The Commander Islands
The territory of the Commander Islands is another protected area
of the Kamchatskaya Oblast, referring as a whole to Komandorsky
State Nature Reserve. It includes two big islands (Bering, Medniy)
and a number of small rocky islands (Ariy Kamen, Toporkov, etc.).
Area – 3.648.700 ha.
Protected objects – 12 species and 2 subspecies of mammals including
2 species of eared seals (northern fur seals, sea lions), 2 species
of common seals such as antur (insular seal) and lorga seal, cetacean;
and also 150 species of birds, 57 of which nest on the Commander
Islands, 383 species and 37 subspecies of rare plants.
In 1741 the crew of the vessel “Saint Peter” headed by Vitus Bering
discovered these island. In honour of the great traveler, who rested
in peace here, they were named the Commander islands.
Northern fur seals are, undoubtedly, the main sight and wealth of
the Commander Islands. The first male seals appear on the rookeries
at the end of April. In winter fur seals wait till the severe season
is over near the shares of Japan. After it they come back to the
native land. Male seals secure the plots of land (20-25 sq.m.) for
the harems (there are about 100 females in each of them). In June
the female seals swim up and get ashore to give the birth to young
ones.
In August the harems disintegrate, and in November the young seals
taught to fish leave the islands together with their parents. Water
is fur seals’ element.
The settling of all birds colonies starts in April. Autumn silence
comes here at the end of September, beginning from October, when
the young birds start to fly. The life of birds colonies flows according
to its own laws. In the southern and almost inaccessible part of
Bering Island the small herd of rein-deer remains. In the rivers
of the Bering and Medniy island there are the spawning ground is
lake Sarannoye.
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