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South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Two symbols of Kuril Lake formed by volcanic activity: Ilinsky Volcano and Heart of Alaid Island

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Kuril Lake freezes over for a few days, though not every year. January 2007

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Frozen ice of Kuril Lake at dusk

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Kambalny Volcano as seen from Kuril Lake. Samang Island rises in the foreground

Russian nature reserves from above South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Kuril lake. Cape Travyanoy (Grassy) and mouth of the Khakitsyn River

Russian nature reserves from above South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Kuril lake. Cape Travyanoy (Grassy) and mouth of the Khakitsyn River. View from a helicopter.

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

The red colour in the lake is thousands of salmon on their way to spawn

South Kamchatka Sanctuary Kamchatka's salmon

Sockeye enters the Severnaya River on Kuril Lake to spawn

Kamchatka's salmon South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Sockeye on Kuril Lake. Kuril Lake is the largest sockeye spawning area in Eurasia and a haven for bears

South Kamchatka Sanctuary Kamchatka's salmon

Sockeye on Kuril Lake.

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Alaid's Heart Island from above

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

The Heart of Alaid Island on Kuril Lake

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

The Heart of Alaid Island on Kuril Lake before a storm

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

A fish station monitors spawning sockeye salmon on their way from the Okhotsk Sea into Kuril Lake. The stone jutting from the center of the lake is called the "Heart of Alaid" and is surrounded by many legends. April 2005 

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Morning on Kuril Lake. Kambalny Volcano

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Ilinsky Volcano is one of the most beautiful volcanoes with a perfectly-formed cone. With a height of 1,578 meters and a diameter at its base of eight kilometers, the southern slope of the volcano descends into Kuril Lake. This volcano is the most noticeable adornment in the lake’s panorama.

South Kamchatka Sanctuary Steller's sea eagles Golden eagles

Stellar sea eagles, golden eagles, and crows at the sockeye winter spawning area on Kuril Lake with Ilinsky Volcano in the background/

South Kamchatka Sanctuary Golden eagles

Golden eagles on Kuril Lake

Russian nature reserves from above South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Sockeye salmon from above

South Kamchatka Sanctuary Russian nature reserves from above

Kuril lake. Bear and salmon from above

South Kamchatka Sanctuary Russian nature reserves from above

Kuril lake. The mouth of the Hakitsin River after the typhoon

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Golden Autumn in the Samang islands

Russian nature reserves from above South Kamchatka Sanctuary

It's a beautiful morning. The Samangi Islands in the northern part of Lake Kuril

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

According to legend, the cliffs are boats (similar to Native American canoes) that the wise raven Kutkh once set to dry and then forgot ashore. The raven Kutkh was the main god of the Itelmen, an indigenous people of Kamchatka, and «bat» meant long boat.

Russian nature reserves from above South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Kutkh’s Bats (Boats) are a natural monument created from bizarrely exposed pumice. Literally translated, this site's name is «Boats of the god Kutkh». Located four kilometers from the source of the Ozernaya River (Kuril Lake)

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

A storm on the lake

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

A herd of semi-wild horses on the west coast of the sanctuary. They are living without human help for decades

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Kuril lake in May. Bears come out of their dens

Russian nature reserves from above South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Morning fog over the lower reaches of the Hakitsin River

South Kamchatka Sanctuary Russian nature reserves from above

The crater of Ilyinsky volcano from the northern side. In the background is Kuril lake in the morning fog...

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

The Kambalaya River in June

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Middle reaches of the Kambalnaya River

Brown bears South Kamchatka Sanctuary

The Kambalaya River in mid-July

Brown bears South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Sea of Okhotsk (Maria's Bay) on the west coast of the sanctuary

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

A weather station at Cape Lopatka. Shumshu and Atlasov islands can be seen behind the First Kuril Strait

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Lighthouse on Lopatka Cape - the southern tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

A tiny house on Cape Travyanoy - my favourite accommodation on Kuril lake

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Kuril Lake and volcano

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Ilinsky Volcano reflected in the morning waters of Kuril Lake

South Kamchatka Sanctuary Russian nature reserves from above

A swirl of fog over Kuril Lake near Mount Kirushutk

Brown bears Russian nature reserves from above South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Kuril lake. Photographers and bears at the mouth of the Vychinkia river

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

The Ozernaya River flows out of Lake Kuril

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

Kuril lake in early May

South Kamchatka Sanctuary

View of the misty basin of Kuril Lake from the crater of Ilinsky volcano