Kamchatka Peninsula
Fascinating Place
 

The Land
On the easternmost end of
Russia, there is a 900-mile-long
peninsula. This is the
Kamchatka Peninsula. The
Kamchatka Peninsula extends
into the Pacific Ocean. It lies
between the Sea of Okhotsk and
the Bering Sea.

The Kamchatka Peninsula is

about the size of California, but
Russia is the land mass on the left side of the
it is much less populated. Less map. Alaska (in North America) is on the right.
than half a million people live The Kamchatka Peninsula juts off Russia
on the Kamchatka Peninsula. In toward the southwest.
stark contrast, more than 37
million people live in the state of California.

With so few people living on the Kamchatka Peninsula, there are hardly any
disturbances to nature. The natural environment thrives and visitors get to
experience a rare, fascinating place. There are about 159 snowcapped
volcanoes on the peninsula. Only 26 are active and may erupt. The volcanoes
are snowcapped, even in the summer. The snow is due to the volcanoes’s
elevation and northern location.

The Kamchatka Peninsula is close to the Arctic. However, its landscape is far
from bleak. The valleys between the volcanoes are lush and green. The forests
are filled with huge birch and willow trees. There are more than 14,000 rivers.
The forests and rivers are home to a wide variety of living things.

The peninsula is also known for its abundant natural resources. Oil, gold, and
natural gas are all found in Kamchatka. Flying overhead in a helicopter, you
can see the diverse landscape and wildlife.

The Balance of Nature

Every June, millions of salmon follow their natural instincts and travel upriver
to a lake in Kamchatka. This lake is called Kurilsky Lake. It is a volcano
caldera, which is a freshwater lake that forms in the crater of an erupted
volcano. The salmon spawn, or lay their eggs, in the caldera. The many fish
attract eagles. Eagles are the salmon’s natural predators. Eagles follow the
salmon to the lakeside. As the salmon spawn, the eagles feast on the fish.

 
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Kamchatka Peninsula
Fascinating Place
 

The Steller’s sea eagle is the

world’s largest eagle. Its
wingspan can reach more than
six feet. Half of the world’s
population of Steller’s eagles
lives in Kamchatka. An
estimated 2,500 Steller’s
eagles live on the peninsula.
When the salmon spawn, more
than 800 of these birds line
Kurilsky Lake.
People and animals rely on the sockeye salmon
The Kamchatka brown bear is in Kamchatka.
another large native animal.
The Kamchatka brown bear
can grow to over nine feet tall. There are between 5,000 and 10,000
Kamchatka brown bears on the peninsula. These brown bears are carnivores,
or meat eaters. Can you guess their favorite meal? Salmon, of course!

Salmon are important to Kamchatka’s ecosystem. When eagles and bears feast
on the salmon, they participate in a cycle of nature. Salmon provide nutrients
for the larger animals. The remains of the fish decompose. Eventually, this
process creates a natural fertilizer. The fertilizer spreads onto the fields and
trees, spurring further growth. Humans also rely on salmon for food and to
make a living. Fishing, especially salmon fishing, is a major industry. In
Kamchatka, there is a delicate balance between the environment and humans.

The People of the Peninsula

There are few people who live on the Kamchatka Peninsula. The peninsula is
extremely isolated. Sometimes it is referred to as a “forbidden wilderness.” The
indigenous people, or original inhabitants, of the Kamchatka Peninsula, were
of the Itelmen and Koryak ethnic groups. These groups lived off the land. They
fished and hunted for food. The native animals provided meat and fur.

Today, the Kamchatka Peninsula is part of Russia. In 1724, Tsar Peter I of

Russia first commissioned an expedition to the peninsula. The explorers
discovered a wealth of natural resources. Over the centuries, the Itelmen and
Koryak had many violent conflicts with the Russians. There are stories of
cruelty towards the native populations. The Russians also brought the disease
of smallpox to these people.

 
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Kamchatka Peninsula
Fascinating Place
 

In addition, Russians almost eliminated certain animals. Russian hunters

killed numerous sables, fur seals, and brown bears for their fur. Kamchatka’s
native population of people and animals declined dramatically. Today, fewer
than 10,000 of the peninsula’s human inhabitants are considered indigenous.

Russia was once part of the Soviet Union. During the Cold War, there was
much tension between the Soviet Union and the United States. At this time,
Kamchatka’s location was especially important. The Bering Strait is the narrow
sea passage between Russia and the state of Alaska. The strait was named after
Vitus Bering. He was a member of Tsar Peter’s Russian expedition team. The
Bering Strait is about 85 kilometers (or about 53 miles) at its most narrow
point. Thus, less than 60 miles separated the two opposing sides in the Cold
War.

The Soviet government put strict limits on who could live and work on the
Kamchatka Peninsula. The Soviets controlled access to this land. They forbid
travel to the peninsula. They feared its closeness to their enemy would pose a
security threat. This isolation changed in 1991 when the Soviet Union
collapsed. Foreigners were then able to visit this forbidden wilderness. Despite
the opening of the area, the Kamchatka Peninsula remains isolated. Isolation
was once due to politics. Now isolation is due to geography. There are still less
than 200 miles of paved roads in the region. Travel to, from, and within the
area is not easy.

The Future of Kamchatka

The peninsular paradise of Kamchatka has its problems. Even with low
population and tourism, some animals are still endangered. The once thriving
salmon population is threatened. Overfishing and illegal fishing have killed
many salmon. International corporations could harm Kamchatka’s delicate
ecosystem if they began extracting its natural resources. Using natural
resources requires major construction projects. This can eliminate the habitat
of many of the peninsula’s plants and animals.

At this time, Kamchatka is a place where nature abounds. To keep the

Kamchatka Peninsula flourishing, Russia must protect its geography and
wildlife. Only a few places on the planet, like the Kamchatka Peninsula, remain
so untouched by human development.

 
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Kamchatka Peninsula
Fascinating Place
 

After reading the passage, answer the following questions:

1. Which of the following accurately describes a contrast in the

Kamchatka Peninsula?
A. Natural, bubbling hot springs span the Arctic ice.
B. Snowcapped mountains surround lush green forests.
C. Rapid running waters travel through the dry, sandy lowlands.
D. Numerous active volcanoes spew lava onto the calm meadows.

2. Why is a helicopter necessary for visiting Kamchatka?

A. There are few paved roads on the peninsula.
B. The Russian government does not allow automobiles.
C. The carnivorous animals are always hunting along the roads.
D. Too much water covers the peninsula, making land travel
difficult.

3. Which statement best describes human settlement on the Kamchatka

peninsula?
A. The peninsula has become overpopulated with people.
B. The population is small in relation to the size of the peninsula.
C. The indigenous people make up a large percentage of the
population.
D. The Russian government has encouraged Russians to live
there since the 1800s.

4. Although Kamchatka is not an easy place to visit, there are many

interesting things to see. If you could travel to the Kamchatka
Peninsula to conduct research, what three things would you research
to learn more about Kamchatka?

 
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