Lake Tolmachevo

Lake Tolmachevo (Russian: Озеро Толмачёво) lies in the south of the Kamchatka Peninsula, in the eastern part of the Ust-Bolsheretsky municipal district, 200–250 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It sits on the north-western edge of the Tolmachev plateau (Tolmachyov Dol), a lava-pyroclastic plateau formed by areal volcanism.

Formation

The lake basin is of dammed origin: the channel of the Tolmacheva River was blocked by a lava-pyroclastic dam that sealed off the western end of a tectonic depression (a graben-syncline), itself formed by eruptions of several monogenetic volcanoes.

History

Until 1910 the lake was called Opalskoye before receiving its present name. In 1966 its water surface covered 11.2 square km, with an average depth of 7.9 m and a maximum of 26 m. In 1997 the Tolmachevo hydroelectric cascade was built, raising the water level by 12 meters and turning the lake into part of the Tolmachevo Reservoir; by 1999 its area had grown to 24.7 square km. In 1985, 90 breeding individuals of freshwater sockeye salmon (kokanee) were introduced into the lake, followed in 1988 by another 800 fingerlings from Lake Karymskoye.

Nature

On the southern shore two coastal terraces survive, about 1.5–2 m and 4–5 m above the present-day beach, marking former water levels. Bears are found in the area of the Tolmachev plateau. Since the hydroelectric plants began operating, the flow over the Tolmachevo waterfalls has dropped: there used to be three of them, and now only the tallest one remains.

According to Itelmen legend, volcanic eruptions are the work of evil spirits called Gamuly, who light a fire inside the volcano-yurt and roast their prey over it.

Getting there

The lake is 200–250 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and is usually reached by off-road vehicle. The Tolmachevo hydroelectric cascade, a restricted-access facility, stands within the Tolmachev plateau, so vehicle access to the lake can be limited in summer.