Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Russian: Петропа́вловск-Камча́тский) is the main city and the administrative, industrial, scientific, and cultural center of Kamchatka Krai, Russia. Population: 179,526 (2010 Census preliminary results);^[1] 198,028 (2002 Census);^[2] 268,747 (1989 Census).^[5].

History

It was founded by Danish navigator Vitus Bering, in the service of the Russian Navy. Bering reached Avacha Bay on July 10, 1740 and laid the foundation stone for the harbor town, naming the new settlement "Petropavlovsk" (Peter + Paul) after his two ships, the St. Peter and the St. Paul, built in Okhotsk for his second expedition. The town's location on the sheltered Avacha Bay and at the mouth of the Avacha River saw it develop to become the most important settlement in Kamchatka. It was granted town status on April 9, 1812.

During the 1854–1855 Crimean War, the city was put under siege by the Anglo-French forces, but never fell. The city had been fortified under the command of Nikolay Muravyov-Amursky in the years previous, but only possessed a small garrison of a few hundred soldiers and sixty-seven cannons. After much exchange of fire, 600 allied troops landed south of the city, but were forced to retreat by only 230 Russian troops after heavy fighting. One week later, 900 allied troops landed east of the town, but were again repelled by the Russians. The allied ships then retreated from Russian waters. The total Russian losses were reported at around 100 men, those of the allies at least five times that number.

Petropavlovsk was a great source of fish, particularly salmon, and crab meat for the Soviet Union in the 20th century. Since the end of the Soviet era fishing rights have also been granted to foreign interests.

Tourism

The city has developed a tourist infrastructure. About twenty large tourism companies offer a wide range of services from bear hunting to paragliding. No roads connect the Kamchatka Peninsula to the rest of the world. Travel to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is expensive but is growing in popularity because of the remarkable scenery throughout the peninsula. The city is served by Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport.

Demographics

Ethnic Russians and Ukrainians make up the majority of the population; the city on its own has more inhabitants than the entire neighboring Chukotka Autonomous Okrug or Magadan Oblast.

Geography

The city is situated on high hills and surrounded by volcanoes. In fact, the horizon cannot be seen clearly from any point in town as volcanoes and mountains are everywhere. Across Avacha Bay from the city is Russia's largest submarine base, the Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base, established during Soviet times and still used by the Russian Navy.^[6] The city is located 6,766 kilometers (4,204 mi) from Moscow (about nine hours by plane) and about 2,220 kilometers (1,380 mi) from Vladivostok.

Climate

The climate is boreal (Köppen Dfc) and precipitation averages are estimated at 1,000 millimeters (39 in), or about three-and-a-half times as much as most of Siberia averages, with most falling as snow. Temperatures in winter are much milder than in Siberia—a typical January day averages −5 °C (23 °F), while in summer +15.8 °C (60.44 °F) constitutes an average August high. In warm years monthly high averages in July–August reach +18 °C (64 °F) and higher.^[7]

Despite the generally high precipitation, the weather is less gloomy than in the adjacent Kuril Islands that are one of the least sunny places in the world,^[8] since the city is located behind a peninsula to the north that blocks some of the fog from the Oyashio Current. Oceanic water in Avacha Bay and adjacent bays is also warmer than coastal waters of Kuril Islands and Okhotsk sea coast (except Southern Kuriles and Southern Sakhalin).

International relations

Twin towns/sister cities

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is twinned with:

• Kushiro City, Japan (since 1998)^[11]
• Sevastopol, Ukraine (since 2009)^[12]
• Unalaska, United States (since 1990)^[13]

See also

• Russian Pacific Fleet

References

Gallery

External links

• Community of Kamchatka (Russian)
• Photos of Kamchatka (Russian)
• News of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Kamchatka krai (Russian)
• Daily updated news and photos of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Russian)
• Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Internet portal (Russian)
• History of the city Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Russian)
• Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city sceneries (English)