Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city overview
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (also spelled Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski) is a sea port in the Far East of Russia, the administrative center of Kamchatka krai (till July, 1st, 2007 - Kamchatka region).
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city is located in the south-eastern part of Kamchatka peninsula, on Avachin bay of the Pacific Ocean. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is about 8200 km far from Moscow. The climate in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is mild, with snowy winters, cold springs, cool summers and comparatively warm autumns.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city population - 194,000 (2009).
Phone code of the city - +7 4152; postal code - 683000.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city history
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is one of the oldest cities in the Far East of Russia. Founded as Petropavlov prison on October 17th, 1740, during the Kamchat expedition II in 1733-1743 headed by Vitus Bering and Alexey Chirikov, in the Kamchadal settlement Aushin. The ships were called “Saint Apostle Peter” and “Saint Apostle Paul”, so the settlement received the name Petropavlovsk.
In 1779 the Petropavlov harbor was visited by 2 British military ships “Discovery” and “Resolution” during the round-the-world expedition II of J.Cook. Ch.Clark, who lead the expedition after J.Cook’s death was buried in this harbor.
In 1812 Petropavlovsk received the status of a city. There was a decree according to which Kamchatka was ruled by a special superior whose residence became Petropavlovsk harbor and it turned into the capital of Kamchatka. On December 2nd, 1849, Kamchatka region was formed, with the governor and the center - Petropavlov port.
In 1913 the city coat of arms was set up and it was restored in 1993. In 1924 the city was renamed to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and on July 1st, 2007, it became the administrative center of Kamchatka krai.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city economy
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky main branch of economics is fishery. Here there are several big fish-processing plants. Fish and sea food (squids, crabs, shrimps) are mainly exported abroad - to Japan, South Korea, China.
Tourism becomes important part of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city economics, tourist firms suggest a lot of routes to hot springs, volcanoes, helicopter tours to a famous Geysers Valley and volcano Uzon, horse rides as well as sea voyages, rafting and fishing. But expensive plane tickets, lack of good and not so expensive hotels prevent tourism development.
Mining has been developed lately: gold deposits Asachin, Agyn, Podnik and others, nickel deposit Shanuch, platinum deposits in the northern part of the region, in Koryakia, as well as silver.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city transportation
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is connected with other Russian cities by air and sea. The international airport Yelizovo connects the city with beside Russian cities (Moscow, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Saint-Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk etc.) also with Anchoridge, USA, charter flights to Thailand and inner flights to Ozernoye, Nikolskoye (Komandor Islands), Palana, Ossora etc.
The sea port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky carries out trans-shipment of different cargoes, including fish, wood, bread, cement, containers, wheel machines and equipment, salt, metals, coal, coastal and oil cargo etc. Among imported cargo grains, cement and refrigerator cargoes prevail.
The main transportation in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city is buses as well as mini vans, which connect the city with neighborhood (Avacha, Mohovaya, Dolinovka, Nagorny etc.), nearest towns Yelizovo, Viluchinsky etc. There is no railroad in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky like in the whole Kamchatka krai.
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