occurs in April - early May, in the north of the peninsula - somewhat later (in the middle and end of May). An autopsy is accompanied by a spring ice drift, which is especially characteristic of rivers in the northwestern region.

Water content.

Its main indicator for rivers is water consumption. It increases downstream as the pool grows. So, the average annual water discharge in the upper reaches of the Kamchatka River is 91 cubic meters per second, in the lower - ten times more. Water content also depends on precipitation and the nature of the underlying surface. So, for example, the Penzhina River has a catchment area much larger than the Kamchatka River, but its average annual discharge is less.

The Kamchatka River flows in a lowland located between the Middle and East ridges. Cutting a narrow valley Kumroch ridge - a site called "Cheeks" - it flows into the Kamchatka Gulf of the Pacific Ocean.

In the upper reaches the river is mountainous. Fast, greenish-turbid waters swiftly rush from the Ganal and Sredinny ridges. Rapid streams rush between the stone shores, rip stones and carry them far downstream. The stones heaped in the channel form rifts and rapids.

Below the village of Pushchino, the flow becomes smooth. The river passes into the plain and begins to meander strongly. Its width in the area of \u200b\u200bthe village of Milkovo is 100-150 meters.

The farther down, the wider and deeper it is. The wide flood plain along which the river laid its winding channel with many sleeves, old lake, is covered with a green carpet of meadows, interspersed with fields and forests. In many places, the forest comes close to the river and forms a dense wall of green hedges. In the lower reaches, the Kamchatka River expands to 500-600 meters, and its depths range from 1 to 6 meters. Numerous rapids make the river channel unstable. After large floods, he changes his position. This greatly complicates shipping.

The river freezes in November, and opens in late April - early May. Among the numerous tributaries, the largest are Elovka, Tolbachik, Shchapina.

On the banks of the river are the villages of Milkovo, Dolinovka, Shchapino, Kozyrevsk, Klyuchi, Ust-Kamchatsk, etc.

Kamchatka is the most important transportation route of the peninsula. Passenger trams, boats, barges go along it. Shipping is carried out almost to Milkovo. In large quantities, the forest is fused. Salmon fish enter the river and its tributaries to spawn. The mighty northern beauty-river is an interesting tourist route for summer trips.

Kamchatka lakes

Kamchatka lakes are over 100 thousand, but their water surface is only 2 percent of the total area. Only four lakes have an area of \u200b\u200bmore than 50 square kilometers, and two more than 100.

The lakes are diverse and attractive. Often they represent a unique and amazing panorama.

Not far from the village of Semlyachiki there are the remains of the old volcano Uzon. Its top was demolished by a colossal volcanic explosion, and at an altitude of more than 500 meters a huge caldera (bowl) with an area of \u200b\u200babout 100 square kilometers was formed. On this square there are a lot of keys, rivulets and small lakes. Many of them are filled with boiling water and constantly boil, testifying to the violent activity of the volcano. One of them is especially remarkable - Fumarole. Its area is about 40 hectares. The water in it is always hot. Here ducks and swans winter.

There are many lakes like him. One of the most beautiful is Hangar. The huge stone bowl of the volcano of the same name rises to a height of 2000 meters. Climbing to its top is very difficult. It is even more difficult to go down to the lake along the steep walls of the crater. Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences AE Svyatlovsky, having overcome all these difficulties, traveled around the lake in a rubber inflatable boat and decided to measure the depth. However, a hundred meter rope did not reach the bottom.

Tectonic processes - ups and downs of individual sections of the earth's surface - led to the formation of a number of lakes. The tectonic origin of the Far and Near lakes in the area of \u200b\u200bthe village of Paratunka and one of the deepest and most beautiful lakes of Kamchatka is Kurilskoye.

