PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, August 18 (Itar-Tass) —— About 3,000 Kamchatka residents and guests set out on Saturday for the ascent route to the top of active Volcano Avachinsky, a regional government source told Itar-Tass.
Most of the climbers were still on the route, but the regional climbing competition was already over, the source said. Only experienced sportsmen were allowed participating in the competition. The best time was one hour and 40 minutes. Thus, the August 2011 record of 1:34 was not beaten.
The mass ascent of Avachinsky, which is 2,741-m high, is organized to mark Volcano Day. It is marked on Kamchatka as an official regional holiday since 2010. Climbing to the top of the giant is a central event, but there are also many other events that take place at the volcano. Among them are excursions to nearby mountain slopes. On the routes, specialists tell tourists about the Kamchatka terrains and volcanoes. Golf competitions and concerts of author songs are also organized there.
Volcano Day opens Tourism Days in the Kamchatka Territory, which are held here from August 17 to October 20.
According to deputy Kamchatka government head Valery Karpenko, late summer and early autumn are the best time on the peninsula, when the peak number of tourists arrive. So, Tourism Days are held during the time.
Early on August 25, people will gather on the Pacific coast to watch the daybreak.
In October, the International Northern Travelling Film Festival and a scientific conference on development of tourism and service will take place there.
Tourism is one of the promising areas of the Kamchatka economic development, the regional government believes. There are many hot springs and volcanoes. Tourists are attracted by the world-known Valley of Geysers and the wide possibilities for hunting and fishing. In winter and spring, slopes of the mountains and volcanoes are very popular among skiers and snowboarders.