On one side, there is the quiet Avacha Bay, which is capable of holding all the world’s fleets. Further on, there is the open Pacific Ocean with its wide beaches of absolutely black volcanic sand. The main feature of the local landscape is the snow-capped volcanic cones: Kamchatka is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. But its volcanoes are noted for their peacefulness: although eruptions regularly occur here, not one of them has ever caused serious destruction or death.
The Kamchadals ironically call the trio of fire-breathing mountains closest to Petropavlovsk ‘domesticated volcanoes’. Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the highest and most active volcano in Eurasia, rises above the most distant part of the peninsula. Uzon is more well-known: the Valley of Geysers is located in its gigantic caldera. From Petropavlovsk, it is only accessible by helicopter and passengers will be able to get a bird’s eye view of the craters. Thermal springs can be found everywhere in Kamchatka, including in Paratunka, which is very close to Petropavlovsk.