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KRONOTSKOYE LAKE

It is the first Kamchatka's freshwater lake in size (242 km2) and the flood basin (2330 km3), the second in volume (12,4 km3), the third in depth (148 m). The average depth is 51 m.

There are 11 picturesque islands in the east part of the lake, with 25-50 m height over the water. They are named after Russian Imperial geographical society Kamchatka complex expedition of F.P. Ryabushinsky: the Komarova island, the Konrady island, the Baer island, etc.

On the islands, in 34-44 km from the seacoast, slaty-backed gull colonies with the total number of 600 couples are located. This species doesn't usually nest far from the seacoast, the only examples are the Kuril Lake and the Azhabachye Lake. Brown bears come to the lakes to eat the gulls eggs.

The lake is frozen from the end of December till the middle of May. The thickness of the ice is 1 m.

The landlocked sockeye population was formed in the lake (about 30 million fishes) - it was formed from the migratory sockeye in the result of the long isolation. The same reason was for the formation of the isolated endemic arctic salmon group from three species, one of which has become a new species after adaptation and specialization.

The Kronotskaya River flows from the lake, it has rifts which prevent the salmon entering the lake over the first 12 km. But annually a small amount of malma trout come to the riverhead for spawning. Besides, the ichthyologists registered the silver salmon coming to the lake.

The natural complex of the Kronotskoye Lake basin is especially valuable. It is the place where Kamchatka larch-tree grows in small groups or by single trees of Yezo spruce.

Fish hawk and Steller's sea eagle nest in the larch woods, peregrin falcons, arctic falcons and golden eagles nest in the mountains around the lake.

The symbol of the lake is, of course, swans.