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Land
of Mystery and Mists
Wild Flowers • Volcanoes • Geysers •
Cultural Heritage
KAMCHATKA
July 22 - August 6, 2011
OVERVIEW
Kamchatka is the most unique natural area in Russia!
A remote peninsula in the Russian far east, it includes
spectacular active snow-capped volcanoes and diverse
ecosystems, including glacier, tundra, taiga forest,
birch forest, wetlands, lagoons, and desert. On the
mountainous volcanos there are 414 glaciers, some 150
meters thick. There are 200 healing mineral springs;
150 of them are hot springs.
For two weeks, we will explore this remote land of mystery
and mists. During our expedition we will:
- Explore
Petropavlovsk, the capital of Kamchatka, situated
on the lovely Avachinskaya Bay.
- Discover
the villages of Mil’kovo, Esso, and ethnic settlements,
including Sosnovka, which maintain their rich culture.
- See
fabulous geysers, steam vents, mud pots, recent lava
deposits, and snow covered volcanos, including the
scenic, world famous Valley of the Geysers.
- Discover
a profusion of flowering plants and ferns. Many of
them have medicinal value and about 100 species are
already used in scientific medicine.
- See
amazing and noisy seabird rookeries, with nesting
gulls, kittiwakes, guillemots, and cormorants. There
are 240 species of land birds.
- Discover
the salmon capital of the world. Six species of ocean-going
salmon and two species of freshwater salmon spawn
here, including the king of the salmon—King
Salmon. The coastal waters are incredibly rich in
fish: cod, halibut, flounder, herring, perch, and
rock trout, plus there are many species of crabs,
shrimp, mollusks, sea cucumbers, and commercial sea
weeds.
-
Meet and learn from ethnic tribes (Even, Itelmen,
Koryaks) who live much as they have for thousands
of years and share their stories of hunting, fishing,
and traditions. Visit the Regional and the Local Museums
for more examples of artifacts and displays.
With
leadership by Dr. Victor Kuzevanov, and local experts,
we will discover the delights of this remote paradise
on a journey of a lifetime!
2011 Brochure (Requires an Adobe pdf reader to view)
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