Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy

Seaport city on the eastern shore of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, and capital, economic and cultural centre of Kamchatka oblast (region); population (1996 est) 205,000. It is an important fishing port, and remains ice-free for seven months of the year.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy was founded in 1740 by the explorer Vitus Bering. It developed into Russia's main administrative, naval, and trading base on the Pacific seaboard, and was the starting point of expeditions to Alaska and the Aleutian Islands in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was bombarded by Anglo-French forces during the Crimean War (1854). A major strategic submarine base was located here during the Soviet period. It is now the second most important naval base on Russia's Pacific coast (behind Vladivostok).

Two active volcanoes, Koryakskaya and Avachinskaya, are located near the city.