On April 8, the South Kamchatka Federal Sanctuary marked its 43rd anniversary since its establishment. According to the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, the main objective of this protected area is to preserve the biological and landscape diversity of the southern part of the peninsula.

Within the sanctuary, visitors can see almost everything that makes Kamchatka famous: volcanic landscapes, spawning rivers and lakes, the iconic "bear fishing" during the salmon run, as well as rookeries of marine mammals on the coasts of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean.

The heart of the South Kamchatka Sanctuary is Kuril Lake. It is the deepest freshwater body in Kamchatka (316 meters) and the second largest by area. The lake supports the largest sockeye salmon population in Asia — wild Pacific salmon. The well-being of the region's fish-eating animals, plant communities, and even the local economy depends on the health of this salmon run.

"What makes the South Kamchatka Sanctuary exceptional is that its protection regime is nearly as strict as that of a nature reserve. This is due to the importance of the tasks it faces in preserving the entire natural heritage of southern Kamchatka," said Vsevolod Yakovlev, director of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve.

Photos: Igor Shpilenok and Vsevolod Yakovlev / Kronotsky Nature Reserve.

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