The main water artery of this region is the Kamchatka river. It crosses almost the entire peninsula. But, in this region, supported by many tributaries, it becomes large and navigable and slowly moves into the Pacific ocean. Today as it has throughout history, the economy of the region depends on this river. Travelling along this river Cossacks discovered Kamchatka and built the first settlements and forts. There are two special features of this region. Divided in two halves by the river this region includes two very different parts of Kamchatka: central and northern. Even simpler: forest and tundra, warmth and cold ocean winds. The second distinct feature of this region is the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes, the largest group of volcanoes in kamchatka, which are located in the southeast. The administrative center of the region is the settlement of Ust-Kamchatsk. You can come here by plane or by boat from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky or on the river cutter from Milkovo. In the approximate center of the region, also on the bank of the Kamchatka river are the city of Klychi and the settlement of Kozyrevsk. Klychi was founded in 1741 by Russian migrant farmers. Today its main enterprise is a timber company and its main attraction is a volcano station that has been operating since 1935. Farmers and hunters live in the settlement of Kozyrevsk. In both of them you will find acceptable conditions. The most important thing is that from here all roads to the natural richness of the region are opened before you. It is best to visit Tolbachinsky Valley with the tourists firms from the vulcanology institutes. Some of the smoke holes still excrete toxic gas. That is why you need an experienced guide who knows these places and the safety rules well. You are coming for the pleasure and not for the risk.

What should you visit here?

• The Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes
• Barany Cliffs
• Arzhabachye Lake
• Dolgoye lake and Storozhevskoye Hot Springs
• Stolbovoy Island
• Plossky and Ostry Tolbachik Volcanoes

Don't worry for your life when you visit this region. Settlements are located far from active volcanoes. Even if one of them starts to explode, consider yourself lucky. You will just enjoy a beautiful and natural fireworks display. It is a problem if you are not a mountain climber. For lovers of volcanoes there are helicopters tours. You will be brought to the most interesting places.

***Dress in outdoor clothing. Hooded jackets, warm sweaters, hiking boots, high rubber boots - all of these you almost certainly will need.

The Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes - is the main point of interest in the region. On the bend of Kamchatka river to the east, invisible to us, two volcanic arches come together - the Kurilo-Kamchtaskaya and the Aleutskaya volcanic arches. As a result the largest group of volcanoes was created. In a relatively small area - 6.5 thousand sq.km , 14 volcanoes rise to the sky. These are the largest active volcanoes of Europe and Asia - Klyuchevskaya volcano (4579 m), Ushkovsky (4108 m). Krestovsky (3943m), Ostry Tolbachik (3682 m), Plossky Tolbachik (3085 m), Bezimyanny, Ovalnaya Zimina, Bolshaya and Malaya Udina and others. In addition, in this area and on the slopes of the volcanoes there are about 400 smaller volcanic creations: slag and lava cones, explosion craters and domes. Of course, not all the volcanoes are active. But, who knows? From time to time, even the inactive volcanoes surprise us. On March 30, 1956 the volcano Bezimyannaya, that had been previously considered to be inactive, began to explode. The resulting explosive wave exceeded the power of a hydrogen bomb. The activity of this group has allowed volcanologists to separate and research over 100 different minerals, including ores like gold, platinum and others, and also to discover 20 previously-unknown minerals, including tolbachit, klyuchevskit, soffit.
It is tempting to climb the volcanoes of the Klyuchevskaya group. But here is a warning: only people with good mountain climbing experience can manage it. And you can't climb without experienced guides.

Arzhabachye Lake - is an interesting site for tourists. Very large, with an area of 62.5 sq. km and in some places up to 33 m deep, it is surrounded by picturesque ridges and forests and is more than simply beautiful. That is, this lake has a special meaning for the whole of Russia's fishing industry because it is one of the largest natural salmon incubators in the world. Employees from the fishing research institute, TINRO, are watching the spawning of the precious fish. They can tell you a great deal about the subjects in this care. Around the lake, large areas make up hunting forests.

Stolbovoy Island - it is worth visiting Stolbovoy Island, which is also considered a national memorial. It is located to the north of Ust-Kamchatsk and is reached best by helicopter or boat. This island-stone with many cliffs rises 110 m above sea level and has become home for a large number of sea animals and birds. Eight types of birds: cormorants, guillemonts, tufted puffins, horned pufins…Down below there are 1.5 ton walruses, sea lions elegant in spite of their huge size, bearded seals, harbor seals, ring seals. Lot of work for photographers and videograthers!