Kronotskoye Lake on the map of the hemispheres. Kronotskoye Lake: a beautiful mirror of nature! Kronotskoe Lake: origin
And one of the most beautiful and picturesque. It is shaped slightly like a triangle, and its area is almost 250 square kilometers. A dozen small rivers flow into the lake, and only two species of fish live here. The only river flowing from it has several rapids that prevent any other fish from entering the waters of the lake except the sockeye salmon and kokanee living in it.
However, it is not the size of the lake that attracts nature lovers, but the nature surrounding it. The lake is surrounded on several sides by high, beautiful hills, the most notable of which are the Valaginsky ridge and the Kronotskaya Sopka Volcano, located 8 km from the lake. There is another volcano 10 km away - Krasheninnikov Volcano, which is active. A number of islands are scattered on the eastern part of the lake, the height of which reaches 50 meters above the water level in the lake, and most of them are chosen by seagulls, the number of which here is close to a thousand pairs. Swans are also frequent guests of the pond, but meeting them is not so easy, but quite possible.
The nature around the lake is unique in its composition, and most species are found only on the peninsula. The most common tree in local forests is Kamchatka larch, which can be hundreds of years old or more. The nearest large settlement is located more than 50 kilometers from the lake, and the presence of humans is not felt here at all, only wild and virgin nature.
And perhaps the lake would have become a favorite vacation spot for the inhabitants of the peninsula if not for one small detail - it is very cold, and at any time of the year you can swim here only in very hot weather, and even then the water will be icy. However, if you are attracted to completely different values in relaxation, for example, detachment and solitude with nature, surrounded by beautiful landscapes, then Kronotskoe Lake is perfect for a hike.
How to get there
Location: Kamchatka Peninsula
Independent visits to the lake are strictly prohibited, as they are located in a protected area. However, you can visit it by booking or joining a multi-day hike from a travel agency that has access to the region. All excursions are carried out under the supervision of a state inspector and a special guide, because it is extremely important to comply with the conditions of stay in these places.
The first freshwater lake in Kamchatka in terms of area (242 km²) and drainage area (2330 km²), second in volume (12.4 km³) and third in maximum depth (148 m). Average depth - 51 m.
The first information about Kronotsky Lake and its region was given (based on survey information) by S.P. Krasheninnikov. The first to explore the lake were in 1908 members of a zoological team led by P. Yu. Schmidt.
There are many hypotheses regarding the origin of the name Kronotskaya, Kronotskoye, Kronotsky, but the most reliable, in our opinion, is the origin from the Itelmen words “Kra”nak”, “kra”nvan” (high, mountainous) and “uach” (stone) - “kra”nakuach”, “kra”nakoch”, “kra”nakots”, which from the Itelmen language means “High stone mountain”.
By its origin, Lake Kronotskoe is a dammed reservoir formed as a result of blocking the ancient bed of the Paleokronotskaya River with powerful (up to 200 m) lava and pyroclastic deposits from volcanic eruptions and. As a result of these volcanic events at the end of the Late Pleistocene, this mountain reservoir was formed, located at the foot of one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the world -. The height of the reach above sea level is 372 m.
The lake is unique not only for its origin, but also for its natural complex within the entire basin. A population of kokanee (a residential form of sockeye salmon) numbering about 30 million individuals has formed in the lake, which arose from migratory sockeye salmon as a result of its long-term isolation. For the same reason, an isolated endemic group of char of three different types has formed in the lake, at least one of which, as a result of adaptation and specialization, is assessed as a new, separate species. The mechanisms of speciation in this closed ecosystem deserve close attention from geneticists and ichthyologists.
There are 11 picturesque islands scattered in the eastern part of the lake, rising 25-50 m above the water. All of them are named after the surnames of the participants of the Kamchatka complex expedition of the Russian Imperial Geographical Society of F.P. Ryabushinsky: Komarov Island, Konradi Island, Baer Island, etc.
On the islands, at a distance of 34 to 44 km from the sea coast, there are colonies of slaty-backed gulls with a total number of about 600 pairs. Similar nesting sites for this species in bodies of water so far from the sea coast are known only for lakes and. Seagulls sometimes swim to the islands (even to the remote island of Bera) to feast on their eggs. brown bears.
The lake freezes completely over the period from late December to mid-May. Moreover, the thickness of the ice cover reaches 1 m.
The flow from the lake is carried out through, which for about 12 km of the upper reaches has powerful rapids that prevent salmon from entering the lake. However, river and anadromous Dolly Vardens still rise to the very source of the river to spawn every year, albeit in small numbers. And, as a phenomenon, KamchatNIRO ichthyologists have recorded several cases of coho salmon entering the lake.
