Kuril Lake: a paradise for brown bears, sockeye salmon and photographers

In the south of the Kamchatka Peninsula is one of the most beautiful places in our country - Kuril Lake. Located on the territory of the Kronotsky Reserve, it is an untouched corner of nature, where scientists are observing the wonderful world of Kamchatka.

Kurilskoye Lake, like many others on the peninsula, is of volcanic origin. It is located in a large caldera - hollow, which was formed on the site of an ancient volcano after its destruction. Kuril Lake has an area of 77 km2 and an impressive depth of 316 m.

Several rivers and streams flow into the lake, as well as the Ozernaya River, which flows into the Sea of Okhotsk.

Kuril Lake is interesting in that it is the largest spawning ground for sockeye salmon in Eurasia - fish of the salmon family. Some experts believe that he has no equal in the whole world. Sockeye salmon is a migratory fish that spawns and lives in lakes at a young age. After 2-3 years, young sockeye salmon leave the lakes and spend the rest of the time until they reach puberty in sea waters.

Two forms of sockeye salmon live in Kuril Lake - early and late. They differ from each other in terms of spawning. On the whole, the process of sockeye salmon entering the Kuril Lake lasts from May to November, and it begins to spawn from July to March. During spawning, the amount of sockeye salmon in the lake is so great that its waters turn red.

The abundance of fish resources attracts many predators to the lake. These are primarily Kamchatka brown bears. In high season, up to 100 individuals can simultaneously be on the lake and its environs. But such a large number of predators does not lead to competition and the clarification of relations, because there is enough food for everyone. The bears feel quite at ease here and do not at all fear the reserve staff and other people.

In addition to bears, large raptors of Kamchatka are also aware of the fish feast. For the winter, white-tailed eagles, golden eagles, bald and steller sea eagles fly here. It is noteworthy that Kuril Lake is the wintering place of the largest colony of Steller's sea eagles in the world, which totals from 350 to 500 individuals in different years.

On the lake there is a biostation KamchatNIRO - Kamchatka Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography. The main task of the station's employees is to study the status of the sockeye salmon population and artificially regulate the passage of fish to spawn. The fact is that with a large number of sockeye salmon, spawning of the Kuril Lake is overflowing, which negatively affects the development of future offspring. In this regard, individuals are recorded and from 1.5 to 3 million individuals that enter the Ozernaya River are allowed to spawn in the lake.

The Kronotsky Reserve, on the territory of which the Kuril Lake is located, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Photo tours and excursions are organized on the lake. Nature lovers and professional photographers from around the world come to enjoy the amazingly beautiful reservoir and its inhabitants.