The Incredible Sights of Kamchatka Cave, Russia
Location: Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far East
Best Time to Go: July to August
If you haven’t seen images of the Kamchatka ice caves
before, you would be forgiven for assuming you were looking at a magical
universe that you can only find if you really believe. Pause your reading for a second and google them. I'll wait.
You're welcome.
In fact, the caves have
been carved by a stream that winds its way beneath a glacier from a hot spring
heated by the Mutnovsky volcano. The incredible lights are the result of
sunlight passing through an ice ceiling made thinner and translucent by global warming.
Entry to the ice caves is dependent not on belief, but on
weather conditions. They can only be accessed in the summer months and even
then, the entrances can be blocked with heavy snow. Even getting to Kamchatka to
see this stunning cave is an epic journey in itself. The peninsula is located in
Russia’s Far East and stretches over 1200 kilometres.
Many other attractions in the peninsula make it worth the
effort, though, even if you don’t get to explore the caves. While heli-skiing
and even surfing off the black sands at Khalaktyrsky Beach are becoming popular
reasons to visit, most people come to Kamchatka for the wildlife watching and
the trekking.
Mutnovsky is only one of over 300 volcanoes on the Kamchatka
Peninsula. Serious hikers can trek to the top of Mutnovsky and also hike up nearby
Gorely. Each volcano takes a full day to summit. To see more of Kamchatka’s
world-renowned volcanic features, visitors can head to Volcanoes of Kamchatka
Nature Park, where you can get as close as you are comfortable getting to the
region’s active volcanoes.
A visit to Klychevsakaya Sopka (the largest volcano in the
northern hemisphere), the area’s lava fields, the dead forests and the Valley
of the Geysers would nicely round out an extraordinary geological tour.
Esso is a beloved highlight of a trip to Kamchatka. This
village is frequently compared to Switzerland with its charming homes and
alpine backdrop. Here you can learn about indigenous ways of life, enjoy the plentiful
local hot springs, do some gentler hikes and raft down one of the regions many
rivers. Esso also functions as a base for a helicopter ride out to meet the
region’s reindeer herders.
Those with a love of larger animals can head to Kuril Lake
in the South Kamchatka Sanctuary, at the southern tip of the peninsula. The lake
is a major spawning site for salmon, which draw crowds of brown bears between
July and September. Kamchatka is home to many seldom-seen creatures like snow
sheep, wolverines, sables, wolves and foxes. Steller’s sea eagles, the largest
sea eagles in the world, also make their home here.
It’s possible to see some of this incredible place on your
own but much of the peninsula can only be visited on an organized tour. Some
sights require chartered helicopters to access and others require permits and lack
any kind of tourist infrastructure. This is a truly remote and dangerous part
of the world. Tourist groups are still likely to be small and nothing is likely
to detract from your impression that you have travelled well off the beaten
path.
featured image: kuhnmi
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