Kamchatka: Kuril Lake. Kuril Lake (Far East): photos and reviews Where is Kuril Lake located

Kurilskoye is a crater lake in the south of the Kamchatka Peninsula on the territory of the South Kamchatka Federal Nature Reserve. The reservoir is surrounded by rocky shores and impenetrable bushes. By and large, in size this giant can only be second to Kronotsky, giving him the palm. Of the freshwater lakes in Kamchatka, Kurilskoye is the second largest (area 12.5 x 8 km).

It seems that here life flows somehow differently, leisurely, calmly, enjoying every moment. It’s beautiful, like in a fairy tale, and this is because the territory of the reserve, where Kuril Lake is located, has been included in the UNESCO Natural Heritage List since 1996. These are not all interesting facts - we will highlight many of them below, and we are sure that you will feel a sincere desire to see the marvelous land and its attractions with your own eyes!

Kuril Lake on the map

Kuril Lake is located in the southern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, and it can be seen even without using a strong zoom. The coordinates on the map of Russia are as follows: 51°27′18″N, 157°5′54″E

It is difficult to get to the reserve on your own at such a distance from the regional center. There are two options for transport - a helicopter or all-terrain vehicles. Both types of casting have their pros and cons. The main criteria are price, comfort, travel time, as well as dependence on weather conditions. By using a helicopter, you save a lot of time and travel in comfort, but the price of such a trip is many times higher, plus the weather has a big influence. By using road transport, you will benefit in price and will not depend so much on weather conditions, but travel time increases many times and comfort, frankly speaking, is much less.

Kuril Lake is located on the territory of the South Kamchatka Federal Nature Reserve, which covers vast areas in the south of the peninsula, including several kilometers of coastal waters. Protection and regulations are the most stringent, since this is the only federal reserve in the Kamchatka region. Employees and volunteers working on the territory tirelessly monitor the conservation of the population of rare birds and animals, including bighorn sheep, sea otters, brown bears, anturas, sealed seals, bean goats, Steller's eagles and many others.

To reduce the anthropogenic load on the natural complex, tourist visits are limited by quotas allocated by the state. Our company receives permission to visit this territory almost a year in advance, and tours are clearly tied to specific dates within the reserve. At the moment, we form only two groups annually, but there are many more interested people.

Weather on the lake

Due to its large area, in some years in winter the reservoir is not covered with ice at all. Imagine that the average water temperature here is quite high. So, off the coast, in September the figure is 7.6 °C, and this, mind you, is not the maximum, which, in turn, is 10.8 °C!

The proximity of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk has a great influence on the weather. This sea is not calm, and the wind often carries rain and fog into the reserve. The only thing that saves us is the volcanoes and mountains surrounding the lake, which, like guardians, take the entire blow upon themselves.

The weather here is changeable and unpredictable. For example, you can go from a camp on the border of the reserve to white waterfalls or a stone town in sunny weather, but during the journey you will find yourself in torrential rain throughout the entire route. And upon returning to the camp, they found out that everything was calm, and the sun was shining just as well.

Therefore, the most valuable advice is to plan thoroughly for Kamchatka! Additional warm clothes, waterproof high boots and a raincoat will not be superfluous. As local guides say: “no one has ever been found fried.”

Origin of the reservoir

The maximum depth of the lake is 316 meters, the water is fresh. Its basin is a volcanotectonic depression, which was formed due to the subsidence of the earth's crust 8300-8400 years ago due to a strong eruption.

The formed depression at 104 m above sea level, the caldera, was occupied by a lake fed by snow and rain. Several islands rising above the surface of the lake are formed by lava deposits. These are the dome-shaped islands of Chayachy, Nizkiy, Heart of Alaid and the Samang archipelago with a relative height of 200-300 meters.

Several rivers and small streams flow into the lake (Etamynk, Vychenkiya, Kirushutk, Khakytsin, etc.), and the Ozernaya River flows out of it, running west to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. It is along this river that millions of fish rise to lay eggs and give birth to new offspring. Accordingly, the lake is characterized as wastewater. 4 kilometers from the source are the Kukhtina Baths - pumice outcrops associated with an outbreak of acidic volcanism in the early Holocene. The thickness of pumice formations in the area of ​​the Kuril reservoir exceeds 100-110 meters.

Neighbors of the reserve and its attractions

Kuril Lake itself is interesting for many reasons. In particular, they are also interesting “neighbors” for tourists. For example, on the northeastern shore is the famous Ilyinskaya Sopka volcano.

There is also a place here for capes, which help achieve natural harmony. In the south, Tugumynk juts into the lake, and in the northwest - Pulomynk. Beauty worthy of the brush of the most talented artist. Needless to say, the reserve is always in demand among tourists.

And that's not all - when you arrive here, you will hear the singing of water, it's the rivers running

• Vychenkia
• Etamynk
• Kirushutk
• Khakytsin

The river with the euphonious name Ozernaya playfully flows straight into the arms of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk to the west. It is also worth mentioning that on the shore of Teplaya Bay there are outlets of hot mineral waters. Thus, another argument is added in favor of choosing this direction.