The largest lakes:

Name Location Mirror area (in sq. Km)
Nerpichye   (with Kultuchnm) In the estuary of the Kamchatka River 552
KronotskyWest of the Kronotsky Peninsula 245
Kuril   In the south of the Kamchatka Peninsula 77.1
Azhabachye   In the area of \u200b\u200bthe village of Nizhnekamchatsk 63.9
Big   South of the village of Oktyabrsky 53.5

Thanks to the invaluable work of S.P. Krasheninnikov, the ancient legend of Alaid volcano, reached by poetry, reached us:

"... The aforementioned mountain (Alaid) stood before the declared lake (Kuril); and even earlier, it took away all the other mountains light, then they incessantly resented Alayid and quarreled with her, so Alaid was compelled to withdraw from anxiety and to become a solitude at sea; however, in memory of her stay on the lake, she left her heart, which in the Kuril language is Uchichi, also Nukhguni, that is, Pupkova, and in Russian, the Heart-stone is called, which stands in the middle of the Kuril lake and has a conical shape. Her path was the place where the rivers flow Lake, which inflict on occasion travel thereof: for as the mountain stood up, the water from the lake rushed after her and made its way to the sea. "

Kuril Lake is surrounded by volcanoes. Its shores are steep and steep. Numerous mountain streams and hot springs flow here, and only the Ozernaya River flows out, which freezes briefly in winter. Kuril Lake is the deepest on the peninsula (306 meters). Its bottom is below sea level.

A similar legend was recorded by Krasheninnikov about the origin of another lake - Kronotsky. It is the largest freshwater lake in the area. In area, it exceeds Avacha Bay. The greatest depth is 128 meters. It arose due to the fact that the colossal masses of lava that poured out from the nearest volcano blocked the valley through which the rapacious noisy Kronotskaya River runs and formed a dam. According to legend, the lake was formed because the Shiveluch volcano moved to a new place of residence and inadvertently broke the tops of two hills. The “traces” of his legs, filled with water, turned into lakes. In particular, they include well-known residents of the village of Klyuchi, Kharchinskoye Lake and Kurazhechnoye Lake.

In the lower reaches of the Kamchatka River lies the largest of the brackish lakes - Nerpichye, the remainder of the bay, which separated from the sea after slowly raising the coast of the peninsula. Its depth is 12 meters. It consists of two lakes connecting with each other, one of them is called Nerpichye, and the other - Kultuchnoe. The sea surf and the river took part in its origin. The name of the lake indicates that there is a sea animal - a seal (a species of seals). The kultuchnoe comes from the Turkic word kultuk - lagoon.

On the western coast of the peninsula lagoon type lakes are common. They are formed at the mouths of almost all large rivers of the West Kamchatka Lowland. The lagoon lakes have an elongated shape.

The largest group of lakes is peat. Their clusters can be found on the West Kamchatka Lowland, Parapolsky lobe and the coastal plains of the east coast. Such lakes, as a rule, are small, have a rounded shape and steep banks.

Kamchatka lakes are located at various heights above sea level and are heterogeneous in their temperature and water regimes. Their periods of freezing and opening are also different.

The greatest rise in water level is observed in the summer, when snow melts in the mountains. The height of the coastal lakes depends on the tidal currents. The largest amplitude of level fluctuations in the lagoons of the west coast reaches 4-5 meters. The lagoons and lakes of the sea coast freeze in December - later than in the interior of the peninsula, and open in late May - early June, although some of them are cleared of ice only in July

The rivers of Kamchatka have huge reserves of energy. Their abundance, high water abundance and mountain character create favorable conditions for the construction of hydroelectric power stations, but our rivers are mostly spawning grounds for such valuable fish species as salmon. But spawning grounds must be preserved.

The small Kamchatka lakes, which warm well, are used to breed silver crucian carp - a tasty and nutritious fish. Amur carp and sterlet are also bred here.

The largest rivers of Kamchatka are reliable transport routes. In Kamchatka, Penzhin and some others, goods, materials, equipment, and timber are transported.

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About Kamchatka

Rivers and lakes of Kamchatka

Rivers

A large amount of precipitation, the presence of permafrost, long melting snow in the mountains, low evaporation, and mountainous terrain cause the development of an exceptionally dense hydro network within the Kamchatka Territory.
   In Kamchatka, there are 140 100 rivers and streams, but only 105 of which are longer than 100 km. Despite the shallow depth, the rivers are exceptionally full-flowing.
   The Kamchatka River (length 758 km) and the Penzhina River (713 km) stand out sharply in terms of size. Most Kamchatka rivers flow in the latitudinal direction, which is due to the meridional nature of the main watersheds: Middle and East ranges.

