The Bystraya River is the second longest river on the peninsula at 275 km. Its watershed takes up 10800 sq.km.

The Bystraya River runs along the southern part of the Sredinny Ridge.  The river runs at 0,5 – 2 m/c. The depth in the lower reaches of the river is 1-3 m, in the middle reaches – 0,8-2 m. The width averages 50-100 m and 20-40 m respectively.  The temperature of the water in the river is 7-10 degrees Centigrade.

   The Bystraya River merges with the Plotnikova River, forming the Bolshaya River, one of the biggest rivers in western Kamchatka. It plays a prominent role in the reproduction of western Kamchatkan salmon. This is a spawning ground for about 40,000 heads of King Salmon (Chinook), more than 30,000 heads of Sockeye Salmon, 20 million heads of Pink Salmon (Humpback), more that 100,000 heads of Chum Salmon and more that 200 200,000 heads of Silver Salmon. There are even several thousands of  Brook Masu-Salmon. Also numerous are migrating Char, Grailing, river Rainbow Trout and Whitespotted Char.

   The main spawning grounds are situated in the accessory systems of the Bystraya and Plotnikova Rivers and their riverheads. The best and most acceptable areas for both rafting and fishing from rafts and riverbanks is the portion of the waterway from Malki settlement to the estuary. Within this area, there are few spawning grounds, except for humpback and king salmon.

   The best period for fishing king salmon in this area is the beginning of June to the middle of July. Though king salmon migrates here until August, it is greatly reduced and spawning begins in late July to August.

   To catch silver salmon the best time is the middle of August to the end of September. Depending on conditions in any particular year, the quantity of silver salmon could be very high, providing good fishing into October in the lower reaches of the river, behind the spawning grounds.

 From the end of June to the beginning of September there is also a mass migration of loach, which many fishermen find quite interesting. In August – September there is a lot of grayling here, easily caught on artificial fly.

   Char is quite numerous, but is adept at hiding itself behind tree trunks, piles of tree branches and in small tributaries. Sport fishing for this fish is possible from the end of April, but it is more effective from July to September.

   Rainbow trout is considered to be the queen of Kamchatka fishing. The largest individuals in the world are found only in Kamchatka. Fabulous fishing for this trout is very good in this particular river.

Rafting. 

 When rafting this river, pneumatic American rafts are used. These rafts are suitable for both fishing from the bank and float fishing. Each raft can take 6 passengers and 1 guide and is highly maneuverable. All clients are provided with a life vest and international safety rules are followed carefully.

Mutnovsky, Gorely, Viluchinsky Volcanoes

 The Southern Volcanic group is situated in 75 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchastky. It includes the following volcanoes: Viluchinsky, Mutnovsky and Groely. This volcanic group deserves to be one of the most attractive tourism destinations of Kamchatka. The way to this volcanic group goes along the Paratunka area and further along the west side of the Paratunka River valley. Near the end of the farmed land, an unpaved road begins; this provides access to the Mutnovsky area, a geothermal power station. Along this road there are many places that are worth visiting: Verkhne-Paratunskie Hot Springs, Viluchnsky waterfall, Barkhatnaya Hill, Karymshinskie Hot Springs and Dachnye Hot springs. From the road you can admire the beautiful view of the splendid but inactive cone of  the Viluchinsky volcano. The road climbs a gently sloping ridge in a lovely environment of open mountain tundra. We stop at a viewpoint on the broad plateau east of Gorely; the shield volcano of Gorely lies to the west, beyond the rim of its modest caldera wall; the ice-clad ramparts of the Mutnovsky volcano lie further away to the south; the Viluchinsky cone rises to the northeast. This mountainous tundra is one of the best places for exploring Kamchatka alpine flowers.

Vilyuchinsky volcano is the closest volcano to Petropavlovsk in the south. It is situated on the opposite side of the Avacha Bay. The Vilyuchinsky volcano is extinct. It has a very beautiful cone, the height reaches 2175 m. At the foot of the volcano from the south-eastern side there are the Verkhne-Vilyuchinskie hot springs, and on the north-western side of the volcano a 40-meter waterfall is situated.

