Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia

I have a little ongoing project - I'm trying to get a postcard from all different regions of Russia. I still have lots missing but I'm trying to work through the list slowly. Kamchatka is one of the newest regions in my collection, and the three cards Kristina sent me are all amazing.



Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the main city and the administrative, industrial, scientific, and cultural center of Kamchatka Krai, Russia. It has a population of 179,500 (2010).

Petropavlovsk was founded by Danish navigator Vitus Bering, in the service of the Russian Navy. Bering reached Avacha Bay on July 10, 1740 and laid the foundation stone for the harbor town, naming the new settlement "Petropavlovsk" (Peter + Paul) after his two ships, the St. Peter and the St. Paul, built in Okhotsk for his second expedition. The town's location on the sheltered Avacha Bay and at the mouth of the Avacha River saw it develop to become the most important settlement in Kamchatka. It was granted town status on April 9, 1812.

The city is situated on high hills and surrounded by volcanoes. In fact, the horizon cannot be seen clearly from any point in town as volcanoes and mountains are everywhere. Across Avacha Bay from the city is Russia's largest submarine base, the Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base, established during Soviet times and still used by the Russian Navy. The city is located 6,766 kilometers from Moscow (about nine hours by plane) and about 2,220 kilometers from Vladivostok.



The stamp on the left is from a set of 2 stamps issued in 2009, to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the Birth of painter Z.E. Sereryakova. The stamp on the right was issued in 2010 to commemorate the Vancouver Winter Olympics.