Kamchatka rivers   they are mountainous in the upper reaches and calm - within the plains. When entering the sea, many of them usually wash their braids, and at the mouths - underwater shafts, bars.
Within the mountains, rivers flow in relatively narrow V-shaped valleys with steep slopes and have a fast, often rapids current. The bottom and slopes of the valleys are composed of large coarse clastic material (boulders, pebbles, gravel). As the rivers approach the plains, the size of the material composing the valleys and the bed of the rivers decreases; the flow of rivers slows down and becomes calmer. In general, the coastal lowlands are a combination of flat wetlands, concentrated mainly near the coast, wavy, hilly interfluve spaces and wide river valleys. Within hilly plains, riverbeds branch into channels and branches, and on coastal lowlands they form many bends and old rivers.

Mountain rivers are distributed exclusively within mountain regions. Basically, they correspond to the upper sections of the rivers, but this pattern is violated on large rivers. Often, when crossing the spurs of river ridges in the middle and even lower reaches, the course becomes mountainous due to the large slopes of the valley.
   Rivers within mountainous regions with maximum elevations have rapids and waterfalls. They are characterized by the alternation of rapids and waterfalls with segments of stagnant zones. Such rivers are usually small in size; they flow along the bottom of gullies with steep slopes. The length of such sections ranges from a few percent of the entire length of the river (if the river flows downstream to the foothills and plains) to 100% (small rivers and streams that flow throughout their entire lengths within mountain regions).
   With the gradual flattening (leveling) of the relief, the rapids and waterfalls disappear, but the nature of the flow remains stormy. In addition, as the tributaries flow into the river, the size and water content of the rivers (i.e., the amount of water flowing through the cross section of the river for a certain period of time) increases. For such rivers, the rectilinear form of the channel with individual single islands and forced bends (bends of the river channel) is most characteristic. The formation of such bends is due to the fact that the river flow tends to go around the rocky ledges, composed of strong, indestructible rocks, and thereby acquires a tortuous shape.
   In some areas, mountain rivers form large erosion pits, the depth of which is ten times greater than the average depth of the river. Such pits are good shelters for fish, since the flow rates in them are sharply reduced.

On large rivers of Kamchatka, you can also observe areas with a rapid flow. Narrow valleys with steep slopes, high flow velocities (\u003e 1 m / s) may be due to the restriction of rivers by spurs of mountain ranges. On the rivers, which are generally not distinguished by a deep and gentle channel, sections with a significant slope constantly occur, leading to a sharp increase in the flow velocity, which, due to the shallow depth and rockiness of the channels, makes the stream stormy. Such rivers, as a rule, flow in a single channel and only a few islands divide the stream into branches. The islands are high here, they are large pebble clusters overgrown with shrubs of birch and alder. Above and below the islands open pebble banks are formed.
   The beautiful banks of mountain rivers attract attention. When approaching close to the ridges, they acquire the appearance of high rocky ledges. Mosses and lichens growing on them give the rocks a reddish-brown or green color.
   In the transition from mountain to lowland conditions, the steepness of river valleys and the flow velocity sharply decrease. For these reasons, the flow rate becomes insufficient to move river sediments (boulders, pebbles). This material is deposited directly in the river channel, forming peculiar islands called chesus. The result is a bizarre and very dynamic pattern of many ducts separated by islets. The most common such types of channels in the lower reaches of small rivers.
   Another distinctive feature of these rivers is the presence of a large amount of fuel (various sizes of logs and branches) in the channel, which is associated with the exit of rivers into the forest region. During periods of spring snowmelt, as well as after heavy rains, the water level in the rivers and the flow velocity increase, the water flow intensively erodes the banks. As a result, a huge amount of wood material enters the river and is deposited downstream on the shallows - near islands or coastal streamers. That is why the largest creases (clusters of branches, cramps, as well as whole tree trunks) lead to the breaking of the river into ducts, some of which have a direction opposite to the main course of the river. As a result, the use of rivers for rafting purposes is practically impossible over their entire length.