Gorely volcano is located in Southern Kamchatka, 75 km southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. This volcano presents a volcanic ridge that consists of several merged cones. The summit of the range reaches the absolute height of 1892 m and has a series of craters. Besides the top craters, there are six more side craters on the slopes. The distance from the foot of the volcano to the edge of the 1st crater is about 5 km.

Mutnovsky volcano is situated near Gorely, 80 km south of Petropavlovsk. The absolute height of the Mutnovsky volcano is 2323 m. The Mutnovsky volcano is considered to be one of the most beautiful places in Kamchatka. It has two craters, the first one is called Central, and its dimensions are 2 km x 1,5 km. There one can see different displays of volcanic activity, with beautiful blues and yellows dramatically colouring the scene. One of its slopes is covered with a gorgeous glacier. The second crater is smaller, but shows strong fumarole activity. The last eruption took place in 2000. Because of the volcanic activity, some part of the glacier melted and a volcanic lake has appeared. But even in quiet periods, the volcano excretes large amount of energy in the form of fumarole gases and numerous powerful thermal springs. It is one of the largest geothermal deposits in the world.

Avacha volcanic group is situated in the southeast of Kamchatka, 25 km from the Pacific coast and 30 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It consists of 5 volcanoes that stretch in the NW direction. The extinct Kozelsky volcano is the easternmost, then come Avacha and Koryaksky volcanoes, both active, then there are extinct Aag and Arik volcanoes. Avacha, Koryaksky and Kozelsky are the most often-visited and admired volcanoes.

Kozelsky volcano has a complicated volcanic structure with a large crater that opens on the east side. A glacier occupies the crater. The absolute height of the volcano is 2189 m. The volcano is of interest for alpinism, trekking, flower watching, and mountain skiing. As for alpinist tours on the southern rims of Kozelsky, there are routes of types 1, 2, 3. At the foot of the volcano there is a ski station and the house of the Kamchatka alpine club "Koutkh". One can ski on the snow of the eastern and southern slopes up to the beginning of June.

Avacha volcano is situated to the northwest of Kozelsky volcano. Its absolute height is 2751 м. The volcano has a compound structure of the Somma-Vesuvius type: it consists of two parts: somma (the main part of the volcano, the remains of the ancient exploded volcano) and the cone. The diameter of the somma is more than 4 km. It is destroyed and opened in the southwest. Its eastern, undestroyed part has the absolute height of 2317 m. The modern cone has the regular shape; there is a crater on the top whose fumarolic work is very active. The last eruption of the volcano took place in 1991.

      At the foot of the volcano at an altitude of 800 m there is the base camp. A little higher a mountain ski station is situated. The volcano is interesting from the point of view of alpinism and mountain skiing. The ascending route is very easy (type 1), i.e. during summertime there is no need of special equipment to ascend it. Weather permitting, any one in reasonably good shape can ascend the Avacha volcano and it is very popular among the Russians as well as foreign visitors.

Koryaksky volcano is located to the northwest of the Avacha volcano. It is a typical stratovolcano with a regular cone. Its top is cut in the west. The absolute height of the volcano is 3456 m; the relative height is 2300 m in the north, 3300 m in the south. On the northern and eastern slopes there are two glaciers. The length of the first one is 1 km, of the second one - 4.2 km. In the western part of the summit there are the remains of a crater with the diameter of 180-200 m with destroyed sides 20-30 m high. The crater is open in the south from where a relatively young lava stream goes down the slope. The slopes of the volcano are mostly steep; in the upper part the steepness is up to 30-35°, in the lower part - 15-20°.

      The ascent usually begins from the Avacha base camp. On the southern, eastern and southeastern slopes there are climbing routes of types 1, 2, 3. On the northern slope there is also an extreme ice route of the 4th type. Those attempting to ascend Koryaksky even on the easiest route need to have training in mountaineering techniques.