On the border of the reserve, there is a small settlement of Pauzhetka, where groups of tourists making a car-pedestrian journey stop.

From here you can go along a difficult and long road to a unique phenomenon - White Falls. You can find them on one of the slopes of the Koshelevsky volcano.

Water from the melting of snow and glaciers on the slopes of the volcano flows through the earth's crust, dilutes the minerals it contains and carries it to the surface. Immediately, minerals settle and color numerous stream beds a ghostly white color. Already from a distance on the approach you can see rivers of milk. When you come closer and scoop up water, it turns out to be transparent. The effect of whiteness is created by the colored riverbed, which is constantly renewed by nature.

Initially, we also took tourists to the White Falls, but the difficult walking road and frequent precipitation in this corner of the reserve caused great disagreement among the group, and in the end we decided to close this part of the route. We hope that someday the feeling of discovery and searching for new places will prevail over the need for comfort, and we will again be able to observe these rivers of milk with you.

The next interesting attraction, one of our favorite places, is the stone town. This bizarre building was built by the wind.

It is called a town for the similarity of stone sculptures to a once destroyed ancient settlement. Here you can wander through the streets and climb into crevices. This is a place of ancient and mysterious power that can be felt everywhere.

The path to Stone Town is also not easy. For about 3-4 hours you will have to climb along a dry stream bed, through dense bushes and along rocky areas, but when you reach the top, about 850 meters, you understand that all your efforts are not in vain. An indescribable panorama opens up: in the distance Kuril Lake glistens in the sun , the Ozernaya River meanders like a snake, and Pauzhetka “smoke” on the right.

I just want to sit on a pebble under the warm rays of the sun and silently look at the beauty.

Flora and fauna

Kuril Lake is the largest spawning ground for sockeye salmon, a fish of the Pacific salmon family, in Eurasia. The population size here varies between 1.5-6 million individuals. Spawning is very long: it lasts from May to October and determines some of the features of the lake ecosystem.

The spawning process is very important not only for the ecosphere of a given area, but also for the entire peninsula, which is why the special observation station TINRO is responsible for recording incoming salmon and for future offspring. It has been located on the west bank for a long time, fulfilling its mission.

After the new fry hatch from the eggs, they live in the reservoir for some time, and then go to feed in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. A few years later, driven by instinct, they return again.

The same sockeye salmon in the salty waters of the Pacific Ocean and here, in a fresh body of water, looks completely different. In addition to the fact that it stops looking for food, the color of the fish during the mating season changes from silver to bright red, and in males even the body structure is subject to change - jaws similar to a bird’s beak grow.

According to rough estimates, the number of fish that rise to the Kuril Lake per year is about 10 million, and in some years about 20. This is one of the largest migrations of sockeye salmon in Asia, second only to the migration of fish along the largest river of the peninsula - Kamchatka.

Today, many fishing enterprises operate along the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and along the banks of the Ozernaya River outside the reserve. The fishing technology is at such a level that, if desired, you can catch all the passing fish. In order not to disturb the natural balance, the operating hours of enterprises are limited to so-called “passing” days, during which the fish rises to its target without hindrance. Thanks to a set of environmental measures, the sockeye salmon population has recovered in recent decades after ruthless fishing in the middle of the last century.

The movement of fish along the Ozernaya riverbed is not uniform. Along the way, it settles in various depressions. The average time required to travel from the ocean to the spawning site is 4 days. The peak of migration, the runic movement, occurs between mid-July and early September. It is at this time that we plan to visit this territory in organized groups as part of tours.

Sockeye salmon is not the only species of fish living here; other species include pink salmon, chinook salmon, chum salmon, and arctic char.

The reserve attracts tourists not only with the spectacle of water red with fish, but also with bears flocking to this rich feast.

As a rule, by August, about 200-250 Kamchatka brown bears, which are under the protection of the South Kamchatka Nature Reserve, come to the lake area. Along with river otters and foxes, they readily feed on hearty and fatty salmon. They definitely like fishing on Kuril Lake!

The abundance of bear food and the protection of the reserve by workers affects the habits of the bears. They have more time to play with each other and relax. It is this circumstance that attracts nature photographers from all over the world. You have probably already seen on the Internet photographs of dancing bears, sad ones against the backdrop of the Ilyinsky volcano, cubs fishing with a twig, and many others. Most photographs of bears participating in various photo competitions are taken in these places.

The islands in the middle of Kuril Lake are home to the largest colony of slaty gulls in fresh water bodies - more than 1.5 thousand pairs. In winter, species diversity on the lake increases. Large predators gather here: about 400-700 Steller's sea eagles, up to 100-150 white-tailed eagles, about 50 golden eagles. Their greatest concentration is observed at salmon spawning grounds in the interfluve of Khakytsyn and Etamynka and on the Ozernaya River.