The distribution of rivers in the pools.   All rivers of the Kamchatka Territory belong to the basins of the Okhotsk and Bering Seas and the Pacific Ocean basin.
   The rivers of western Kamchatka flow into Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk. Most originates in Middle ridge. A smaller part originates in its foothills or peat bogs. In the upper reaches they flow in narrow gorges with numerous rapids and waterfalls; on the plain, their valleys become wide (up to 5-6 km), the banks are low, and the flow is slow. Rivers form channels, abound in sandbanks.
   Swamp rivers represent a sharp contrast to the transparent rapid mountain streams. Their channel is mostly narrow and deeply embedded in peat. Water, as always in swamp streams, is dark brown in color, and the flow is slow. After the rains they swell a lot. Origins are usually taken in small oval or round lakes.
   The largest of the rivers flowing into the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk is penzhina River   (713 km). The river originates in Kolyma Range   and flows into Penzhinsky lip. The largest tributaries of the Penzhina are the Oklan and Chernaya rivers. Of the other rivers in the western part of Kamchatka, there are: Bolshaya, Tigil, Icha, Vorovskaya, Krutogorova.
   The rivers flowing into the Bering Sea are even shorter than the rivers of western Kamchatka. Most of them have a pronounced mountainous character all the way up to the mouth. The largest rivers originate in the Middle Ridge: Lake(length 199 km), Iwashka, Karaga, Anapka, Gross. FROM Koryak Highlands   in the Bering Sea flow Callout, Plowman, Apuka.
   Directly in Pacific Ocean   the rivers of southeastern Kamchatka flow. The largest of them are Zhupanova, Avacha   and Kamchatka.
   The biggest river of the region, Kamchatka(length 758 km, catchment area 55.9 thousand sq. km), unlike other Kamchatka rivers, it flows along a large section of its length along Central Kamchatka   plain and has a mountainous character only in the upper reaches. The river has many tributaries. The largest of them: the left - Visor, Fast, Spruce; right - Schapinaand Big Hapitsa.

The Kamchatka River is surrounded by a very special landscape of vegetation. In conditions of high humidity, which is characteristic of flooded floodplains of rivers, truly monstrous sizes of grass grow in which an adult disappears with his head. They are accompanied by shrubbery, all together creating a truly impassable thicket.
   Another characteristic feature of the floodplain landscape is animal trails. Even in the wildest lands along the water bodies, paths are trodden along which you can move freely (unless you meet a four-legged toed friend on it).

Lakes

  In Kamchatka over 100 thousand large and small lakes. By nature, they can be divided into six types. Each type is confined to a specific region of the region.
   1. In areas of ancient and modern volcanism, numerous crater and dam lakes are common. Crater (sometimes with hot water) lakes are small and located at a considerable height. Dam lakes formed as a result of blocking rivers with lava flows (Lake Palanskoe).
   Hot water springs often form small pools of hot water. Lakes associated with volcanism also include large caldera lakes (Lake Kurilskoye).
   2. The old lakes make up the second large group. Located mainly in the valley of the Kamchatka River.
   3. On the coasts, mainly in the estuarine parts of the rivers, lagoon lakes are located, separated from the sea by braids. They are significant in size. Lake Nerpichye, for example, is the largest lake in Kamchatka. Its area is 448 square meters. km, depths range from 4 to 13 m.
   4. Discharge lakes formed as a result of splitting and lowering of individual sections of the earth's crust. They are characterized by the simplicity of the coastline. (Lake Dalnee in the area of \u200b\u200bthe village of Paratunka).
   5. Another type is formed by glacial lakes located at the foot of the ranges, where they sometimes form a typical landscape.
   6. Peat lakes are widespread within the region.

Many lakes were formed under the influence of several factors and cannot be assigned to any particular type.
   In small, well-warmed lakes, silver carp and pike are found. In some lakes - Amur carp.
   At the same time, the lakes are wonderful salmon spawning grounds, and kurilskoye Lake   and Nerpichye   belong to the best spawning grounds in the world.
   Some lakes are an exceptional occurrence. An example is Lake Kurilskoye - an ancient, water-filled caldera. Among the volcanic lakes of Russia there is not one that is any closer to it in structure. With a relatively small size (77.1 sq. Km), the lake has great depths (306 m) and belongs to the deepest lakes of Eurasia. The panorama of the lake is peculiar. From all sides it is surrounded by majestic cones of volcanoes. Shores and underwater slopes are steep and rocky. On the slopes of the volcanoes are visible ancient lake terraces.
   From the bottom rise islands in the form of peaks, one of the islands, trihedral rock alaid.
The lake is fed by numerous mountain streams mixed with the waters of the hot springs. One weakly freezing Ozernaya river flows out of it. The lake is one of the most important breeding grounds for sockeye salmon.
   In the craters or calderas of many volcanoes there are lakes that do not freeze all winter, so ducks and swans often winter on them.

