Kamchatka on the map of Russia

The Kamchatka Region was established on July 1, 2007, following the merger of Kamchatka Oblast and the Koryak Autonomous Okrug. The Kamchatka Peninsula is situated in the Russian Far East.

Where is Kamchatka on the map of Russia

On the world map, at the far edge in the Russian Far East, you'll find the Kamchatka Peninsula. The straight-line distance from our capital, Moscow, to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is approximately 6,776 km, with a flight time of about 8 hours on a modern passenger airplane. Kamchatka's passenger airport is located in the city of Elizovo, about a 20-minute drive from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

Kamchatka Peninsula on an interactive map from Yandex

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Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on the map of Kamchatka

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the largest city in Kamchatka

The city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is situated on the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, along the northern shore of Avacha Bay in the Pacific Ocean, on the slopes of the Mishennaya, Petrovskaya, and Nikolskaya hills.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is located 16 km from the Vitus Bering Airport in the city of Elizovo. You can reach the capital of Kamchatka by taxi or bus. The address of Elizovo Airport is: Zvezdnaya Street, House 10, Elizovo, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka Krai, Russia.

A taxi from the airport to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky costs about 1,000 rubles, with the taxi rank conveniently located at the airport exit. Taxi apps like InDriver and Yandex.Taxi are available in Kamchatka.

City buses No. 102 and 104 pass through Elizovo Airport, heading to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. They operate from 7:00 to 21:50, with intervals of 10-25 minutes. The distance to the city center is about 30 km, with a travel time of 45 minutes. Tickets can be purchased from the conductor.

As of 2013, the population of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is 181,600 people.

View of the city center of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky from Mishennaya Sopka

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on an interactive map from the Yandex service

Kamchatka. Geographical location  

Kamchatka Krai is located in the northeast of the country, encompassing the Kamchatka Peninsula, as well as the Karaginsky and Commander Islands. To the north and northwest, it borders the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and Magadan Oblast, while to the south, it borders the Kuril Islands. Kamchatka is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Bering Sea to the northeast, and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west.

Territory, population of Kamchatka

The area of Kamchatka Krai exceeds 464,000 square kilometers, accounting for 2.8% of the territory of the Russian Federation. It has a permanent population of 345,000 people, representing 0.2% of Russia's population. The indigenous peoples of the North number 15,475.

The population density is 0.7 people per square kilometer.

Kamchatka Krai comprises 68 municipalities: 3 urban districts, 11 municipal districts, 5 urban settlements, and 49 rural settlements.

Natural resource potential of Kamchatka

Kamchatka boasts unique recreational resources ideal for tourism development. The mild, snowy winters and snow-covered volcano slopes, even in summer, offer opportunities for year-round ski tourism and the construction of ski resorts. Among the many ski resorts in Kamchatka, five have slopes that meet international standards. Stable snow cover forms on the slopes in early November and lasts until early May. From late May to late October, ski resorts operate on the slopes of the Avachinsky and Kozelsky volcanoes. Thermal springs and natural parks also attract visitors to the peninsula. In 2008, the Kamchatka Valley of Geysers was recognized as one of the 7 Wonders of Russia.

Fishing industry of Kamchatka 

The fishing industry forms the backbone of the economy in Kamchatka Krai. Within the territorial structure of the Russian economy, the regional fishing industry complex is responsible for extracting 20% of the country's aquatic biological resources and producing 16% of Russia's commercial food fish products.

Standard of living of the population of Kamchatka

Since 2002, there has been a steady increase in the standard of living for the population. Per capita cash income more than doubled over six years, rising from 5,915.6 rubles in 2002 to 15,553.4 rubles in 2007. The poverty level, indicated by the number of people with incomes below the subsistence minimum, has decreased. In 2002, 34.3% of the population had incomes below the subsistence minimum, which dropped to 22.8% in 2007.

The Government of Kamchatka Krai has outlined a series of investment projects aimed at promoting socio-economic development, enhancing the well-being of the population, stabilizing the demographic situation, and creating conditions for regional development. These projects focus on both domestic market needs and the development of interregional and international cooperation. Among the projects underway are the construction of a cascade of small hydroelectric power plants on the Tolmachevo River and the construction of two sections of the Milkovo-Klyuchi-Ust-Kamchatsk highway.

The implementation of these initiatives is expected to improve socio-economic development indicators and raise the standard of living for the population of Kamchatka Krai.

Climate of Kamchatka

The climate of Kamchatka is marked by extreme diversity and weather instability, influenced by its geographical location, surrounding seas, the Pacific Ocean, air mass movements, and terrain. The peninsula's coasts exhibit maritime climate features, while the central and northern regions have a climate closer to continental. In the eastern regions, weather can change rapidly, with summer heat giving way to cold drizzle or fog with piercing winds, only for warmth to return shortly after. In late June, snow can still be found on the Parapolsky Dol isthmus, while Karaginsky Bay is filled with ice fragments. Meanwhile, in the Central Kamchatka Lowland, bird cherry and meadow grasses bloom, and in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, many plants are already fading. The beaches of Avacha Bay and the bays of Bolshaya and Malaya Lagernaya attract swimmers and vacationers, even as Avacha Sopka remains half-covered in snow.

The coldest part of the peninsula in winter is the Central Kamchatka Lowland, with an average January temperature of -22°C. The lowest recorded temperature was -57°C in the village of Milkovo, while the "pole of cold" is in Verkhne-Penzhino, where temperatures reached -64°C. Thaws occur throughout the region in winter, with temperatures sometimes rising to +5°C in January and February. The highest recorded temperature is +37°C in Dolinovka.

Warm days with temperatures above 20°C are rare in Kamchatka. The coast experiences 1 to 6 such days throughout the summer, while the mainland sees up to 20-30, and the Kamchatka River valley has 35-55.

In the Central Kamchatka Lowland, protected from cyclones by mountain ridges, frosty, relatively calm, and slightly cloudy continental weather prevails.

Kamchatka receives more precipitation than any other region in the country, with seasonal variations. The eastern and windward slopes of the southern mountains receive up to 2,500 mm annually. The Central Kamchatka Lowland, shielded by the Sredinny and Vostochny ridges, averages 400 mm per year. The northeastern coast sees 500-600 mm annually, while the extreme northwest receives up to 300 mm. Summer is rainy, and winter weather is highly variable, with sudden snowfalls often accompanied by strong winds. Precipitation is generally higher in the cold period than in the warm period, except on the western coast.

The temperature regime, precipitation patterns, and other climatic factors, along with geological structure and relief, have shaped modern glaciation. Kamchatka has 414 glaciers covering a total area of 871.1 km², primarily located in high mountain ranges and on volcanoes. The longest glacier, Bilchenok, is on the Ploskoy Dalniy volcano (Klyuchevskaya group), stretching 17.7 km and covering 21.8 km². The glacial massif of Mount Otdelnaya on the Kronotsky Peninsula is notable, with glaciers at altitudes as low as 600 m. The largest is Tyushevsky, 5 km long. Glaciers have a minimal impact on Kamchatka's climate and nature.

Kamchatka remains one of the least populated regions, with a very low average population density. Coastal villages, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, and Kamchatka are connected to the rest of the country only by air. The peninsula's underdeveloped road network allows bus service to villages like Ust Bolsheretsk, Milkovo, and Esso. Cargo is delivered to Klyuchi by winter road.