Science is Fun Fridays!


The Kamchatka peninsula in Russia is in the Ring of Fire and has 160 volcanoes, 29 of which are still active.  There are also over 400 glaciers, so it is known as the Land of Fire and Ice.

Seen above, an ice cave created by a hot water spring flowing beneath glacial ice fields.


The Valley of Geysers - the second largest concentration of geysers in the world - were discovered as recently as 1941.  It is within the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, which was established in 1934.

Over 750 plant species grow in the reserve and some of the largest brown bears in the world are protected there.


Shiveluch volcano is the largest and most active in the area.  


Indigenous people still live a traditional life on the peninsula - the most ancient being the Itelmens.  Along with the Ainu, Koryaks, and Chuvans, they are are referred to as Kamchadals - native peoples of Kamchatka.

Their language is nearly extinct, as populations were assimilated following the Russian conquest of Siberia in the 1700's.


Wikipedia

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