Map digitized by site member

Card description

Kamchatka region. Tourist map, GUGK 1986. Map compiled and prepared for printing by factory number 3. Editor V.D. Topchilova. Paper size 72x89 cm. Circulation 107900 copies. Scale of 1 cm. 2.5 km.

The flip side of the plan

Legend

Description from the card

Kamchatka region is located in the north-east of the Asian part of Russia. The Kamchatka Peninsula with the adjacent part of the mainland, the Komandorski Islands and Karaginsky Island are part of the region. From the west, it is washed by the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk, from the east - by the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea.

The Kamchatka region was formed on October 20, 1932 as part of the Khabarovsk Territory, and since 1956 it has been singled out as an independent region of the RSFSR. Territory 472.3 thousand sq. Km. The region includes the Koryak Autonomous Okrug.

Kamchatka is one of the links in the Pacific volcanic belt related to the zones of active action of tectonic underground forces. These forces create mountains, cause earthquakes, tsunamis and the appearance of volcanoes.

Kamchatka is characterized by a variety of landforms. The western part of Kamchatka is occupied by the West Kamchatka Lowland, passing in the east and north into an inclined plain. The central part of the peninsula is crossed by two parallel ranges - the Sredinny and Vostochny, between them - the Central Kamchatka Lowland, along which the Kamchatka River flows. Within this lowland, volcanoes of the Klyuchevskaya group rise. Among them - one of the highest active volcanoes in the world Klyuchevskaya Sopka (4750 m.). To the north of this group is the active Shiveluch volcano (3283 m.). In the east, the lowland is limited by steep ledges of the Eastern Range, which is a whole system of ranges: Ganalsky (up to 2277 m.), Valaginsky (up to 1794 m.), Tumrok (up to 2485 m.) And Kumroch (up to 2346 m.). Between Cape Lopatka and the Kamchatka Gulf, there is an Eastern volcanic plateau (600-1000 m high) with cones of extinct and active volcanoes rising on it: Kronotskaya (3528 m.), Koryakskaya (3456 m.), Avachinskaya (2741 m.), Mutnovskaya (2323 m.) Hills and others. This is the most interesting area, in which 27 of the 28 active volcanoes of Kamchatka are concentrated, all geysers and the bulk of hot springs. The eastern coast of the peninsula is heavily indented and forms large bays (Kronotsky, Kamchatsky, Ozernoy, Karaginsky, Korfa) and bays (Avachinsky, Karaga, Ossora and others). Rocky peninsulas (Shipunsky, Kronotsky, Kamchatsky, Ozernoy) protrude far into the sea.

The Kamchatka region is characterized by a dense hydrographic network. The largest Kamchatka river is the main waterway connecting the region's logging and agriculture area with the seaport of Ust-Kamchatsky. In the lower reaches, the river is navigable. Most of the rivers begin in the mountains, where they are stormy and swift. Many lakes in the area are diverse in origin. The most picturesque volcanic lakes that formed in craters and volcanic depressions - calderas. The largest lake is Kronotskoye (an area of \u200b\u200babout 200 sq. Km.), The deepest - Kurilskoye (depth more than 300 m.).

In Kamchatka, there are about 150 groups of warm and hot springs, among them - the only group of sources in the Russian Federation with a geyser regime of action located in the Kronotsky Reserve. The balneological properties of Kamchatka thermomineral springs have been known for a long time; resorts in Paratunka and Nachiki are built on their basis.

The climatic features of Kamchatka are due to the proximity of the vast expanses of water acting softly to seasonal temperature fluctuations. The climate of the region is marine monsoon, in the west more severe than in the east. In the southern part - marine, in the center and in the north is moderately continental. The average temperature of February in the west is -15 ° C, in the east -11 ° C, in the central part -16 ° C. Summer here is short, cool with a lot of foggy and rainy days.

