UNDP/GEF
Conservation of Biodiversity on Kamchatka's 4 Protected Areas

Up the Road

Yelizovo District
Over half of Kamchatka’s people live in this district, the destination of most of the Peninsula’s visitors. The size and biodiversity and the variety of volcanoes give visitors many reasons to come to the District. A large percentage of the District is preserved for the public trust in the Kronotsky Biosphere Preserve, Yuzhno-Kamchatsky Reserve, Nalychevo and the undeveloped Yuzhno-Kamchatsky Nature Parks.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky nestled along Avacha Bay
Kamchatka’s largest city, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, stretches around the northeast side of Avacha Bay, and is the hub of the peninsula’s economy, history, and home to over half the territory’s population. “PK,” as the city is often referred to by non-Russians, served as the regional headquarters since the 18th century. Kamchatka’s people are tied to the sea, to seasonal fishing, and related industries. Kamchatka’s collective farms once produced the populations’ dairy, meat, and vegetables. With Kamchatka’s absence of heavy industry, locals have always been proud of their environmentally safe harvests and clean water. Petropavlovsk is the location of the Institute of Volcanology, researching Kamchatka’s volcanoes and collaborating with international experts on volcanoes, forewarning air traffic controllers of volcanoes spewing ash clouds into international airspace.

Yelizovo: Kamchatka’s gateway city
Visitors land at the airport located in Yelizovo, 20+ miles from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. On a clear day, Yelizovo offers a stupendous view of the Avachinsky group of volcanoes. Russians settled in present-day Yelizovo about 150 years ago although Itelmen people have lived there for thousands of years. The first name of the small village was “Zavoiko” after the Governor of Kamchatka, V. S. Zavoiko. After the revolution, patriots renamed Zavoiko for a hero of the revolution – “Yelizovo” and the city developed as the District’s administrative center. Today Yelizovo is a city of about 35,000 people. The community includes service businesses, shops, an open market, and grocery stores. Five miles from the city’s center is a nationally ranked downhill ski area, Moroznaya, open usually November through April. In 2004, Yelizovo District celebrated its 55th birthday. Compared to the hustle of Petropavlovsk, Yelizovo moves at a quieter pace embracing visitors with a small-town atmosphere.

Paratunka and Termalniy… the hottest villages on Kamchatka
These 2 villages, located southeast 25 - 40 km (16-25 miles) of Yelizovo are named for the underground geothermal deposits on which they are built. Since the 18th century Russians have known about the valley’s hot springs and people moved to the area in the early 19th century. Now many geothermally fed swimming pools are located at spas for locals and visitors. Russians swear by the healthful qualities of the hot water. Scientific analysis of the water shows that each well has its own chemical properties. Commercial greenhouses in Termalniy grow vegetables and supply the region with fresh produce.

Heading up the road
The road north from Yelizovo, paved the first 63 miles, crosses the East Kamchatka Mountains and from the pavement’s end, travelers drive the maintained gravel road to the coastal village of Ust-Bolsheretsk to the west, or north to Klyuchi and Ust-Kamchatsk. No matter what the season, the roads north and west aren’t to be taken lightly. Locals strap on extra tires and in summer clouds of dust can make the trip a challenge. Winter driving is cold, and with few amenities along the way, it’s best to be prepared for minus 40 temperatures and with an extra canister of fuel. Daily bus service connects these outlying communities to Petropavlovsk. Tickets are for sale at the bus station at Komsomolsky Ploshad or at Yelizovo’s bus terminal.

Malki, known for its water
The village of Malki is a wonderful source of mineral water and geothermal springs. Here, not far from the Malki Bystraya River, is one of the few car camping areas on the Peninsula. During summer, especially on weekends, the area is packed with picnicking and camping Russians. There are volleyball nets, an outdoor concert stage, and changing facilities for those wishing to use the hot springs. Often on weekends there is live music onstage. Several wells both for geothermal and naturally effervescent mineral water are found in this territory. The mineral water is bottled and sold throughout Kamchatka and the Russian Far East. Also through the territory flows the Malki Bystraya River and Malki is a favorite starting point for rafting tours through the Central Mountain Range towards the Sea of Okhotsk. Fishing for char can be excellent but competition is heavy as the river is a favorite fishing spot for locals.

Ust-Bolsheretsk, on the edge of the Okhotsk Sea
Ust Bolsheretsk, the administrative center for the Ust-Bolsheretsk District, is a coastal town with a seasonal economy based upon the bi-annual large spawning runs of pink salmon. The Ust-Bolsheretsk District has some fine locations for sport fishing and wildlife watching with trips run by local firms. With the building of a gravel road north from the road to Ust-Bolsheretsk for servicing construction of a natural gas line, formerly tractless wilderness is now road accessible.

