Regional flags and emblems
PROFILE
Established 1 July 2007 following the integration of the Kamchatka Region and the Koryak Autonomous Area
Capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
The Kamchatka Territory is part of the Far Eastern Federal District
Area 464,300 sq km
Population 289 200 (2024)
Ethnic groups
(2020 National Census, %)
Russian – 88,30
Koryak – 2,43
Ukrainian – 1,47
Other – 7,80
Administrative divisions (2024)
Municipal districts – 10
Municipalities – 1
City districts – 3
Rural towns – 4
Rural districts – 46
Geography and climate
The territory is located on the Kamchatka Peninsula and the adjacent mainland. It is washed by the Sea of Okhotsk, the Bering Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. On the west edge of the territory is the West-Kamchatka Lowland; in the central part — the Sredinny (Central) Range and the Vostochny (Eastern) Range, in the north — the Koryak and Kolyma highlands. There are more than 160 volcanoes, including 28 active volcanoes (Klyuchevskaya Sopka — the highest point of Kamchatka, 4,750 m), numerous mineral and thermal springs, mud volcanoes and boiling lakes. The territory is located in a high seismic activity zone.
The Kamchatka Territory borders on the Magadan Region and the Chukotka Autonomous Area.
The main rivers are the Kamchatka, Avacha, Bolshaya and Penzhina; there are many lakes that formed in volcanic craters and calderas.
The region has a moderate monsoon climate; a moderate continental climate in the centre and a subarctic climate in the north. January temperatures average –14.5°C, July temperatures average +13.6°C. Average precipitation in January is 29 mm; average precipitation in July is 46 mm. In the north of the territory is a permafrost area with over 400 glaciers.
The territory has four state nature reserves (Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve, Yuzhno-Kamchatsky Nature Reserve, Komandorsky Biosphere Reserve and the Koryaksky Nature Reserve), as well as four nature parks of regional importance and 12 state nature sanctuaries of regional significance.
Government
The legislative branch is represented by the Legislative Assembly of the Kamchatka Territory, which is a permanent, representative and only body of legislative authority in the region. The Legislative Assembly of the Kamchatka Territory has 28 deputies elected for five years, with 14 of them running in single-mandate constituencies and the other 14 elected in the single electoral district under the proportional representation system. The current Legislative Assembly was elected in September 2021. Its term expires in September 2026.
The executive branch of the Kamchatka Territory is headed by the Government, which is the supreme, permanent executive authority in the region and other executive authorities. The system and structure of executive agencies are defined by the Governor of the Kamchatka Territory.
The highest-ranking official of the Kamchatka Territory is the Governor who leads the executive branch in the territory.
The Governor of the Kamchatka Territory is elected for five years by Russian citizens who permanently reside in the region. The term of the incumbent Governor expires in September 2025.
Economy and natural resources
Industrial production accounts for some 15% of the regional GDP. Manufacturing includes non-ferrous metal industry, the forestry and timber industry, as well as food industry and consumer goods production. Due to large deposits of mineral resources (gas, oil, gold, silver and other minerals), the territory has a well-developed mining industry. Food industry is dominated by the fishing industry, which accounts for over 12% of regional GDP. The industry provides over 20% of Russia’s aquatic biological resources and some 16% of its fish products. Besides fishery, fish processing, research, protection and breeding, it includes a range of secondary and service industries, as well as production and social facilities. The most important are boatbuilding, boat repair, transport, the production of containers and fishing nets. The fish resources are so vast that over 1.5 tonnes of fish are produced every year without harming the aquatic ecosystem.
Mining is based on the explored deposits of ore and placer gold, platinum, silver, ferrous metals, nickel, copper, tin, lead, zinc, mercury, raw construction materials, thermal and thermomineral waters. There are proven deposits of hydrocarbons, both on land and in the offshore zone of the mainland.
The industrial production of gold ore is conducted by the Kamgold, Asacha, Ametistovoye, and Kamchatskoe Zoloto companies. The extraction and primary refinement of non-ferrous metals is conducted at the Shanchunskoye copper and nickel deposit by Geotekhnologiya Research and Production Company.
The production and distribution of electricity, gas and water is part of the energy sector, and includes thermal power stations and combined heat and power stations.
Agriculture accounts for over 4% of the regional GDP. The main industries are dairy and beef cattle breading (including reindeer breeding), poultry farming, and vegetable growing (including with the use of thermal springs). Over 30 companies and 200 farms in the territory are engaged in agriculture.
Culture and tourism
The capital of the Kamchatka Territory is unlike any other Russian city. This port city saw the vessels of the round-the-world expeditions of James Cook and Jean Francois de La Perouse. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is one of the oldest cities in the Russian Far East. Over half of the Kamchatka Territory population lives here. The eastern coast of Kamchatka is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most seismically active belt of earthquake epicenters. Therefore there are very few high-rises in the city, and sturdy five-storey buildings have additional reinforcing structures to survive frequent earthquakes.
There are two theatres, the Kamchatka Theatre of Drama and Comedy and the Kamchatka Puppet Theatre, 6 professional concert organizations, 13 museums, over 100 public libraries, and about 80 cultural and recreational facilities.
The main hallmark of Kamchatka is its nature, which attracts those who like hunting, fishing and environmental tourism. Some visit Kamchatka for medicinal purposes: the region offers a clean environment and mineral springs, for instance, Chistinskiye Narzan waters.
The Valley of Geysers is a unique site. It is a volcanic basin 2 km wide and 4 km long with 20 large geysers and numerous springs that emit steam and water of +95°С. There are geysers that discharge water every 10−12 min, while some eject water every 4−5 hours.