Kuril lake
The largest population of sockeye salmon in Eurasia spawns in Kuril Lake.
The optimal number of spawners for a viable population is between 1.5 and 3.5 millions fish.
The lasting abundance of sockeye is one of the most important characteristics of this natural ecosystem. To feed on the abundance, over 200 bears come here at the end of the summer. This is the best place for observing these beautiful animals. Foxes and otters also come here to feed on salmon.
Kuril lake is a crater lake in the south of Kamchatka. it takes the second place (after Kronotskoye lake) out of fresh water bodies in Kamchatka. The lake strikes with its beauty: it’s surrounded by the Ilyinskiy volcano, the volcano Wild Crest and a number of stoned lava islands.
Bears of Kuril lake feel at home here: they are interested in nothing but fishing and and delicious food.
Most usually tourists come to Kuril lake to take part in “bear tours”. They are organized in the end of summer — in the beginning of autumn, when bears of all ages come to have “lunch” on the coastline. People are separated from bears by a special electric fence, however one should definitely be careful.
The fish abundance also attracts Stellar’s sea eagles that prefer staying on the lake during the whole winter.
Ilyinskiy volcano
The regular cone of the volcano to north-east of Kuril lake makes an unusual and unforgettable panoramic view.
Ilyinskiy volcano is one of the youngest ones in Kamchatka. It’s altitude is 1578 m. it was formed about 8500 years ago. Its lava flows went down to the lake forming a number of picturesque bays.
Ilyinskiy is a complex volcano with two volcanic constructions – an ancient and destroyed caldera and a new cone.
It used to erupt with pumice resulting in huge pumice sediments on the volcano slopes.
The crater was destroyed in 1801 in the result of a strong eruption, just in 100 years the eruption repeated and was the last one. In present the volcano has no activity, but there is a number of hot springs at its foot.
Kutkhiny baty
Pumice is volcanic rock, that may be altered by wind. The formation of the rocks is connected with rains and wind influence, however the Itelmens tell the other story.
A lot of sights near Kuril lake are called after legends told by indigenous people of Kamchatka – by the Itelmens.
The place is situated in the area of the Ozernaya river, 4 km away from its source. Kutkhiny Baty are pumice rocks of irregular forms. The legend says that Baty (boats in Itelmen) were left by Kutkh, an Itelmen god to dry them.
