Kamchatka Region: Volcanoes, Nature Parks and Thermal Springs

• Seven tourist routes run through Nalychevo Nature Park and are accessible at different times of year.
• Five volcanoes surround the Nalychevo Valley: Zhupanovsky, Avachinsky, Kozelsky, Koryaksky and Dzenzur.
• There are about 30 active and more than 160 extinct volcanoes in Kamchatka.
• Lake Kurile in the South Kamchatka Nature Reserve is the deepest freshwater lake in Kamchatka.

Nalychevo Nature Park offers several kinds of nature experiences: seven tourist routes run through the park and are accessible at different times of year. The number and availability of routes may change; check locally before your trip. The Nalychevo Valley is surrounded by the volcanoes Zhupanovsky, Avachinsky, Kozelsky, Koryaksky and Dzenzur. These names give the landscape a concrete frame of reference as you learn about the possible sights of the park in advance.

The thermal springs also vary: the park has about 200 springs, forming groups with different hydrochemical, temperature and balneological properties. This is an approximate figure; the inventory may change. The central part of the park has hot and cold mineral springs with carbonated, arsenic- and boron-containing waters that contain trace minerals. Nalychevo therefore encompasses different types of water as well as a wide range of temperatures.

Other geothermal landscapes differ in their locations and visible features. The Verkhnekoshelevskoye Thermal Field lies in the crater of Valentin Volcano, at 1,250 to 1,400 metres above sea level. The Lower-Koshelevskoye Thermal Field is located on the slope of the caldera of West Koshelevsky Volcano, at an elevation of 750 to 800 metres. Its area, measuring 100 to 450 metres, has boiling pools, mud pots, small warm lakes and steam vents.

The South Kamchatka Nature Reserve has several geothermal areas and thermal springs. Lake Kurile is also located there and is the deepest freshwater lake in Kamchatka. Kronotsky Nature Reserve has snow-covered volcanoes, lakes, hot springs and fumarole fields. If you want to visit Kronotsky Nature Reserve independently, you must fill out an application on the website in advance. Check with the administration for the current requirements.

In the South Kamchatka Nature Reserve, visitors can watch bears from a specially built observation tower at a distance of a few dozen metres. At Lake Kurile, brown bears come to the shores in August and September in search of food. These details provide a seasonal indication: the bear watching described at the lake takes place in late summer, while the observation tower offers a separate opportunity in the nature reserve.

A one-day guided hike leads to the Kutkhiny Baty pumice deposits. Its duration and guided format are the specific features of this offering; tour options may vary by provider. When comparing your travel ideas, you can therefore distinguish between a day hike like this, the routes in Nalychevo and the natural features of the protected areas.

Nalychevo, South Kamchatka, Bystrinsky and Klyuchevskoy Nature Parks, together with two federal protected areas, are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Volcanoes of Kamchatka.” This designation relates to natural heritage. It places these parks in a shared context of protected areas and landscapes.

Discover more destinations: Vilyuchinsk, Yelizovsky District, Ust-Kamchatsky District, Apacha, Palana, Yelizovo, Ust-Bolsheretsk, Paratunka, Esso, Milkovo, Yelizovsky District, Sedanka, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Aleutsky District, Ust-Kamchatsky District and Nachiki.

How many tourist routes are there in Nalychevo Nature Park?

Seven tourist routes run through the nature park and are accessible at different times of year. The number and availability of routes may change; check locally before your trip.

How do the thermal springs in Nalychevo differ?

The park has about 200 springs with different hydrochemical, temperature and balneological properties. The central part has hot and cold mineral springs with carbonated, arsenic- and boron-containing waters.

What should you know before visiting Kronotsky Nature Reserve independently?

For an independent visit, you must fill out an application on the website in advance. Check with the administration for the current requirements.

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