The climate of Kamchatka is characterized by intense cyclonic activity throughout the year. Continuous strong winds often reach hurricane force. Cyclones carry heavy rainfall. Their greatest number falls on the area of \u200b\u200bPetropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Paratunka and reaches 1200 mm. in year.

The highest parts of the mountains are covered with glaciers. The total area of \u200b\u200bglaciation is 866 sq. Km.

Short summers, strong long winds, loose volcanic soils and isolated from the mainland, almost island position of the peninsula left a peculiar imprint on the nature of Kamchatka vegetation. Its species composition is relatively poor, but still has over 1000 flowering and fern plants.

Forests occupy 1/3 of the area, the remaining 2/3 - swamps, meadows of lowlands and highlands, char. Here, white birch, Daurian larch, Ayan spruce, alder, chosenia (Korean willow) grow, and cedar and alder dwarf shrubs. Particularly noteworthy is the graceful fir on the coast of the Kronotsky Gulf, near the mouth of the Semlyachik River. Dwarf species of birch, willow, and alder grow in the highlands, and tall grasses in the depressions are an annual biloba reaching a height of 2.5 m and a bear angelica with a height of 3 m and above. The northern flat part of Kamchatka Parapol dol is treeless and has the character of a moss tundra. A narrow strip of tundra stretches also in the low places of the west coast.

The animal world is represented by a brown bear, reindeer, bighorn sheep, wolverine, fox, wolf, lynx, hare, Arctic fox, Kamchatka marmot, and ermine. Recently, moose was introduced into the Kamchatka valley. Different types of seals are found in coastal waters. On the Commander Islands, under the protection and supervision of scientists, there are rookeries of fur seals and one of the valuable fur animals - sea otters (sea otters). Numerous flocks of seabirds fly to summer nests. Various types of salmon (chinook salmon, pink salmon, chum salmon, coho salmon) spawn into rivers in summer. Loach is commonly found in rivers.

The territory of the region has long been inhabited. This is evidenced by archaeological finds. The famous Ushkovskaya site of the Neolithic and Paleolithic era gave scientists answers about the time people settled on the Kamchatka Peninsula.

In the XVII-XIX centuries. Kamchatka was the main base in the Far East and the starting point of many famous expeditions that gave the world a number of geographical discoveries. In the years 1697-1699. Siberian Cossack V. Atlasov made a trip to Kamchatka, the result of which was the drawing up of a drawing (map) of Kamchatka and its detailed description. In the years 1737-1741. Kamchatka was studied by the Russian scientist S.P. Krasheninnikov, outlining the results of his observations in the work "Description of the land of Kamchatka." The First and Second Kamchatka expeditions in 1725-1730 were connected with the study of Kamchatka. and 1733-1743 under the guidance of a navigator officer of the Russian fleet, captain-commander V.I. Bering and his assistant to the Russian navigator, captain-commander A.I. Chirikov.

The population of the region is Russian, Ukrainian, indigenous peoples - Koryak, Itelmens, Evens, Aleuts, Chukchi.

Kamchatka Oblast is part of the Far Eastern Economic Region. Main industries: construction materials, forestry, woodworking and fishing.

Kamchatka region is one of the important fishing regions. The main commercial fish: salmon, herring, flounder, cod, sea bass, halibut, pollock. Off the western coast of the Kamchatka region - crab fishing.

Agriculture is developing in two directions: reindeer husbandry (northern part of the region) and meat and dairy cattle breeding and vegetable growing (southern and central parts of the region). Of great importance is the fur trade (sable, fox, otter, ermine, arctic fox) and cell farming (muskrat, American mink).

The first Pauzhetskaya geothermal power station, as well as greenhouse-greenhouse plants, were built on hot springs in the Russian Federation.

KORYAK AUTONOMOUS DISTRICT   established December 10, 1930. The territory of 301.5 thousand square kilometers. It occupies the northern half of the Kamchatka Peninsula, the adjacent part of the mainland and Karaginsky Island. It is washed by the waters of the Okhotsk and Bering Seas. The center of the district is the urban village of Palana.

