Over the centuries some volcanoes have had devastating effects on the planet, killing millions of people, destroying populations and destroying beautiful natural environments. Even so, these conduits that connect the surface of the Earth with the deepest levels of the planet are tremendously beautiful.
If you are also fascinated by volcanoes, you will not be able to miss anything that we tell you below. And it is that today we move to one of the most impressive volcanic regions on the planet. We are referring to the Kamchatka Peninsula , in Russia, where a great variety of them are concentrated, some in activity. In addition, this place is home to other amazing natural formations. Are you accompanying us to discover this Russian territory? You will not regret!
Location and extension
The Kamchatka Peninsula is located in Siberia, in eastern Russia, and has a length of 1,250 kilometers and an area of 472,300 square kilometers. With these dimensions, it will not surprise you that it is considered one of the largest wild areas on the planet. The peninsula is practically intact and, fortunately, free of commercial tourism. In fact, to visit the area it is practically essential to hire the services of a travel agency. Interestingly, its capital, Petropavlovsk , is closer to Tokyo and Seattle than to Moscow, the capital of Russia. On the other hand, it must be borne in mind that the area was forbidden to foreigners until the 1990s. Fortunately, this isolation has contributed to preserving the place.
The volcanoes
How could it be otherwise, the volcanic area of the peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a mention it received in 1997. Of the more than 160 volcanoes, around 30 are active, something that is not surprising. since the peninsula is located in the so-called Ring of Fire, an area of high seismic activity located on the Pacific coast. In fact, since Russian explorers arrived in the area 3 centuries ago, more than 600 eruptions have been recorded in the area. The largest active volcano in Kamchatka is the Kliuchevski, which reaches 4,750 meters. On the other hand, we want to highlight the Valley of Death, located at the foot of the Kichpinych, where at different times poisonous gases are concentrated that can be very dangerous. Nor do we want to forget about the Uzon caldera, the bottom of an ancient volcano, where you can find steaming lakes and hotspots of mud. One of the most surprising things about the area is that it is constantly changing, being able to find new volcanoes and lakes from time to time.
Other places of interest
As we mentioned at the beginning, volcanoes are not the only thing worth visiting in the area. The Valley of the Geysers , for example, is an interesting area to discover. In fact, after Yellowstone National Park, in the United States, it is the largest concentration of these formations in nature. A visit to Esso, a town with numerous hot springs, is also recommended. Of course, we must not forget that about 10,000 brown bears, numerous salmon, eagles, Steller’s eagles live on the Kamchatka Peninsula… Also, during the winter months many skiers come to the area to practice freefall skiing.
Not suitable for backpackers
Finally, we want to warn you that this is not a recommended place for backpackers, since to get to many areas it is necessary to travel by helicopter, an option that is quite expensive. In addition, all excursions in the area require physical preparation, since you have to walk for many hours. Then we leave you with our gallery , where you will find more images of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Do not miss it!