Several hundred whooper swans and 1.5-2 thousand wild ducks spend the winter on open waters. Sockeye salmon and its caviar are, to one degree or another, included in the diet of all species of birds, including even vegetarian species, and small forest birds (nuthatch, puffy duck, lesser spotted woodpecker, etc.).

During autumn migrations, representatives of the passerine family also visit Kuril Lake. Their choice is explained extremely simply: Kuril Lake is the only suitable place to stop before leaving the Kamchatka Peninsula through Cape Lopatka. To the south there are simply no conditions for stopping passerines.

Origin from time immemorial

Time has stopped here - this is true, but still there is a story that is filled with various interesting events. So, earlier this place was chosen by the aborigines, and their largest fortress settlement was located on Cape Siyushk.

People lived here, loved, worked, and also came up with names for certain natural objects, and, by the way, most of them are closely intertwined with the legends recorded by Krasheninnikov during his campaigns:

Previously, in the place where the lake is now located, there was a majestic mountain, and it was so high that it blocked the sunlight from the neighboring mountains. Naturally, this caused violent indignation on the part of the neighbors. Quarrels began. As a result, the neighboring mountains and volcanoes became so boring that “Vysokaya Gora” could not stand it and... went straight into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. It was in her place that a lake appeared, which to this day holds her heart. The mountain, going into the sea, left a trail behind it, along which the Ozernaya River, already mentioned by us, ran after it.

A very interesting interpretation, isn’t it. It is also interesting that the local inhabitants (and the whole world) call the rocky island the Heart of Alaid; it is located directly in the south of the island, and is similar in shape to a heart. Krasheninnikov was able to very accurately describe many places that have survived to this day.

One of the brightest and most memorable attractions of Kuril Lake is the active Ilyinsky volcano. It is located in the northeastern part of the lake. Its regular cone-shaped shape is striking, the top of which reaches 1578 m. Relatively young lava flows of Ilyinsky descend directly into the lake and form several bays.

At the foot of the volcano in Teplaya Bay there are thermal springs. They are named Kuril Islands in honor of the lake. Outlets of water with temperatures up to 45 o C are hidden between lava blocks overgrown with dwarf cedar and open forests of stone birch.

The western shore of the reservoir is bordered by the Wild Ridge ridge (1080 m). In calm weather, volcanoes are reflected on the surface of Kuril Lake. Landscapes appear before your eyes, from which it is difficult to take your eyes off. This is probably exactly what the Far Far Away Kingdom, the Thirtieth State, looks like.

Video from our trips to Kuril Lake.

We invite you to take an exciting trip to Kuril Lake and see everything with your own eyes.

We have professional guides who will show you all the secret and hidden corners of Kamchatka.

Lake Kurilskoye is located in the extreme south of Kamchatka. It is located on wild rocky shores with impenetrable bushes.

Lake Kurilskoye is the second largest (after Kronotsky) of the freshwater lakes in Kamchatka. The lake basin is a volcanotectonic depression 12.5 km long and 8 km wide, formed 8300–8400 years ago as a result of a powerful eruption and subsequent subsidence of the earth's crust.

The lake is located at 104 m above sea level. Its maximum depth is 316 m, the average is 195 m. Since the coastal marine areas of the reserve are shallow (isobaths within 50 m), the bottom of the lake relative to the level of the world ocean is located much lower than in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean.

On the lake there are islands made of lava: Chayachy, Nizkiy, Heart of Alaid and the Samang archipelago. They are domes, the relative height of which is 200–300 m.

Kuril Lake gives rise to the Ozernaya River. The largest rivers flowing into the lake are Khakytsyn (24 km) and Etamynk (18 km).

In historical times, the lake was well inhabited by the Aborigines. The largest Neolithic settlement-fortress discovered at Cape Siyushk. The aboriginal population was influenced by the Ainu culture. During archaeological work, Ainu ceramics and Japanese bronze coins were found.

Many of the names used for natural objects in the Kuril Lake area are associated with legends recorded by S.P. Krasheninnikov:
“Once upon a time, on the site of the lake, there stood a high mountain, so high that it blocked the sun for the neighboring mountains, thereby causing their indignation and causing frequent quarrels. Finally, they got so tired of them that “High Mountain” rose and went into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, and in its place a lake formed, in which she left her heart. Following the trail left by the mountain, the Ozernaya River flowed to the sea.”

The heart of Alaid is now called a rocky island in the southern part of the island, very similar in shape to a heart.

4 km from the source of the river, on the right side of its valley, there is a uniquely beautiful pumice outcrop called “Kutkhiny Baty”.

About them S.P. Krasheninnikov writes like this: “... 9 versts from the top of the Ozernaya River, and on which side of it is unknown, stands a whitish rocky mountain, which looks like canoes placed perpendicularly, for which reason the Cossacks call it baton stone, and the local pagans tell that the god and creator of Kamchatka Kuthu lived there for some time before his departure, in these stone shuttles or bahts he traveled across the sea and lake to fish, and upon leaving there he placed the shuttles on the declared stone, and for this they are kept in such reverence from them that they are afraid to come close to them.”