The mountainous terrain prevails on the territory of the okrug; here are parts of the Sredinny Range, Koryaksky (up to 2562 m high) and Kolyma Uplands. The climate is subarctic. The average January temperature is -24 ° -26 ° C, July 10-14 ° C.

The leading place is occupied by the fishing industry, among the branches of agriculture - deer husbandry, hunting for fur and sea animals.

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY. Administrative, industrial and cultural center of Kamchatka region, seaport. It was founded in 1740 by the Second Kamchatka expedition under the leadership of V.I. Bering and A.I. Chirikov.

The city is located in a picturesque place. Steep hills, stone birch forests, beaches and bays of the ocean coast, beautiful Avacha Bay and volcanoes framing it - all this creates a unique and rare in beauty combination of water and mountain landscapes.

Over the years, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky has become one of the largest industrial and transport centers of the Far East with a developed ship repair and fish processing industry, a base for fishing trawl and refrigerator fleet. Here are the Institute of Volcanology of the Far Eastern Scientific Center of the Academy of Sciences (the only one in the country), the Kamchatka branch of the Pacific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, and higher and secondary specialized educational institutions. There are a regional museum of local lore, a museum of military glory, a regional drama theater. The city has many monuments associated with the heroic past of Kamchatka: V.I. Bering, Battle Glory in honor of the heroes of defense of the Peter and Paul Port from the Anglo-French landings in 1854, a monument to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. other.

PALANA   The administrative center of the Koryak Autonomous Okrug. Located on the west coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Monument V.I. To Lenin. Monument at the grave of Obukhov, the first chairman of the district executive committee. Monument to fellow countrymen who died during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Branch of the Kamchatka Regional Museum of Local Lore.

BERINGA ISLAND   The site of the expedition V.I. Bering in 1741-1742 Monument V.I. Bering. Grave V.I. Bering.

ELIZOVO   (until 1924 - Zavoyko). Monument V.I. To Lenin. Monument G.M. Elizabeth, the commander of the partisan detachment. Monument to fellow countrymen who died during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Museums: the natural-science "Kamchatles" and the Battle and Labor Glory (folk).

KRONOTSKY RESERVE   Located in the central regions of Eastern Kamchatka on the slopes of mountain ranges descending to the coast of the Kamchatka and Kronotsky bays of the Pacific Ocean.

Area 964 thousand ha. It was created in 1934. The main task of the Kronotsky Reserve is to preserve in the natural state the most typical areas of nature with their vegetation and animals, as well as rare natural objects.

The flora of the Kamchatka Reserve includes more than 700 species of plants, including 60 species of trees and shrubs.

The most widely represented forests are stone birch, alder, willow, poplar, chosenia (Korean willow), ayan spruce. On the coast of the Kronotsky Gulf, near the mouth of the Semlyachik River, a small grove (20 ha) of relict fir graceful has been preserved. Mountain slopes and volcanic valleys are occupied by thickets of cedar and alder dwarf. An interesting lush tall grass up to 2–3 m., Consisting of thickets of shellomin, godson, reedweed, lack of maturity and other herbs.

There are 41 species of mammals in the fauna of the Kronotsky Reserve: reindeer, bighorn sheep, brown bear and others. Of the valuable species - Kamchatka sable. Often there are ermine, otter, protein. In coastal waters there are rookeries of Steller sea lions, ringed seals, larghs, sea otters. On the coastal cliffs of the Kronotsky Peninsula bird markets.

In the gorge, at the bottom of which the Geysernaya river flows, is the main attraction of the Kronotsky Reserve - the Valley of Geysers. Many rivers and streams, thermal lakes, geysers, hot springs.

COPPER, ISLAND   Monument on the grave of A.I. Chirikov. Monument at the grave of N.N. Lukina-Fedotova, militia of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905

MILKOVO   Monument V.I. To Lenin. Monument to compatriots who died during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Branch of the Kamchatka Regional Museum of Local Lore.

STAFF   Balneological resort in the Yelizovsky district, located near the picturesque Nachikinsky lake, 2 km from the village of Nachiki. The main natural healing factor is thermal (about 83 ° C) nitric chloride-sulfate sodium water. The resort was founded in 1950. There is a bathroom, a healing pool with mineral water.

