Lake Kronotskoye, Elizovsky District, Kamchatka Territory, Russia. Lake Kronotskoye (Far East): photos and reviews of Kronotskoye Lake on the map of the hemispheres
Kronotskoye Lake is located in Kamchatka near the world-famous Valley of Geysers, on the territory of a natural reserve. Those who have visited its shores will never forget the magnificent landscapes that open around, worthy of the brush of the best artists.
Kronotskoye Lake - origin.
The area of this unique reservoir, located at an altitude of 372 meters above sea level, is almost 250 km 2. About 10 thousand years ago, during a volcanic eruption, lava and eruption products blocked the bed of an ancient river. As a result of the formed dam, a lake appeared, having the shape of an isosceles triangle and a depth of up to 148 m.
From the second half of May until the end of December, the waters of Lake Kronotskoye are free from ice covers. This natural reservoir receives food from rains, melting snow and 25 rivers and streams that flow into its waters. The largest of them are: Unana, Perevalnaya, Uzon, Severnaya and Larch. The only river flowing out of the lake is called Kronotskaya. It has a strong and fast current with large and powerful rapids that do not allow the Far Eastern salmon to rise to the reservoir for spawning.
Volcano Kronotskaya Sopka.
At a distance of 8 km from the eastern shore, Kronotskaya Sopka, which is an active volcano, rises 3528 meters above the area. Its lower slopes are overgrown with dwarf cedar and stone birch, and the top is decorated with eternal snow and glaciers. Lenticular-shaped clouds often circle around the snow-white cap of the volcano, wrapping around it like layers of cotton candy. For ships sailing in the Pacific Ocean, Kronotskaya Sopka serves as a kind of beacon - its top can be seen at a distance of about 200 km.
Volcano Krashennikov.
Moving from the shores of the lake to the northeast, after 10 km you can get to the foot of the Krasheninnikov volcano, which is still active today. The lack of vegetation on the slopes and the flows of barely solidified lava eloquently tell about his activities.
Volcano Shchapinskaya Sopka.
Another volcano that does not stop its work is the neighboring Shchapinskaya Sopka (Kizimen). Its eruption in 2009 led to the fact that the column of ejected ash rose 4 km up, the water in Lake Kronotsky warmed up to 13 ° C (although the temperature usually did not exceed 5 ° C), and the geysers in the valley became more active. In addition, at night, a glow of flowing lava was observed near the summit.
Flora and fauna of Kronotsky lake.
On 11 islands that rise above the surface of Lake Kronotsky, colonies of slaty-backed gulls have found a haven. Despite the great distance from the coast of the ocean, the number of nesting sites exceeds 600 pairs. Brown bears living on the peninsula sometimes swim here to eat plenty of bird eggs.
Although the rapids located on the Kronotskaya River interfere with the passage of fish for spawning, kokanee (a kind of sockeye salmon), coho salmon and five species of charr swim calmly in the waters of the lake.
The flora surrounding Kronotskoye Lake is unique in its composition. The age of some Kamchatka larch trees, which grows only in this region, reaches several hundred years. Ayan spruce is also found here, growing singly, cases of the formation of small groups are not uncommon. Due to the fact that the nearest settlement is 50 km away, nature here has been preserved in its original form. Gyrfalcons, peregrine falcons and golden eagles nest in the mountains surrounding Lake Kronotskoye, and Steller's sea eagles and ospreys nest in larch thickets.
But the main decoration of Kronotskoye Lake has always been swans that live here all year round. Over the years, they have become accustomed to people, they are not afraid of them at all and delight tourists with their majestic appearance.
Excursion to Kronotsky lake.
It is impossible to get to the lake on your own. In order to admire the beauty of nature, you need to get into the excursion group that goes to. On a multi-day hike, tourists are accompanied by specially trained employees who monitor compliance with safety regulations and the conditions of stay in the protected area. It is necessary to preserve this corner of untouched nature for posterity as long as possible.