The natural complex of the Kronotskoye Lake basin is of particular value. It is here that an array of Kamchatka larch grows with small groups, more often single trees of Ayan spruce.
Ospreys and Steller's sea eagles are known to nest in the larch forests, and peregrine falcons and possibly gyrfalcons and golden eagles nest in the mountains surrounding the lake.
Swans are an indispensable decoration and symbol of the lake. In summer, these cautious beauties are hardly noticeable: in the vast basin of the lake there are only 2-4 suitable places, which picky birds choose for nesting. But in the pre-winter period the powerful approach of the “northerners” begins. From year to year, at the source, on the edge of the ice and polynya, they chose their place to spend the night. At first, the birds are disturbed by the presence of human activity at the cordon only 200 meters from their daily resting place. But over the winter they get so used to it that they become completely trusting.
In general, the natural complex of Kronotsky Lake requires special protection and deserves attention from scientists.
Kronotsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve
Used sources:
Khimichenko O. I. About some geographical names Eastern Kamchatka of Itelmen origin // People of great duty: materials of the international. ist. XXVI Krasheninnik. readings. - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 2009
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Kronotskoe Lake is the largest natural body of water in the Kamchatka Territory, mysterious and not fully studied. Its name is translated from Itelmen as “high mountain”.
These beautiful places attracted the close attention of scientists quite recently by historical standards: at the beginning of the last century (1908), the first documents prepared by P. Yu. Schmidt appeared. With the expedition, he walked around the lake from the eastern and northern sides, giving a description of this amazing reservoir and adding to it a topographical sketch of the area. All earlier mentions were based only on information received from the indigenous inhabitants of these places - the Itelmens, since the isolation of the lake and the complex landscape served as a serious barrier protecting against any invasion. Only in 1920 did the scientist Malles R. manage to visit these places and compile detailed map and unravel the mystery of the birth of the reservoir.
Characteristics
The area of the lake is 242 km², and the drainage area is about 2330 km². This is not surprising, because 10 full-flowing rivers flow into it: Severnaya, Unana, Uzon, Larch, etc. The Krodakyg (Kronotskaya) River, turbulent and capricious, makes its way through many obstacles.
In terms of its impressive volume of water (12.4 km³), the lake ranks second in the region. The depth is also impressive: although the average is 58 m, the maximum deep places marked with very respectable figures - 136 m. According to all the listed parameters, Kronotskoye Lake is the sixteenth in the list of the largest and deepest Russian lakes. Let us add that it is located in uniquely beautiful places for which the mysterious Kamchatka is famous.
The reservoir's nutrition is traditional - snow and rain. in December and opens by the end of May. The ice cover in some places reaches a meter thickness. The water level fluctuates at different times with an amplitude of up to several decimeters. The eastern part of the lake is decorated with 11 islands, rising 25-50 m above the water surface. All of them bear the names of outstanding scientists and travelers who took part in the Kamchatka expedition of the early 20th century: Komarov, Conradi, Baer, etc.
Kronotskoe Lake is distinguished by its triangular shape, so unusual for a natural reservoir. It is explained by the strict limitation of the basin by mountain ranges and a volcanic series consisting of 16 volcanoes, of which 12 are active.
Where is Lake Kronotskoye located?
This reservoir, unlike any other lake, is located on the territory of an equally amazing Kamchatka natural complex - the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, three dozen kilometers from the famous Geyser Valley.
WITH east side 8 km from the lake there is a volcano from the south - 10 km away is the Krasheninnikov volcano. The exotic picture is completed by Mount Schmidt, rising in the northeast.
Kronotskoye Lake: origin
The reservoir was formed almost 10 thousand years ago. It is located in the caldera of a volcano, and therefore the origin was previously thought to be volcanic in nature. In fact, it has been proven that the appearance of the lake was preceded by volcanic eruptions, today called after the scientists Kronotsky and Krasheninnikov. They entailed the blocking of the ancient river bed with wide and thick lava deposits. The result of this cataclysm was a mountain reservoir at an altitude of 372 m above sea level, located in one of most beautiful places world - at the foot of the Kronotskaya Sopka volcano.
Peculiarities
The lake is interesting not only because of its origin, but also because of the creation of a separate natural complex within its own borders.
The outflow of water goes through the river, the bed of which in the upper reaches for 12 km is practically blocked by powerful rapids, which do not allow salmon to pass into the lake. As a result, due to long-term isolation, a special form of sockeye salmon (kokanya) and several types of char of the endemic group formed in the reservoir. A similar mechanism of species formation is an object of study for ichthyologists. However, every year a small number of river and anadromous Dolly Varden rise to the source of the river to spawn, and several rare cases of coho salmon have been identified.
