Kronotsky Lake is the largest natural reservoir in the Kamchatka Territory, mysterious and not fully understood. Its name is translated from Itelmen as "alpine".
Close attention of scientists to these most beautiful places has recently been attracted by historical standards: at the beginning of the last century (1908) the first documents prepared by P. Yu. Schmidt appeared. On an expedition, he went around the lake from the eastern and northern sides, giving a description of this amazing reservoir and adding a topographic sketch of the area to it. All earlier references were based only on information received from the indigenous inhabitants of these places - Itelmens, since the isolation of the lake and the complex landscape served as a serious barrier that protects from any invasion. Only in 1920 did the scientist Malles R. manage to visit these places, draw up a detailed map and solve the mystery of the birth of the reservoir.
Specifications
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, Larch, etc. The Krodakig (Kronotskaya) river, which is stormy and wayward, overcoming many obstacles, makes its way out of the reservoir.
By the 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 numbers - 136 m. In all of the above parameters, Kronotsky Lake is the sixteenth in the list of the largest and deepest Russian lakes. We add that it is located in places of unique beauty that the mysterious Kamchatka is famous for.
Traditional pond food - snow and rains. The lake freezes in December and opens by the end of May. The ice cover in places reaches a meter thick. 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 towering 25–50 m above the water mirror. All of them bear the names of outstanding scientists and travelers who took part in the Kamchatka expedition of the early 20th century: Komarova, Konradi, Baer, etc.
Kronotsky lake is distinguished by its triangular shape, so unusual for a natural reservoir. It is explained by the severe restriction of the basin to mountain ranges and the volcanic range consisting of 16 volcanoes, of which 12 are active.
Where is Kronotskoye Lake
This reservoir, unlike any other lake, is located on the territory of the equally amazing Kamchatka natural complex - the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, three dozen kilometers from the famous Geyser Valley.
The Kronotskaya Sopka volcano is located 8 km from the east side of the lake , and Krasheninnikova volcano is 10 km from the south side. The exotic picture is completed by Mount Schmidt, towering in the northeast.
Kronotsky lake: origin
It was formed by a reservoir almost 10 thousand years ago. It is located in the caldera of the volcano, and therefore it was previously believed that the origin is volcanic in nature. In fact, it is proved that the eruption of the lake was preceded by volcanic eruptions, today called the names of scientists Kronotsky and Krasheninnikov. They entailed the overlapping of the channel of the ancient river with wide and powerful lava deposits. The result of this cataclysm was a mountain pond 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 volcano Kronotskaya Sopka.
Features
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 almost cluttered with powerful rapids that prevent salmon from going into the lake. As a result, due to long-term isolation, a special form of sockeye salmon (kokan) and several types of char of the endemic group were formed in the reservoir. A similar mechanism of species formation is an object of study for ichthyologists. However, a small amount of river and migratory malma rises to spawn at the source of the river every year, and several rare cases of passage of coho salmon have been established.
Flora and fauna
Not everything is known about Kronotsky Lake. The islands are populated by colonies of Pacific gulls. Given the sufficient distance from the sea coast (30-45 km), such nesting sites are rare. It is said that brown bears swim on the islands to feast on the eggs of gulls.
Kronotsky Lake, being the center of the natural complex, is surrounded by amazingly beautiful nature. There are relict specimens and especially valuable breeds. For example, only here Kamchatka larch grows and ayan spruce is found .
In the larch massifs there are nests of rare birds (osprey, Steller's sea eagle), and the surrounding mountains have become a home for peregrine falcons, gyrfalcons and golden eagles.
But the swans are a symbol of this fabulous place. 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 approach of these legendary birds begins.
Such is it, the mysterious Kronotskoye Lake - a magical place on the Kamchatka Peninsula.