The Kuril Lake region is generally characterized by the widespread development of pumice deposits. Their formation is associated with a powerful outbreak of acidic volcanism in the early Holocene. The thickness of pumice formations reaches 70–110 m.

There are hot springs on the shores of the lake. Groups of water outlets with temperatures up to 45ºС - the Kuril springs - are located at the foot of the Ilyinsky volcano on the shore of the lake in Teplaya Bay among lava blocks overgrown with birch woodland and elfin wood.

The water column is so large that with stable winter winds, as a result of mixing of water masses, the lake is not covered with ice in some years, or the ice cover is loose and fragile.

The largest herd of sockeye salmon in Eurasia spawns in Kuril Lake. The optimal number of producers ensuring expanded reproduction of the herd is estimated at 1.5–3.5 million individuals; in reality, up to 6 million producers entered the lake (1990). Sockeye salmon spawning is unusually extended: it lasts from July to March. 71% of spawning areas are in lakes, 26% in rivers and 3% in key spawning grounds. At the source of the Ozernaya River, the KamchatNIRO scientific station constantly operates.

The abundance of sockeye salmon for such a long time is the most important feature of the natural complex of the lake. At the end of summer, more than 200 brown bears gather in the lake basin; they are trusting because they are under protection South Kamchatsky reserve Here it is easier than anywhere else to observe the life of these wonderful animals. The common river otter and fox readily feed on salmon.

On the islands in the middle of the lake there is one of the largest colonies of slaty-backed gulls in fresh water bodies, numbering more than 1.5 thousand pairs.

In winter, an unparalleled concentration of large birds of prey gathers here: up to 300–700 Steller's sea eagles, up to 100–150 white-tailed eagles, up to 50 golden eagles, cases of flights of bald eagles are known. Most of them are found on river and key spawning grounds in the Khakytsyn-Etamynka interfluve and on the Ozernaya River. Hundreds of them spend the winter on open waters whooper swans and up to 1.5–2 thousand ducks. All of them (even vegetarian species), as well as small forest birds - puffy duck, nuthatch, small spotted woodpecker - to one degree or another feed on sockeye salmon or its eggs. The winter ecosystem of Lake Kurilskoye is unique.

Finally, the lake basin is part of a fairly large area in the extreme south of the Kamchatka Peninsula, where there is a high concentration of passerine birds (especially forest birds) on autumn migrations. The fact is that this area is a pre-start stopover for passerines leaving Kamchatka through Cape Lopatka, since even further south there are no conditions for a long stopover for forest birds.

TO northeast part of the lake is adjacent to the active stratovolcano Ilyinsky with an impressively regular conical structure 1578 m high. The youngest lava flows of this volcano descend directly into the lake, forming several bays. The western shore of the lake is framed by a volcanic extrusion - the Wild Ridge ridge with a highest elevation of 1080 m. In calm, clear weather, volcanoes are reflected on the surface of the lake as if in a mirror, creating fantastically beautiful landscapes. Lake Kurilskoye is one of the most beautiful corners of Kamchatka at any time of the year.

Karymskoye Lake is a natural monument of the Kamchatka Peninsula, located in the caldera of the Academy of Sciences volcano, whose age is about 30-50 thousand years. After the eruption of two volcanoes at once in 1996, underwater explosions of Karymsky Lake formed columns of steam and water, which negatively affected the wildlife of this wonderful reservoir.

The nearby surroundings were covered with volcanic ash, and the lake changed its morphological characteristics and became completely dead. Today the lake is considered unsuitable for living creatures. But nevertheless, it is of natural value due to the thermal springs near the located volcano!

Kambalnoye Lake

Lake Kambalnoye is located on the territory of the South Kamchatka Nature Reserve and year after year attracts numerous tourists, lovers of harsh and wild nature. This is due to the fact that fog prevails on the lake, which gives it a unique flavor. The lake also attracts the attention of nature lovers; it is small in size and surrounded by hills on all sides, and grizzly bears are a frequent visitor to its shores. Interesting excursions, pristine nature and unforgettable landscapes - all this will leave an indelible impression on guests of the Kamchatka Territory.

Sarannoye Lake

Lake Sarannoe is located on Bering Island in the Aleutian region of the Kamchatka Territory. The lake is of lagoonal origin and was formerly a seabed. The reservoir is connected to the ocean through a small river, thereby serving as the largest spawning ground for sockeye salmon in this region. The lake itself is rich in salmon fish during the spawning season; on the shores you can find blue fox and a huge field of blooming irises, but in the reservoir itself there is almost no plant life. Sarannoe Lake is surrounded by a ring of hills, and the fact that there are many small lakes and streams nearby makes it an attractive place to visit for anyone traveling in Kamchatka.

