Kamchatka. Kurilskoye lake

      This amazing in its beauty lake, one of  the biggest spawning grounds for salmon is loñated on the territory of  the Uzhno-Kamchatsky Refuge. It has been attracting the attention of the nature-lovers for a longtime. It is the third, according to the size, lake of Kamchatka.

      The lake occupies a big hollow 300 m. in depth. It is situated at a height of 103 m. above sea-level, surrounded by Ilyinsky and Dikiy Greben volcanoes, jutting out into it with their  spurs.

      Fishing bears walking along the shores of the lake become a habitual phenomenon. It is even possible to watch them if you climb a special watch-tower.

      The islands of lake Kurilskoye are the main sights of  this area. Alaid’s Heart Island is an island of pink stone resembling a heart. It has a huge sea-gull colony. Here other islands are Chayachiy and Samang. To the south-west from Ilyinsky volcano is Harbour Tyoplaya. Its shores are studded with the outlets of mineral hot waters, which warm the water of the harbour.

      Lake Kurilskoye is a refuge and a monument to nature of the zoological type. It is also a nature laboratory of TINRO.