About Kamchatka

Kamchatka peninsula is one of the most removed, severe and beautiful region of our country. It is situated in the north-east extremity of Russia. The northern point lies in the latitude of Arkhangelsk. The southern point lies in the latitude of Kiev. The total area is 472.300 sq. km. The difference time from Moscow is 9 hours. Kamchatka is washed by the cold waters of Okhotsk Sea from the west and by Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea from the east.

The history of development and investigation of Kamchatka is one of the brightest pages of the Russian Geographical society and Science. More than 300 centuries ago brave Russian explores and sailors reached years to this far and uninhabited place. The march of Vladimira Atlasova Cossack chieftain (ataman) at the end of XVII century became the beginning of Kamchatka’s development. The route of his march was from the Anadirsky Stockade town. Atlasov wrote the first description - “skaski” about Kamchatka and its inhabitants. At that time the first outlines of Kamchatka in the form of peninsula appeared on  S.U.Remezova's map. Another cossack I.P.Kozyrevsky also searched new land. In 1726 he made a map and description of the south of peninsula and the Kuril Islands had discovered by him before.

The first and second expeditions made by Vitus Bering and expeditions of XVII century have made exact outlines of east coast and map of Kamchatka. A valuable contribution belongs to the distinguished ethnographer and explorer of Kamchatka S.P. Krasheninnikov. His book “Description of land Kamchatka” tells about geographical location, minerals, animals, flora, people inhabiting the peninsula and its history. The book is still value. People G.V.Steller, I.I.Billings, G.A.Sarichev, I.F.Elagina were engaged in investigation and description of Kamchatka at different times.

The first Russian settlements Milkovo and Kluchi appeared in the first half of XYII century. The Itelmens, the Koryaks and the Chukchis are indigenous inhabitants of Kamchatka.

The IItelmens practiced a settled way of life. They cought fish by means of nets and went hunting. The Koryaks and the Chukchis divided into “settled” who hunting for sea animals, and "nomads", grazing deer herds in tundra.

In the mid of XIX century the Evens appeared in the north of Kamchatka. They were called “the men of reindeer”. Other inhabitants the Aleuty lived in the Commander Islands. They were the descendants of the Aleuty manufactures moved from the Aleutan Islands.  The Aleuty were traditionally engaged in hunting for sea animals. Besides hunting, fishing and reindeer breeding the men of the indigenous population were engaged for making instruments, the Kayan boats, sledges and broad skis. Women of the indigenous population were engaged for sewing clothes of fur and dog’s skins, cooking and gathering.

Nowadays from traditional crafts of these indigenous inhabitants the reindeer breeding and domestic crafts are still kept. Northern inhabitants are famous for bone carving, braiding metal processing, making of national clothes and carpets of reindeer fur and embroidery with glass beads.