Lake Costacan

Lake Kostakan, located in the Kamchatka Territory, is a freshwater body of volcanic origin. It is located near the Bakening volcano and is part of a ring of lakes of this type around it. Since 1998, this place has been a natural monument; many tourists come to see the unique landscapes around the lake. In the area there are many berry fields of lingonberries, honeysuckle, and blueberries; the most common animals are bears, and the most common fish are char. In the summer, you can get to the lake by horseback!

Nachikinskoye Lake

Lake Nachikinskoye, located in one of the most lacustrine regions of Russia, Kamchatka. Being a fairly large alpine lake, it is of glacial origin, and the formation of its familiar image occurred with the participation of an ash eruption. The lake is very popular among different categories of people, largely due to its natural features. The reservoir is a large spawning ground for salmon species; it is also home to such valuable fish species as sockeye salmon, coho salmon, and pink salmon. Among the fauna around the lake you can find bears, foxes and others. A visit to this place is possible and interesting at any time of the year!

Lake Shtyubel

Lake Shtyubel is located in the eastern part of the caldera of the Ksudach volcano, Kamchatka Peninsula. The freshwater lake has an oblong shape and is surrounded on almost all sides by steep walls 400-500 meters high, this is due to its tectonic origin. To the northwest of Lake Shtyubel there are thermal springs that form the Hot Beach. Currently, this reservoir is quite popular both for tourists and for scientific research.

Opalinskoye Lake

Lake Opalinskoye is a unique natural monument located in the Kamchatka Territory and is a system of lakes. Opalinskoye Lake itself is located at 130 meters above sea level and has a peculiar plate-shaped bottom. The peculiarity of the reservoir is its steep banks and the absence of tributaries. In addition to the fact that this place is a spawning ground for late sockeye salmon, in the fall you can see an abundance of swans and ducks. Lake Opalinskoye is surrounded by rings of mountains, which are overgrown with stone birch, cedar and alder trees, which gives a very picturesque view to the already beautiful view of the surrounding area of ​​the lake.

Khodutkinskoye Lake

Khodutkinskoe Lake is one of the lakes of the Kamchatka Territory, which has a tectonic nature of origin. The lake is located at the foot of the Khodutkinsky volcanic massif, and its dimensions reach 150 meters in length and up to 200 meters in width. The lake is famous for its hot springs, which are located along the banks of the reservoir itself and the river flowing from it. Khodutkinskoe Lake is freshwater, replenished by snow, rain, and about 60 liters of boiling water per second flows from the hot spring!

Palana Lake

Lake Palanskoye is located in the foothills of the western part of the Sredinny Range of the Kamchatka Territory. Like many lakes in Kamchatka, Palanskoye was formed by lava domes and their flows blocking the valley; the Palana River, known to many tourists and scientists for its rapids and hot springs, flows out of it. The lake itself is a zoological reserve and has received the status of a natural monument. It is noteworthy that in its western part there are several forested islands, which are the tops of semi-submerged hills, which greatly enlivens the view of the picturesque lake.

Golyginskoye Lake

Lake Golyginskoye is located in the southern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula on the watershed of two rivers. This is a freshwater body of water, into which many streams flow, which makes the water flowing and very clean. Despite the fact that the lake lies on a vast flat plain, the landscape of the surrounding area is very distinctive; you can see a mountain range from the east, and a ridge from the west.

The lake is a large spawning ground for salmon, which makes it attractive to fishermen. Along its shores you can meet bears, foxes, and whooper swans spend the winter here. The highlight and unique object of the lake’s fauna is the Kamchatka Middendorf’s pearl mussel, which also lives in the river flowing from it.

Vitamin Lake

Lake Vitaminnoye is one of the few lakes in the Kamchatka Territory that has a tectonic origin. Located in the Kuril Lake basin, it amazes with its power and beauty. On the eastern shore is the Wild Ridge volcano, and a small river flows from the lake, all of which add unsurpassed complexity to the landscape.

The small area of ​​Vitaminnoye is a spawning reservoir; in addition to sockeye salmon, you can find coho salmon and Arctic char there. Another feature of the lake is a low-temperature gas stream escaping from the bottom with its inherent aroma of hydrogen sulfide!

Lake Dalneye

Lake Dalnee is located in the Kamchatka Territory near the village of Paratunka and is a natural monument of significant scientific and practical interest. This is a freshwater body of glacial origin, the territory of which belongs to landscapes of high aesthetic value.

It consists of steep slopes forming a ring shaft, covered with picturesque thickets of cedar and alder trees, as well as the most bizarre shape of the lake, which seems to be stretched from north to south and forms a rectangle. Lake Dalneye is an ideal place for aesthetes and connoisseurs of natural beauty!

Lake Vasilyevskoye

Lake Vasilyevskoye is a flowing reservoir of the Kamchatka Territory with freshwater springs. It is famous for the fact that the water in it is clean and transparent, which allows you to see the trees that stand on the bottom of the lake, not reaching the surface of the water by 1.5–2 meters. The origin of the lake is tectonic, this can be seen by looking at the rocks of the right bank.

