Autumn in Kamchatka: what to see?
Kamchatka Krai is beautiful at any time of the year, but it is autumn that will give bright colors and emotions from visiting the peninsula. This season is full of unique opportunities for those who are eager to discover the incredible beauty of the region. Autumn is considered a less popular season to visit Kamchatka, so you can avoid large crowds of tourists and enjoy a more relaxed and secluded atmosphere. It is better to come in September and October, and leave November without attention, because at this time it is already getting very cold and popular locations will be inaccessible to visitors.
Volcanoes
Volcanoes are considered the calling card of Kamchatka. The peninsula has more than 300 volcanoes, of which about 30 are active. But in autumn, the season of full-fledged ascents ends due to a decrease in temperature at the peaks. This does not mean that in autumn you will not be able to enjoy the views of volcanoes, on the contrary, do not miss the chance to get as close to them as possible! At this time, trips to the Avachinsky and Vilyuchinsky passes are available, from where you can look at the volcanoes of the same name. Avachinsky pass is notable for being located near the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, and three volcanoes, view which opens from it — Avachinsky (2741m), Kozelsky (2189m) and Koryaksky (3456m) — locals call "home". The journey takes about 3 hours..
Although it will not be possible to climb to the top of volcanoes, do not be upset. In autumn, there is an opportunity to make a small ascent to the Camel Mountain, which is an extrusion. Viscous lava erupted from the foot of the volcano during the eruption and froze in two "humps", because of this type it was called a Camel. The height of Mount Camel is 1,200 m, and the relative height is 200 m. It is from here that you will be able to look at the expanses of the Pacific Ocean, the water surface of the Avacha Bay, the city and the Vilyuchinsky volcano. The ascent and descent will take about an hour.
Avachinsky pass is very fond of Beringian ground squirrels, or evrazhki. While you are taking a walk on the volcanic plateau, they will run out of their burrows and run up to beg for sweets from you. In no case do not succumb to the charm of these babies. They will only suffer from feeding wild animals. Take some photos and continue enjoying the scenery.
Also, volcanoes can be viewed on the Vilyuchinsky pass — on the opposite shore of the bay from the Avachinsky pass. In good clear weather from here you will be able to contemplate as many as 8 volcanoes — Vilyuchinsky, Gorely, Mutnovsky, Avachinsky, Koryaksky, Kozelsky, Arik and Aag.
Three statues of gamuls will meet you at the pass. According to one of the indigenous legends, gamuls are spirits that live on volcanoes, feed on whales and can cause rains. Itelmen have always been afraid to disturb the peace of spirits, so sometimes they even threw meat at the foot of volcanoes for sacrificial purposes. But don't worry, these gamuls will protect your rest and walk along the Vilyuchinsky Pass.
Lakes
Autumn is a great time to visit the lakes in Kamchatka. It's all about the autumn spawning of fish.
Lake Nachikinskoe is known for its unique role in the conservation of biodiversity and for being one of the largest spawning grounds for various salmon species, including sockeye salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon and char.
The females of these fish create special nests by actively moving silt and fine sand with the help of their fins. In these nests they mark eggs, and then the males fertilize it. To protect against predators, caviar is covered with sand — this measure allows you to save caviar and protect it from being eaten by other animals.Soon the hatched fry are sent to the sea, starting a long and dangerous journey into the open ocean. Interestingly, most of the fish of this species return back to their native spawning grounds in order to produce offspring themselves. After the end of spawning, many fish die near spawning grounds, bringing a huge amount of minerals from the ocean to the upper reaches of rivers. This process makes the soil of the Kamchatka Peninsula incredibly fertile and contributes to the diversity of the animal and plant world.
Only Nachikinsky Lake is worthy of attention, the autumn landscapes of Tolmachev Lake will not leave you indifferent. About 25 square kilometers of the lake appeared after the collapse of rocky formations in the valley of the Tolmacheva River. During this event, there was a spawning of Pacific salmon, known as sockeye salmon, in the lake. It is interesting that these fish, cut off from the ocean, not only did not become extinct, but also found a way to adapt to fresh water. Because of this, they got the name "Kokan".
In clear weather, you can see the active Opal stratovolcano, with a height of 2 475 meters. In addition, not far from the lake there are other volcanoes, such as Mutnovsky, Gorely, Ksudach and Khodutka.
In the vicinity of Lake Tolmacheva there are spacious meadows that serve as an attractive place for bears. These majestic creatures gather here to get enough of the berries of shiksha and blueberries. The unique location of Tolmachev Lake and its adjacent fields turns it into a favorite stop for bears, which is confirmed by its inclusion in the list of "bear" places in Kamchatka.
There are many activities on the lake that you can do in the fall. Embark on an exciting walk through the waters of the lake on a sea kayak, or experience an unforgettable experience by riding on the inflatable SUP-board. We also offer the opportunity to dive into the wonderful world of the lake on an inflatable boat, sailing to its shores in search and observation of brown bears.
Морские прогулки
If you want to enter the waters of the Pacific Ocean on a yacht or catamaran in the fall, then come to Kamchatka in September. In the middle of October, by the decree of the Government of the Kamchatka Territory, navigation for small vessels in the Kamchatka water area is closed. This will last until May, so have time to join the boat trips before October.
At this time, it is still possible to see killer whales and whales, but the probability begins to decrease with a decrease in air temperature. Put on more clothes, pull a hat over your ears and go ahead to sea adventures!
One of the most popular destinations is Russian Bay, which is located in the south—east of the Kamchatka Peninsula. It goes deep into the shore for 8 kilometers. Due to its considerable depth, the bay can receive even large vessels, providing them with a safe haven during storms.
Not far from the exit of the bay is Cape Kekurny, which impresses with its unique beauty. There are many rocks and protruding from the water of kekur, which are a favorite resting place of sea lions, or sea lions. From the side of a sailing catamaran, you can watch these amazing creatures.
Regardless of the season, Kamchatka is a great place to visit, but autumn offers its own special atmosphere that may interest travelers. Come to Kamchatka in the fall, the Kamchatka freeride community travel company will try to make your vacation unforgettable! Choose one of the tours, see the program and description, and our managers will answer all your questions.