Milkovo, the central valley’s population hub
Historic Milkovo, 173 miles from Petropavlovsk, lies along the banks of the Kamchatka River. In 1697 the first Russian fort in Kamchatka - the Verkhne-Kamchatsky ostrog was built about 9 miles south of Milkovo. Milkovo was founded as an agricultural settlement in 1743 and evolved as a center for hunters and trappers who harvested furs. In Soviet times the city was the center of Kamchatka’s agricultural and timber industries. Milkovo District offers all kinds of tourism and recreation potential like sightseeing, adventure, fishing, hunting, and potential for ecotourism is great. Active and extinct volcanoes, along with the mountains of the Vostochniy Range are easily accessible from Milkovo. Fish in the rivers include salmon, char, rainbow trout, and grayling. Climate is continental with hot summers and cold winters. Milkovo is the home of the Kamchadal, Russian and Itelmen people, who have blended their cultural traditions. The district’s population is about 11,800 people. In the city of Milkovo is a museum, exhibition center, souvenir shops with traditional handwork, hotels, and also several tourism firms offering all the necessary services to show visitors the natural wonders and history of their territory.

Bystrinsky District
The Bystrinsky District, in the Sredinniy Mountains is home to Even people and Russians numbering fewer than 5000 inhabitants. Anavgai, the main village for the Even stretches along the Esso Bystraya River 45 miles from the turnoff. Esso, the administrative center of the District, is 11 miles from Anavgai. Anavgai, population 1300 people, was settled in the 1950’s and 1960’s when the government gathered the Even from their reindeer herding grounds. Each summer, the Even invite visitors to celebrate the Even New Year which falls over the summer solstice. The village holds a lively festival with performances by Even and visiting Native dance ensembles. Competitions and the Even “triathalon” are highlights. Spry Even youngsters compete in a foot race, raft the Bystraya River, and finish with a horse race. The climax of the celebration is an all-night dance marathon around a campfire.

The Bystrinsky Nature Park is located in the District. With funds provided by the UNDP, “Menedek,” an Even culture center-camp has been built in Anavgai, providing a focal point for preservation of Even traditions and inspiring participation by nearly the entire population. Visitors are welcome daily to the center where at least one Even family is in residence all the time. An admission is charged.

Esso calls itself “Kamchatka’s Switzerland” because it is surrounded by snow-capped mountains with rivers flowing through the village. With about 2000 year-round residents, local cafes post advertisements for horseback riding trips into the Bystrinsky Park, for white water rafting, and hiking tours. One of the highlights of Esso is the huge natural hot water-fed swimming pool in the center of the village, open free of charge. Many homeowners rent rooms to visitors and it’s possible to find simple accommodations or to rent a fine and cozy hotel room. Each March, in Esso starts the Beringia Sled Dog Race to Ossoro in Koriyaki. Esso has one of the finest museums in Kamchatka, the Bystrinsky District Ethnographic Museum, open Wednesdays through Sundays, 1000-1800 and closed for lunch from 1400 to 1500. It is located at: 14-A Naberyezhnaya Street, Tel. (8-242) 2-13-19б 2-11-03

Ust-Kamchatsk District
The village of Ust-Kamchatsk at the mouth of the Kamchatka River is where Vitus Bering and Alexey Chirikov built their packet boats for the 2nd Kamchatka Expedition. The village of about 400 people is mostly focused on seasonal commercial fishing. The District is home of the Klyuchevskoy Nature Park, a young park with great potential for mountaineers, hikers, ski mountaineers, and lovers of high country as the park holds the massive Klyuchevskoy group of volcanoes.

Kozirevsk… under the nose of Klyuchevskoy Volcano
North along the road and across the Kamchatka River is the village of Kozirevsk. To get there, one must ferry across the river on a ferry operated by the Kamchatka transportation department. In winter, cars drive across the ice on the river. For a brief few weeks in May or early June, due to ice flows, one can’t get across the river. Once the ice goes out, the ferry continues its service. Kozirevsk is the starting place of many routes into the Klyuchevskoy Park.

Klyuchi
In the village is a small hotel and services are continually developing and improving. Local people are happy to help visitors with needed services from home stays to transportation. The town is located along the banks of the Kamchatka River. The Klyuchi area has phenomenal nature and much of it is unexplored by visitors.