The landscape of Lake Vasilyevskoye is exceptionally picturesque, and the forest thickets at the bottom of the reservoir increase the aesthetic value of the landscape. The wide and long reservoir fascinates with its beauty and natural value!

Kharchinskoye Lake

Lake Kharchinskoye is another wonderful body of water from a series of lakes in the Kamchatka Territory, and is a state zoological reserve. Back in 1977, it was created to protect birds and the Canadian beaver. At the moment, this lake, 11 km long, stretching from northwest to southeast, is the most important spring stopping place for birds during migration. This lake is favored by waterfowl, lesser white-fronted goose, eagles, and, along with salmon species, crucian carp and Amur carp are also found there. One of the peculiarities of the lake is that in the middle of it there is a rocky Spider Island.

Vershinskoye Lake

Lake Vershinskoye is one of the freshwater lakes in the Kamchatka Territory, which belongs to the Nalychevo Natural Park and is a specially protected area. Located on a pass at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level, it belongs to a system of mountain lakes and offers a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding area.

Not far from the lake you can visit cold mineral (ferruginous) springs, mountain ranges, and the lakeside nature is considered very valuable. For example, such rare plant species as golden and pink rhododendrons, listed in the Red Book, grow around the lake.

Kronotskoye Lake

Kronotskoye Lake is the largest lake in the Kamchatka Territory by area; it also ranks second in volume and third in depth in the entire region. This reservoir is located at the foot of one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the world, Kronotsky, in honor of which it was named by its researchers back in 1908.

The uniqueness of the lake is confirmed by the natural complex within its basin, and it is the mechanisms of speciation in this ecosystem, such as the population of the sockeye salmon species, as well as groups of char, that are of interest to scientists around the world. There are 11 picturesque islands scattered in the eastern part of the lake, rising 25–50 m above the water, which gives extraordinary beauty to this magnificent lake!

Azhabach Lake

Lake Azhabachye is located in the Kamchatka Territory and has unique natural properties. The uniqueness of the lake lies in the fact that it is the largest spawning ground for sockeye salmon on the eastern coast of the peninsula, for example, it ranks fourth in area, namely 62.5 square meters, among Kamchatka lakes. The name of the lake comes from this phenomenon, since “azhaba” is translated as sockeye salmon. Lake Azhabachye is of marine relict origin, has unique features of natural fertilization by volcanic ash, and on the shore you can find a variety of animals, such as brown bear, golden eagle, muskrat and many others!

Blue Lakes

Blue Lakes is a system of lakes in Kamchatka, which has the status of a natural park of regional significance. Three small lakes, located at different heights and filling natural depressions in ancient rocks, are connected by a small stream.

These lakes got their name due to the ultramarine color that appears during the period of rapid melting of ice. Another remarkable fact is that the lake is surrounded by picturesque hills, and the water in it is distinguished by its extraordinary purity and transparency. That is why local residents of the region and visiting guests love to be there so much!

Two-Yurt Lake

Lake Dvuhyurtochnoye is a wonderful freshwater reservoir in the Kamchatka Territory. It is noteworthy that surrounded on all sides by rocky mountains, the lake is one of the large spawning reservoirs of the peninsula, and Oleniy Volcano can be seen above the northern shore of the lake.

The lake is of glacier-dammed origin, but at the same time it has a flow-through system, that is, the river of the same name passes through it, flowing in in the west and flowing out in the east. The lake is also known for its diversity of animal life, for example, on the shore you can find brown bears, otters, foxes, minks and others. This is a great place for all fishing lovers!

Lake Tahkoloch

Lake Takhkoloch is another lake from a series of numerous reservoirs in the Kamchatka Territory. Located in the Elizovsky region at the foot of the ancient extinct Vachkazhets volcano, it is of glacial origin and is a favorite place for many guests of the region. Lake Tahkoloch attracts with its picturesque nature; it occupies the entire extinct volcano basin, 150 meters long and about 100 meters wide, from where a river flows, subsequently forming a beautiful waterfall.

Lake Kluchevoye

Lake Klyuchevoe is one of the unique reservoirs of the Kamchatka Territory, located in the caldera of the Ksudach volcano. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the lake does not have an open drain, so water is filtered through a dam, and it is also surrounded on almost all sides by steep walls, the height of which is 400-500 meters.

Lake Klyuchevoye maintains a constant composition of water from the bottom to the surface; there is practically no flora and fauna, and the level of bottom water temperature in the lake is 40C. The lake is of volcanic origin and is interesting for scientific research all over the world!

Lake Tolmacheva

Lake Tolmacheva is undoubtedly included in the list of one of the most beautiful Kamchatka lakes. It is a deep-sea body of water with very cold water temperatures and a maximum depth of 60 meters. As scientists note, the origin of the lake is dammed; it was formed after the collapse of rocks in the area of ​​the Tolmachevo River. This place is popular for sedentary sockeye salmon; waterfowl build nests on the banks; bears and other predators may also appear here. In the vicinity of the lake there is also a rich flora, which is represented by park birch forests, thickets of alder and cedar, as well as berry forests, moss moss and rhododendron thickets.

