Kamchatka Peninsula (Russian: полуоÑтров Камчатка) is located on the Pacific coast of eastern Siberia, just north of Japan.
The peninsula is about 1,250 km long and covers an area of approx. 472 300 km ². West of the peninsula lies the Sea of Okhotsk.
The central valley and the Kamchatka river is flanked by large volcanic activity. There are about 160 volcanoes on Peninsula of which 29 are still active.
Peninsula has in fact the greatest density of volcanoes in the world and 19 of the UNESCO World Heritage List. The highest of these is Klyuchevskaya Sopka, where the top is 4750 meters. The most striking, however, is perhaps Kronotsky, which has an almost perfect conical shape and by many regarded as one of the world's most beautiful volcanoes. Most volcanoes belong Sredinny Range.
The peninsula also has a stunning flora and fauna, where the vast Kamchatka bear, a little recognized genetic variation of brown bear, clearly belongs to the world's largest bears. It is as big as kodiakbjørnen. Some say even that this bear may be the origin of kodiakbjørnen.
The peninsula is also known for its fantastic salmon fishing, instances of the blue whale just outside the coastal strip.
Of the 1168 plants found on the peninsula, the entire 10% related to specific areas (endemic), several of which exist only around the geothermal springs (geyser), and volcanoes.