NIKOLSKY   Monument V.I. To Lenin. Monuments to Vitus Bering. Branch of the Kamchatka Regional Museum of Local Lore.

PARTNER   Balneo-mud resort in the Yelizovsky district. Located in the upper river Paratunka, near the village of the same name. The main therapeutic factors are thermal (up to 61 ° C) siliceous alkaline springs and silt mud of the lake. Duck located in the resort. There is a bathroom building with balneological and mud treatment departments, an outdoor swimming pool.

In Paratunka there are 10 recreation centers and 16 pioneer camps.

Monument on the grave of G.M. Elizova, the commander of the partisan detachment, who died in 1922

Digitization of Roman Maslov.

It flows into the Kamchatka Bay of the Bering Sea of \u200b\u200bthe Pacific Ocean. In some parts of its channel, Kamchatka is suitable for shipping.

On the river are the villages of Milkovo, Klyuchi and the port of Ust-Kamchatsk.

Geography

The length of the river is 758 km, the basin area is 55,900 km². It originates in the mountains of the central part of the peninsula and before the confluence with the Right river is called Lake Kamchatka.

From the place of confluence of Right and Lake Kamchatka to the mouth along the river bank, the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky-Ust-Kamchatsk highway passes.

In the upper reaches it has a mountainous character with numerous rifts and rapids. In the middle course, the river reaches the Central Kamchatka lowland and changes its character to a flat one.

At this site Kamchatka   a very winding channel, in some places is broken into sleeves. In the lower reaches, the river, circling the Klyuchevskaya Sopka massif, turns east; in the lower reaches the Kumroch ridge.

At the mouth, the river forms a delta, consisting of numerous channels separated by sand and pebble spits. The delta configuration is constantly changing.

At the confluence of the river Kamchatka   into the ocean, it is connected by the Ozernaya channel with Lake Nerpichye, which is the largest lake on the Kamchatka Peninsula. The peninsula north of the delta is also named after the river - the Kamchatka Peninsula.

Nature

The river is rich in fish; it is a spawning place for many valuable salmon species, including chinook salmon, so industrial and amateur fishing is underway.

In a swimming pool Kamchatka   Introduced crucian carp, Amur carp, Siberian mustachioed char are also found. The river is often used by tourists for water trips from Ust-Kamchatsk.

The river valley is the most abundant coniferous forest on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Species growing here are Okhotsk larch ( Larix ochotensis) and spruce ayan ( Picea ajanensis).

Tributaries

The river has a large number of tributaries, both on the right and on the left along the stream. The largest tributaries: Kensol, Andrianovka, Zhupanka, Kozyrevka, Yelovka - left; Kitilgina, Vakhvina Left, Urz - right. The most significant of them is the Elovka River.

  Kamchatka is a peninsula in the north-eastern part of the continent of Eurasia in the territory of the Russian Federation, extended in the meridional direction by 1200 km, with a total area of \u200b\u200b472.3 thousand km.

It is washed from the west by the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk, from the east by the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and the indented coasts of the peninsula form large bays: Avachinsky, Kronotsky, Kamchatsky, Ozernoy, Karaginsky, Korfa, as well as bays: Avachinsky, Karaga, Ossora, etc. In the central part There are two parallel ranges on the peninsula - the Sredinny ridge and the Eastern ridge, and between them is the Central Kamchatka Lowland, where the largest river of the peninsula flows - Kamchatka.

The main watershed is the Sredinny Ridge, where the river originates from. Rivers belonging to the Okhotsk Sea basin flow down from the western slopes of the Middle Ridge, and rivers of the Bering Sea basin or flowing into the Pacific Ocean flow from the eastern slopes of the Ridge. The rivers of the peninsula are divided into: spinal, key and tundra. Spinal rivers are mountainous, they receive food from the melting of snows and glaciers, and are characterized by very high water content. Key rivers have low water consumption and in winter they do not freeze. Tundra rivers flow through swampy lowlands. Kamchatka rivers have slowed-down self-cleaning processes, so the discharge of untreated sewage containing organic pollution should be prohibited.