Nerpichye Lake

Nerpichye Lake is located near the port of Ust-Kamchatsk in the east of the Kamchatka Peninsula and is the largest brackish body of water in the area. As a result of a long uplift of the coastline, the sea bay separated and on the resulting residue, Nerpichye Lake appeared, thereby having a lagoonal origin. Its name, as it is not difficult to guess, comes from the name of the sea animal seal, which lives in large numbers in the reservoir. The lake is also known for its rich and diverse fauna; it is the habitat of a special form of lake herring, some species of carp, salmon; near the shoreline you can see dolphins, seagulls, puffins and many others. At any time of the year, the lake attracts numerous guests to its shores!

In one of the most beautiful and untouched places in the world - in the South Kamchatka Nature Reserve - a magnificent expanse of water stretches. This Kuril Lake is one of the largest and most beautiful in the Kamchatka region.

Geographical information

Kuril Lake can be confusing with its name, because this huge volcanic formation is not a lake on the Kuril Islands, but is located in the very south of the Kamchatka Peninsula. In terms of area, Kuril Lake in Kamchatka ranks second after Kronotsky Lake and, for a freshwater lake, has impressive parameters. Its maximum depth is about 316 m with an average of about 200 m, its width in some places reaches 8 km, and the total water area is 77 square meters. m.

The volcanic origin of the Kuril Lake (the reservoir appeared several thousand years ago) is quite common for the peninsula. The rugged coastline surrounded by cliffs forms many bays and headlands, and dormant volcanoes towering above give the landscape an unusually majestic appearance. Ilyinskaya Sopka in the northeast is today the most active volcano in Kamchatka. Along with it, the Wild Ridge to the west and numerous islands on the surface of the lake remind of the turbulent history of its formation.

Heart of Alaid

A sad and beautiful legend is associated with the most picturesque and largest island of Kuril Lake, with the Heart of Alaid. Numerous mountains have always adorned this area, but among them there was one special peak, distinguished by its beauty and rising several kilometers into the air. The handsome Alaid, so tall and majestic, aroused the envy of his smaller neighbors, and they constantly complained that he was blocking the sun and taking all the water from the glacier covering his slopes. Proud Alaid could not contain his resentment and went underground with a powerful roar, and the water covered the place of his death. The mountain giant left a torn out heart as a reminder of himself...

As can be seen in the photo below of Kuril Lake, the Heart of Alaid still adorns the blue surface with a beautiful rocky island.

Unique flora and fauna

Particularly impressive is the beauty of the vegetation of the Kuril Lake, almost untouched by human activity. Outlandish ferns as tall as a man grow along the coastline; some of their species can only be seen here, on the territory of the reserve. Thickets of cedar, willow and alder on the banks provide shelter for numerous species of animals, and rocky gorges are a nesting site for a wide variety of rare birds.

The local settlements of a huge variety of birds delight ornithologists, since there are almost no opportunities left to observe them in natural conditions and to get as close as on the Kamchatka lakes anywhere in the world. Steller's sea eagles, slaty gulls, golden eagles, and white-tailed eagles willingly use the territory of the reservoir for wintering, since there is always plenty of fish here, and people are in no hurry to settle in this beautiful, but extremely turbulent region in geological terms. Thanks to its unique, virtually pristine ecosystem, Kuril Lake was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.

Salmon spawning

The lake is home to numerous species of phytoplankton, which creates favorable conditions for large populations of fish. When the spawning season begins, the Ozernaya River, the only one carrying its waters from the Kuril Lake to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, is literally boiling with numerous schools of sockeye and salmon going upstream. This is an ideal place to study the behavior of salmon fish in their natural habitat.

Bear baths

On the shores of Kuril Lake there are real bear places. The territory of the reserve is a habitat for brown bears, which are attracted by a large number of fish and geothermal springs in the bays of the reservoir. Teplaya Bay has become a favorite bear bath, where otters, foxes, sables and bighorn sheep blithely live next to the well-fed bears. The inhabitants of these places are not at all afraid of humans, so you can observe them from a fairly close distance on specially equipped towers.

Attractions

Kamchatka, where Kuril Lake is located, is still undergoing geographic changes. In the area of ​​the volcanic lake, the volcanoes are of greatest interest. Having long fallen asleep and continuing their activity, they attract the most courageous tourists from all over the world to these hard-to-reach places.

Hot springs with healing mineral water in Teplaya Bay are superior in quality to the famous European thermal baths. They were formed during lava flow after the eruption, therefore they have a special mineral composition and provide a unique opportunity to plunge into the warm healing waters of the lake far from civilization. Animal lovers can sit comfortably on low towers and spend hours watching brown bears carefreely swim and fish.

Kukhtiny Bati, Utashud and Cape Lopatka

The largest deposits of volcanic pumice are concentrated in the Ozernaya River valley. An interesting place to visit is Kutkhiny Bati, where snow-white blocks of pumice are shaped like boats left to dry on the shore.

