Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

The city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (?????????????-??????????) (pop. 200,000) is the industrial, scientific, and cultural center of Kamchatka, Russia.

Related Topics:
Kamchatka - Russia

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It is located at {{coor dm|53|1|N|158|39|E|region:RU_type:city(200,000)}}.

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It was founded by the explorer Vitus Bering, who reached Avacha Bay in 1740 and laid the foundation stone for the port of Petropavlovsk, which is named after his two ships, the St. Peter and the St. Paul, built in Okhotsk for his second expedition.

Related Topics:
Vitus Bering - Avacha Bay - 1740 - St. Peter - St. Paul - Okhotsk

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Petropavlovsk was a great source of fish (particularly salmon) and crab meat for the USSR in the 20th century; however since the end of the Soviet era fishing rights have been granted to foreign interests. The city is situated on high hills and surrounded by volcanoes. In fact the horizon can?t be seen clearly from any point of town ? volcanoes and mountains are everywhere. The climate is subarctic (Köppen Dfc) and precipitation averages an estimated 860 millimetres, or about three times as much as in Siberia, with most falling as snow. Temperatures in winter are a little milder than in Siberia, but still very cold ? a typical January day averages ?14 °C (7 °F), whilst in summer 20 °C (68 °F) constitutes an average July maximum.

Related Topics:
Salmon - Crab - USSR - 20th century - Climate - Subarctic - Köppen - Precipitation - Siberia - Snow

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The town has developed a tourist infrastructure. About 20 big tourism companies offer a wide range of services from bear hunting to paragliding. Because Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the second largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road (there are no roads into Kamchatka from the outside world), travel here is extremely expensive but is growing in popularity because of the remarkable scenery throughout the peninsula.

Related Topics:
Road - Kamchatka

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