Beguiling Bears -The Realm Of The Bears

The author captivates us with an entrancing view of the magnificent realm of the Kamchatka bears and of the marvellous omnivores themselves.

- Suranjan Mukherjee

As we stepped out of our Mi-8, our jaws dropped. Surrounding us was the serene Kurile Lake bordered by the volcanoes standing proud, making us all speechless. As I was admiring the tranquility of the wilderness, it suddenly caught my eye; a few shadowy figures on Kurile Lake. We were in bear country! Kamchatka peninsula, located in the far east of Russia, is often considered to be the edge of the world. This truly wild and remote area, where commute is often by helicopter, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is every photographer’s paradise, both for its pristine scenery and iconic wildlife.

KURILE LAKE

Located at the southernmost tip of the peninsula, Kurile Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in Kamchatka and the second deepest lake in Russia after Lake Baikal. It measures 242 square kilometers in area and is part of the South Kamchatka Wildlife Refuge Territory, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The origin of Kurilskoye (also known as Kuril or Kurile) Lake dates to about 8,000 years ago as a result of a series of enormous volcanic explosions in Kamchatka, which is situated within the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’. A volcanic crater was thus formed due to the massive fault in earth’s crust that gradually filled up with water and Kurile Lake was born. It owes its name to an aboriginal tribe, the Kurils that inhabited the neighbouring Kuril Islands.

llyinsky volcano (1,578 meters) stands proud on the northeastern border of the reservoir with its perfectly conical shape and creates a spectacular backdrop for the bears on the lake. The Dikiy Greben volcano (1,080 meters) is on the western side. On a clear tranquil day, the reflection of these volcanoes on the waters of the lake creates a surreal image, which is a dream shot for any photographer.