The island of Utashud is also unusual, which is a close group of three rocky islets with completely flat shores. Not far from here, among the reefs, you can see the hull of a long-sunken ship that crashed onto inaccessible rocks.

Particularly seasoned tourists can try their hand at reaching the inaccessible Cape Lopatka. Apart from geologists, meteorologists and wild bears and eagles, no one lives there. This remote point of Kamchatka is unique in its shape and resembles an exposed shoulder blade. Windswept and virtually inaccessible even to the sun's rays, this deserted and wild area creates the feeling of being on another planet.

Archaeological finds

Many historical artifacts have been found on the shores of Kuril Lake. Archaeologists have discovered places of ancient settlements and human habitation here. Why these settlements disappeared without a trace is still unknown. We can only assume that the ancient inhabitants somehow angered the local gods, and they drove the ungrateful settlers out of the rich and beautiful lands.

Excursions to Kuril Lake

Despite the significant distance from civilization, or perhaps precisely because of this factor, the territory of Kuril Lake in the South Kamchatka Nature Reserve attracts tourists. When is the best time to plan a trip to these parts?

The period for visiting Kuril Lake is very limited. For most of the year, you can only get here by helicopter, but even here weather conditions impose significant restrictions.

Since the territory belongs to specially protected and significant places on our planet, all movements of tourists are limited to trails and special routes. Such special measures have been taken by the administration of the reserve for the safety of tourists and the protection of the wild inhabitants of Kuril Lake. You can enter the territory of the reserve only after completing a number of documents and special temporary passes.

The cost of visiting these places is comparable in price to a stay in luxury five-star hotels, with the best service and exquisite cuisine. But there are no restaurants or hotels here, only small wooden houses or roomy tents. But all around is unique nature, clean air, gorgeous views of majestic mountains and dormant volcanoes. On the shores of Kuril Lake and in its surroundings you will have to live next to bears and other predators, watch them in natural conditions and enjoy the beauty of pristine nature.

Those who can visit these fabulous places may be very lucky. Dormant, but still hot and powerful volcanoes can swallow these sparkling Kamchatka lakes in an instant. Well, it’s probably even right that the thrill and picturesqueness of a miracle is always given to us, ungrateful people, only for a while...

The Kamchatka Peninsula owes its mountainous volcanic relief to a turbulent geological past, when it sank into the ocean and then rose above it again. The activity has not disappeared to this day: seismic stations record up to 800 earthquakes a year, and three dozen volcanoes (out of three hundred in total) remind themselves from time to time with powerful (and not so powerful) eruptions.

In the basin of one of the long-extinct Kamchatka volcanoes (caldera), lies the picturesque Kuril Lake. This is the second largest freshwater body of water in Kamchatka: 77 sq. kilometers (larger is only Kronotskoe Lake with an area of ​​242 sq. kilometers). Its average depth is estimated at 195 meters, and the maximum reaches 316 meters.

Kuril Lake is located on the territory of the South Kamchatka Nature Reserve, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, at an altitude of 104 meters above sea level. Its surface is decorated with islands of volcanic origin: Chayachy, Nizkiy, Heart of Alaid and the Samang archipelago: domes made of lava up to 300 meters high.

Adjacent to the northeastern part of the reservoir is the active 1578-meter high Ilyinsky volcano with an ideal conical shape. Its lava flows descend directly into the lake, forming several bays. And the western coast is framed by the Wild Ridge ridge with its highest elevation of 1080 meters. In calm, clear weather, volcanoes, as if in a mirror, are reflected on the surface of the lake, creating fantastically beautiful landscapes.

The lake is fed by snow and rain, with water levels fluctuating up to 1.3 meters (maximum in May/June, minimum in April). The average water temperature off the coast is about +7.6°C, while the water has never warmed up above +10.8°C in the entire history of observations of this landmark of Kamchatka. However, on the shores of this reservoir there are many hot springs, up to +45°C.

In winter, an unparalleled concentration of large birds of prey gathers here: 300-700 Steller's sea eagles, 100-150 white-tailed eagles, 50 golden eagles. Once on the lake they observed the arrival of a bald eagle - a rare bird whose species is on the verge of extinction. And even such an ordinary bird as the slaty gull is represented here in record numbers: more than 1.5 thousand pairs.

Kuril Lake is the largest spawning ground for sockeye salmon (Pacific salmon) in Eurasia. Many rivers and streams flow into the lake, but only one river flows out, Ozernaya. When the fish goes up against the flow of the river, the water in it literally boils. Salmon numbers range from 2 million to 6 million!

Another unique feature of Kuril Lake is the long spawning period of sockeye salmon: from June to March. Both of these factors attract many brown bears to the shores of the reservoir. Under normal conditions, clubfoots avoid each other, but during salmon spawning they gather together near the lake. Up to 20 individuals can be observed here at the same time, and they are so keen on fishing that they do not pay attention not only to their relatives, but also to people.