Kamchatka

Kamchatka (Ger. Kamtsehatka), a peninsula of eastern Siberia, stretches south into the Pacific between Behring Sea on the east and the Sea of Okhotsk on the west. Area, 465,590 sq. m. The peninsula is long and narrow, swelling out towards the middle, and terminating in a point only 7 miles distant from the northernmost of the Kurile Islands. A chain of volcanic mountains runs down the centre, and reaches 15,408 feet in Kojerevska and 16,988 in Kluchefskaya. The latter was in active eruption at least twice in the 19th century (1854 and 1885). Hot springs abound. The coast on the south-east is formed of rugged, precipitous cliffs. The principal river is the Kamchatka, which flows into the Pacific. The climate is colder than in corresponding latitudes in Europe, and very humid; grass and tree vegetation are consequently luxuriant. The principal occupations of the inhabitants are fishing and hunting. Furs are the most valuable production of the peninsula. The most useful domestic animal is a peculiar kind of dog, which is employed in hunting and sledging. Kamchatka was annexed to Russia at the end of the 17th century, after the expedition of the Cossack chief Atlasof. Pop. 6500, made up of Kamchadales, Koryaks, Lamuts, and a few Russians. The Kamchadales—the preponderating race (2000 in number)—live mostly in the south. They are a hardy people, who dwell in winter in earth pits and in summer in light huts. Their language has no known cognates; but they are now almost completely Russianised. The fort of Petropaulovsk (pop. 350), with a magnificent harbour that is covered with ice only during a brief period of the year, is picturesquely situated on the east coast. A British and French fleet made an unsuccessful attack upon the place in 1854; since then it has not been fortified. See Kennan, Tent Life in Siberia (5th ed. New York, 1879); and Guillemin, Cruise of the Marchesa (2 vols. Lond. 1887).