Kronotskoye Lake is the largest natural body of water in the Kamchatka Territory, mysterious and not fully explored. Its name is translated from Itelmen as "alpine".
These most 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 went 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 references 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 against any invasion. Only in 1920 did the scientist R. Malles manage to visit these places, draw up a detailed map and unravel the mystery of the reservoir's birth.
Characteristics
The area of the lake is 242 km², and the catchment area is about 2330 km². This is not surprising, because 10 full-flowing rivers flow into it: Severnaya, Unana, Uzon, Listvennichnaya, etc. The Krodakyg (Kronotskaya) river, stormy and capricious, overcoming many obstacles, makes its way, flowing out of the reservoir.
In terms of an 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 deepest places are marked by very solid figures - 136 m. According to all the parameters listed, Kronotskoye Lake is the sixteenth in the list of the largest and deepest Russian lakes. Let us add that it is located in the uniquely beautiful places for which the mysterious Kamchatka is famous.
The food of the reservoir 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 at different times fluctuates 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 prominent scientists and travelers who took part in the Kamchatka expedition of the early 20th century: Komarov, Konradi, Baer, and others.
Kronotskoye Lake is distinguished by its triangular shape, which is so unusual for a natural reservoir. It is explained by the rigid limitation of the basin by mountain ranges and a volcanic series, consisting of 16 volcanoes, of which 12 are active.
Where is Lake Kronotskoe
This reservoir, unlike any other lake, is located on the territory of the equally amazing Kamchatka natural complex - the Kronotsky Reserve, three dozen kilometers from the famous Geyser Valley.
On the eastern side, 8 km from the lake, there is a volcano; on the south, 10 km, Krasheninnikov volcano. The exotic picture is completed by Mount Schmidt, towering in the northeast.
Kronotskoe lake: origin
The reservoir was formed almost 10 thousand years ago. It is located in the caldera of a volcano, and therefore it was previously believed that the origin is of a volcanic nature. In fact, it has been proven that the appearance of the lake was preceded by volcanic eruptions, today called by the names of the scientists Kronotsky and Krasheninnikov. They led to the blocking of the ancient riverbed by wide and powerful lava deposits. The result of this cataclysm was a mountain reservoir at an altitude of 372 m above sea level, located in one of the most beautiful places in the world - at the foot of the Kronotskaya Sopka volcano.
Peculiarities
The lake is interesting not only for its origin, but also for the creation of a separate natural complex within its own borders.
The outflow of water goes through the river, the channel of which in the upper reaches for 12 km is practically cluttered with powerful rapids, which do not allow salmon to enter the lake. As a result, due to long-term isolation, a special form of sockeye salmon (kokan) and several types of endemic char were formed in the reservoir. A similar mechanism of species formation is an object of study for ichthyologists. However, every year a small amount of river and anadromous Dolly Varden rises to the source of the river for spawning, and several rare cases of the passage of coho salmon have also been established.
Flora and fauna
Not everything is known about Kronotskoye Lake. The islands are inhabited by colonies of slaty-backed gulls. Given the sufficient distance from the sea coast (30-45 km), such nesting is a rare phenomenon. It is said that brown bears swim to the islands to feast on gull eggs.
Kronotskoye Lake, being the center of the natural complex, is surrounded by amazingly beautiful nature. There are relic specimens and especially valuable breeds. For example, Kamchatka larch grows only here and is found
In the larch massifs there are nesting places for rare birds (ospreys, Steller's sea eagles), and the surrounding mountains have become a home for 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, an impressive flight of these legendary birds begins.
Such it is, the mysterious lake Kronotskoye - a magical place on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Kronotskoye Lake
It is the first freshwater lake in Kamchatka in terms of area (242 km²) and catchment area (2330 km²), second in volume (12.4 km³) and third in maximum depth (148 m). Average depth - 51 m.
