The Kingdom of Salmon and Brown Bear
“The Kingdom of Salmon and Brown Bear” — a one-day guided tour.
An introduction to the Kuril Lake ecosystem is a fascinating journey, giving you the opportunity to see the cycles of wildlife in one of the most beautiful and unspoiled corners of the earth. Kuril Lake is located in the territory of the South Kamchatka Sanctuary, 150 miles from the town of Yelizovo.
It is the largest reservoir of fresh water on Kamchatka and the largest spawning ground for Pacific salmon. In some years, up to 10 million individual fish arrive there. This massive salmon run is always an impressive sight. Such an abundance of fish attracts bears. Kuril Lake is the gathering place of a record number of brown bears and sea eagles. On the lake, you can learn about the life of bears and observe their fishing.
The tour is focused on giving comprehensive information about the unique ecosystem that has emerged in the Kuril Lake region. The guide describes the South Kamchatka Sanctuary, Kuril Lake itself, and interesting historical facts. Visitors will learn about the features of local nature in the winter, islands, volcanoes, birds, animals, and much more.
Time on the Sanctuary territory: 1.5–2.5 hours
Venue: the tour can take place in grassy or coastal areas.
Level of difficulty: a generally accessible route. Special sports training is not required.
Important!
• The tour travels along flat paths and must be accompanied by a Reserve inspector and tour guide.
• For safety reasons (protection from bears), visitors are separated from the territories by an electric fence; leaving the protected area alone or without notice is strictly prohibited by the state inspector.
• The tour’s operation is restricted to May and June.
Additional services: If you prefer, you can use the kitchen and dining room.
Getting there: Tourist agencies throughout Kamchatka organize tours to the teritory of the South Kamchatka Sanctuary. For more information, call the Kronotsky Reserve’s Division of Ecological Education and Tourism at +7 (41531) 7 16 52.
The tour’s contribution to the development of protected areas: all proceeds will be used for the preservation of natural systems, research of the territories, and growth of environmental education.