Flora and fauna
Not everything is known about Kronotskoye Lake. The islands are inhabited by colonies of slaty gulls. Considering the sufficient distance from the sea coast (30-45 km), such nesting sites are a rare occurrence. It is said that brown bears swim to the islands to feast on seagull eggs.
Kronotskoe Lake, being the center of the natural complex, is surrounded by amazingly beautiful nature. There are relict specimens and especially valuable species. For example, only here Kamchatka larch grows and is found
In the larch tracts there are nesting places for rare birds (osprey, Steller's sea eagle), and the surrounding mountains have become home to peregrine falcons, gyrfalcons and golden eagles.
But the symbol of this fabulous place are swans. In summer they are almost invisible, since there are few places suitable for nesting in the lake basin. And by the beginning of winter, the impressive flight of these legendary birds begins.
This is how it is mysterious lake Kronotskoye is a magical place on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Kronotskoe Lake is one of the largest freshwater bodies of Kamchatka; it has the shape of an isosceles triangle, one side of which is 20 km. total area The reservoir area is 242 sq. km, the maximum depth is 148 m, the average is 51 m.
The lake is located in the eastern part of Kamchatka on the territory, 30 km north of.
For a long time it was believed that the lake was formed at the site of the collapse of the volcano’s summit, but subsequent studies showed that the cause of the formation was the volcanic activity of the Krasheninnikov and Kronotskaya Sopka volcanoes, the lava of which formed a dam in the valley of the Kronotskaya River. The lake is 10 thousand years old.
The first descriptions of the lake and its surrounding territory were compiled from the words local residents Kamchatka researcher S.P. Krosheninnikov. Zoological detachment under the leadership of P.Yu. Schmidt was the first to explore the lake in 1908.
The lake's catchment area is 2330 sq km. Nutrition comes from rain, snow, and flowing rivers. A total of 10 rivers flow into the lake, the largest of which are Listvennichnaya, Perevalnaya, Severnaya, Uzon, Unana. The flow from the lake is carried out through the Kronotskaya River, which after 40 km flows into the Kronotsky Bay.
The Kronotskaya River is very fast, deep and rapids. At one time they wanted to build a power plant here, but the project was subsequently frozen. The turbulent river prevents salmon spawning. However, every year freshwater Dolly Varden manages to rise to the very source of the river, and scientists have recorded cases of coho salmon entering the lake several times. In total, two species of fish live in the lake: kokan (freshwater sockeye salmon) and char.
On the eastern coast of the lake there are 11 islands, rising 25-50 m above the surface of the water. Flocks of slaty-backed gulls, the number of which reaches 600 pairs, live here. Brown bears come to the islands to feast on eggs. Swans also found their shelter on the lake.
In the north of Lake Kronotskoye, in the valleys of the Listvennichnaya, Unana and Severnaya rivers, the reference plant for Kamchatka grows on 4000 hectares. Larch forest, which is a continuation of the coniferous taiga of the Central Kamchatka Lowland. The huge diversity of flora and fauna of these places was formed due to the junction of coniferous, deciduous and larch forests. Only here you can find creeping goodyear, sad currant, and a small pocket of Kamchatka rowan. The fauna is represented by such species as squirrel, large-toothed shrew, a large population of elk, waxwings, grosbeaks, hawk owls and others.
There are two volcanoes in the lake basin Kronotsky (Kronotsky Sopka) And Krasheninnikova.
Volcano Kronotsky has a regular cone shape. The height of the volcano is 3528 m, which allows you to see its peak 200 km from the horizon from ships traveling along Pacific Ocean. Although the volcano is considered active, all its activity comes down to rare fumoral emissions. The last eruption attempt was recorded in 1942, when a cloud of gas and ash formed over the top of the volcano.
Volcano Krasheninnikova not very high (1856m), but looks quite massive. It consists of two merged stratovolcanoes, rising 800 m above the bottom of the caldera, whose area is 108 sq km. The volcano is active, but currently no activity is observed. According to scientists, based on studies of lava flows, the last activity of the volcano was several hundred years ago.
For tourists Multi-day routes have been developed around the Krnotsky Nature Reserve, including visits to the lake and volcanoes.
Independent access to the lake is prohibited; visiting is possible through travel agency. All excursions are carried out only as part of a group and with the obligatory accompaniment of a state inspector of the reserve and a tour guide. It is necessary to comply with the established rules for staying on the territory.
Lake Kronotskoye at various Google maps, Yandex, OpenStreetMaps, Wikimapia, Public cadastral map Russian Federation, Hotel map, and also other topographic, jpg maps. GPS coordinates: 54.79389, 160.24861.
Other names: Ozero Kronotskoye, Kronotski Lake, Lake Kronotskaya, Lake Kronotskoe, Ozero Kronotskoye.