In the eastern part of the lake, 11 picturesque islands are scattered, rising 25-50 m above the water. All of them are named after the members of the Kamchatka complex expedition of the Russian Imperial Geographical Society F.P. Ryabushinsky: Komarov Islands, Konradi Islands, Baer Islands, 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 nestings in this species in water bodies so far from the sea coast are known only for lakes Kurilskoe and Azhabachye. Brown bears swim to the islands to feast on the eggs of seagulls.
The lake freezes completely for the period from late December to mid-May. Moreover, the thickness of the ice cover reaches 1 m.
A population of kokanee (a living form of sockeye salmon) has formed in the lake, numbering about 30 million individuals, which arose from anadromous sockeye salmon as a result of its long-term isolation. For the same reason, an isolated endemic group of charrs from three different types formed in the lake, at least one of which, as a result of adaptation and specialization, is estimated as a new, separate species.
The flow from the lake is carried out through the Kronotskaya River, which, for about 12 km of the upper reaches, has powerful rapids that prevent salmon from entering the lake. However, from the very source of the river, the river and anadromous Dolly Dolly Varden rise annually to spawn, albeit in small numbers. And, as a phenomenon, ichthyologists of KamchatNIRO 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 Ayan spruce trees.
In larch forests nestings of ospreys, Steller's sea eagles are known, and peregrine falcons, possibly gyrfalcons and golden eagles, nest in the mountains surrounding the lake.
An indispensable decoration, a symbol of the lake are swans.
Kronotskoye Lake is the first freshwater lake in Kamchatka in terms of water surface area (242 sq. km.). The average depth is 50 meters, the maximum is 150 meters. 10 rivers flow into the lake, and one flows out - Kronotskaya.
By its origin, Lake Kronotskoye is a dammed reservoir formed as a result of the blocking of the ancient bed of the Paleokronotskaya River by powerful lava deposits from the eruptions of the Kronotsky and Krasheninnikov volcanoes.
For a long time it was believed that Kronotskoye Lake was of calderal origin, but today it has been proven that the lake was formed about 10,000 years ago as a result of the damming of the Kronotskaya River valley by lava eruption products.
. A mountain range in the Kamchatka Territory of Russia, located in the middle part of the Eastern Range system. Its length is 150 km, and the maximum height reaches 1794 m (Mount Kudryash). The ridge is composed of crystalline schists, granites and volcanic lavas:
There is a volcano 8 km east of the lake. The height is 3,528 meters, the top is a regular ribbed cone:
10 km south of Kronotskoye Lake is located Krasheninnikov volcano- stratovolcano in the Kamchatka region of Russia. Krashennikov volcano is considered active, as evidenced by fresh lava flows. In addition, nothing grows around the volcano, which also indicates a recent eruption.
The last eruption occurred 460 years ago. Absolute height - 1,856 meters:
Extinct Volcano Unana. Absolute height - 2,192 meters:
The activity of the volcano belongs to the Holocene period. About 8,500 years ago, a catastrophic eruption occurred on the volcano with the collapse of the cone slope and the formation of a summit crater 1.5 km in diameter. The last eruption took place about 2,400 years ago. The absolute height of the volcano is 2353 meters:
Active volcano Kizimen (Schapinskaya Sopka). The volcano appeared 12,000 years ago and has a height of 2,485 meters. On November 11, 2010, a new eruption began, which is accompanied by an outpouring of a powerful lava flow.
In early January, the Kizimen volcano threw a column of ash to a height of 4.5 kilometers above sea level. Volcanic trembling was recorded on the giant. Over the crater in the dark, a glow of red-hot lava was observed. Avalanches periodically break from the slopes:
Lake Kronotskoe on various Google, Yandex, OpenStreetMaps, Wikimapia, Public Cadastral Maps of the Russian Federation, Hotels Maps, and other topographic, jpg maps. GPS coordinates: 54.79389, 160.24861.
Other names: Ozero Kronotskoye, Kronotski Lake, Lake Kronotskaya, Lake Kronotskoe, Ozero Kronotskoye.
