A peninsula of volcanoes

A peninsula of volcanoes

This remote peninsula is a natural museum of volcanology. With nearly 300 volcanoes, 29 of which are still active, it's listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

The volcanoes on the peninsula include caldera, strata-volcano, somma-volcano and mixed types. The largest included in the World Heritage Site is the Kronotskaya Sopka (3,528 m). In addition, a multitude of thermal and mineral springs, geysers and other phenomena of active vulcanism can be found on the peninsula.

It is certainly a case of pristine wilderness. It is largely unpopulated by humans and has very little civilian infrastructure as until 1990 access was restricted to the Soviet Navy. This has enabled the native wildlife to thrive. The area is home to the world's largest concentration of brown bears as well as arctic fox, lynx, wolverine, reindeer and moose.

Surrounded by sea, the peninsula enjoys a moist and relatively mild climate leading to a lush vegetation cover that iis in largely pristine condition. It includes mountain valley taiga forest of birch, larch and spruce; extensive stone-birch forest; riparian forest on alluvial soil of poplars, aspen, alder and willow; peat wetland and extensive coastal wetlands up to 50 km wide; and subalpine shrub and mountain tundra.

Source: http://www.traveller.com.au/worlds-10-most-obscure-destinations-worth-visiting-13m4il and http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/765/
Image Source: https://volcanogeek.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/kamchatka-rocks/

 
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