Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
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| Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (English) Петропавловск-Камчатский (Russian) |
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 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at night |
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  Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Location of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on the map of Russia
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| Coordinates: 53°1′N 158°39′E / 53.017°N 158.65°ECoordinates: 53°1′N 158°39′E / 53.017°N 158.65°E | |
| Coat of Arms | Flag |
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| Country | Russia |
| Federal subject In jurisdiction of Administrative center of |
Kamchatka Krai Kamchatka Krai Kamchatka Krai |
| Area | 400 km² (154.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2002) - Rank - Density |
198,028 inhabitants 93rd 495.1/km² (1,282.3/sq mi) |
| City day | October 17 |
| Founded | October 17, 1740 |
| Town status | April 9, 1812 |
| Renamed Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky | 1924 |
| Charter | Charter of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky |
| Municipal status | Urban district |
| Head | Vladislav Skvortsov |
| Representative Body | City Duma |
| Postal code | 683000 (main) |
| Dialing code | +7 4152 |
| Official website | http://petropavlovsk.kamchatka.ru/ |
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Russian: Петропа́вловск-Камча́тский) is the main city and the administrative, industrial, scientific, and cultural center of Kamchatka Krai (Russia). Population: 198,028 (2002 Census);[1] 268,747 (1989 Census).[2].
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[edit] Geography
The city is situated on high hills and surrounded by volcanoes. In fact, the horizon cannot be seen clearly from any point of town as volcanoes and mountains are everywhere. Across Avacha Bay from the city is Russia's largest submarine base, the Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base, (location and satellite photos: 52°55′N 158°29′E / 52.92°N 158.49°E) established during Soviet times and still used by the Russian Navy. [2] The city is located 6766 km (4204 miles) from Moscow, taking about 9 hours for direct flight.
[edit] History
Petropavlovsk was founded by Russian explorer Vitus Bering. Bering reached Avacha Bay on July 10th, 1740 and laid the foundation stone for the harbor town, naming the new settlement "Petropavlovsk" (Peter + Paul) after his two ships, the St. Peter and the St. Paul, built in Okhotsk for his second expedition. The town's location on the sheltered Avacha Bay and at the mouth of the Avacha River saw it develop to become the most important settlement in Kamchatka.
During the 1854–1855 Crimean War, the city was put under siege by the Anglo-French forces, but never fell. The city had been fortified under the command of Nikolay Muravyov-Amursky in the years previous, but only possessed a small garrison of a few hundred soldiers and 67 cannons. After much exchange of fire, 600 allied troops landed south of the city, but were forced to retreat by only 230 Russian troops after heavy fighting. One week later, 900 allied troops landed east of the town, but were again repelled by the Russians. The allied ships then retreated from Russian waters. The total Russian losses were reported at around 100 men, those of the allies at least five times that number.
Petropavlovsk was a great source of fish, particularly salmon, and crab meat for the Soviet Union in the 20th century. Since the end of the Soviet era fishing rights have also been granted to foreign interests.
[edit] Tourism
The city has developed a tourist infrastructure. About twenty large tourism companies offer a wide range of services from bear hunting to paragliding. No roads connect the Kamchatka Peninsula to the rest of the world. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the second largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road after Iquitos, Peru. Travel to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is expensive but is growing in popularity because of the remarkable scenery throughout the peninsula. The city is served by Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport.
[edit] Demographics
Ethnic Russians and Ukrainians make up the majority of the population, the city on its own has more inhabitants than the entire of the neighbouring Chukotka Autonomous Okrug or Magadan Oblast.
[edit] Climate
The climate is boreal maritime (Köppen Dfc) and precipitation averages are estimated at 860 millimeters (33.9 in), or about three times as much as average in Siberia, with most falling as snow. Temperatures in winter are milder than in Siberia—a typical January day averages −7.3 °C (18.9 °F), while in summer 15 °C (59 °F) constitutes an average August maximum.
 Weather averages for Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka Krai  |
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 4.4 (40) |
3.6 (38) |
6.8 (44) |
18.1 (65) |
20.6 (69) |
27.6 (82) |
29.4 (85) |
27.2 (81) |
24.4 (76) |
17.8 (64) |
12.6 (55) |
6.1 (43) |
29.4 (85) |
| Average high °C (°F) | -5.5 (22) |
-4.5 (24) |
-2.6 (27) |
1.1 (34) |
5.5 (42) |
10.5 (51) |
13.9 (57) |
15.0 (59) |
12.4 (54) |
7.4 (45) |
0.4 (33) |
-4.1 (25) |
4.1 (39) |
| Average low °C (°F) | -10.8 (13) |
-10.0 (14) |
-8.0 (18) |
-3.7 (25) |
0.5 (33) |
4.8 (41) |
8.2 (47) |
9.1 (48) |
6.3 (43) |
1.9 (35) |
-4.4 (24) |
-8.8 (16) |
-1.2 (30) |
| Record low °C (°F) | -28.6 (-19) |
-31.7 (-25) |
-24.8 (-13) |
-14.8 (5) |
-10.0 (14) |
-5.5 (22) |
0.1 (32) |
0.2 (32) |
-3.2 (26) |
-8.6 (17) |
-16.5 (2) |
-26.0 (-15) |
-31.7 (-25) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 69 (2.72) |
59 (2.32) |
52 (2.05) |
53 (2.09) |
49 (1.93) |
57 (2.24) |
75 (2.95) |
99 (3.9) |
100 (3.94) |
133 (5.24) |
81 (3.19) |
98 (3.86) |
895 (35.24) |
| Source: Погода и климат [3] | |||||||||||||
[edit] Sister city
Kushiro City, Japan (since 1998). [4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек (Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/1_TOM_01_04.xls. Retrieved on 2008-07-25.
- ^ "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров. (All Union Population Census of 1989. Present population of union and autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and okrugs, krais, oblasts, districts, urban settlements, and villages serving as district administrative centers.)" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Demoscope Weekly (website of the Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. 1989. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg2.php. Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
- ^ Погода и климат. [1]. . Retrieved on: October 28, 2008.
- ^ Russian presence in Japan
[edit] External links
- Community of Kamchatka (Russian)
- Photos of Kamchatka (Russian)
- Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Internet portal (Russian)
- History of the city Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Russian)
- FotoPetropavlovsk.ru — photographies of the city Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy (Russian)
[edit] Gallery
 Petropavlovsk and Koryaksky Volcano, as seen from Avacha Bay |
 Lenin Square |
 View to Koryakskaya, October 2005 |
 Original town center |
 Central market |
 The Avachinsky volcano from the city |
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