Nalychevo Nature Park, established on August 18, 1995, was the first state-protected conservation and recreational site in Kamchatka On December 6, 1996 the park was included in the World Heritage List. The park includes 300,000 hectares, and includes many ecologically sensitive areas. The park has a compound geological structure and an interesting history of volcano-magma and hydrothermal activity. The vast valley of the Nalycheva River is framed with mountains mainly consisting of ancient extinct volcanoes and 4 active ones: Avachinsky and Koryaksky, Dzendzur, Zhupanovsky.

Dzendzur is the westernmost volcano in the Dzendzur-Zhupanovsky group. The volcanoes of this group face westward. Dzendzur is a destroyed volcano, but forms a massif facing northwest. The crater is a glacial kar and the structure of the volcano is distinctly asymmetric. Historic eruptions of Dzendzur are unfortunately not on record. A fumarolic pot on the southeastern slope of the volcano is 5 x 20 m and 4 m deep and is extended northwestward. The main site from which gas issues is in the northeastern part of the volcano. The pot is filled with melt water. There is a continuous boiling of the water, along with bubbling gases. The walls of the pot are variegated clays - products of decomposition. Water temperature at the gas vents is 85-90°C, and 53°C at the pot edges.

     Close to Dzendzur there are Kraevedchesky and Dzendzur thermal springs. The Dzendzur interior is hydrothermally active at present. No anomalies have been registered in the gravity field around the volcano. Probability of eruptions is low, and the volcano is of no present danger to the population.

Zhupanovsky volcano is located within the southeastern volcanic belt of Kamchatka. It is the eastern part of the Dzendzur-Zhupanovsky volcanic ridge, composed of four merged cones of stratovolcanoes of similar ages and structures. The absolute height of the lowest, western, cone is 2505m, that of the highest, eastern, is 2958m. The relative height of the volcano is 2300-2400 m. The length of the chain of Zhupanovsky cones is 6 km.

     Zhupanovsky has relatively well presented primary forms and shows only shallow barrancos. The cones of the constituent stratovolcanoes are distinguishable only at the summit of the massif, while below 2300 m they merge in a single structure. The summits of the cones have craters from 0,3 to 1 km in diameter.

     Two fumarole fields are situated at a height of 2650 m (30 by 20 m) and 2750 m (a steep wall 50-60 m high and 40-50 m wide). There are two fumarolic craters and one fumarole field at its western tip, which release the bulk of the gases and heat of the volcano. The temperature of the fumaroles ranges from 94 till 4300С. The third cone is the youngest the best preserved with the freshest primary forms. It has gone through all the historic eruptions. However, in terms of heat losses, the first place belongs to the second cone, which has the strongest fumarolic activity.

     Zhupanovsky is the center of intense modern glaciation. The largest glaciers descend from summit snow crust fields along the northern slopes of the massif.

     The thick long lava flows that spread southward as far as the Nalycheva River and northward to the Zhupanova River is the result of volcanic eruptions 40 to 50 thousand years ago. In that period, lava domes on the southern slope of the volcano appeared. Lava erupted under the ice, producing their specific tuya-type structure. Single strong eruptions were separated by long periods of rest. A strong eruption took place about 2 thousand years ago. The last big eruption must have occurred only about 800-900 years ago. Lava flows formed at that time on the southern slope were up to 5-6 km long.

     Historic eruptions are associated with the third cone. Their dates are 1776, 1882, 1925, 1929, 1940, 1956-1957. They were all relatively small explosions. The thickness of the crust below Zhupanovsky is estimated at 25-30km.

     In the upper reaches of the Nalycheva River, in an area some 40 sq kilometers, some thermal (temperature from 14 to 75°С) and mineral springs are concentrated. The most well known are Nalychevskiye, Talovye, Shaibnye, Kraevedcheskiye, Dzendzurskiye, Shumskiye and cold mineral springs - Aagskiye, Koryakskiye. The water of the largest ones is of a very rare type.
 

Thermal Springs of the Nalychevo Hollow.
The quickest way to get to these curative springs is by helicopter, 25 minutes one-way. The area around the spring's outlet is an inter-mountain hollow covered by Erman birch trees surrounded by magnificent summits of active and extinct volcanoes. There are 7 groups of thermal springs in the hollow. They are all situated in the basin of the Pravaya Nalycheva River about 60 km from Petropavlovsk.
The camp is located on the Goryacherechenskiye springs that are found in the valley of the Goryachaya River. The water temperature is 28-50deg;C. The chemical content of the water is chloride natrium with general mineralization 1,8-3,5 g/l, with silicic acid up to 200 mg/l, metaboric acid 120 - 160 mg/l.

     Not far form the camp in the valley of the Zhyoltaya River, where the Zheltorechenskiye springs are found. The temperature of the water there is 39-42°C. The chemical content of the water is chloride natrium with general mineralization 3,5 g/l, with silicic acid up to 200 mg/l, metaboric acid up to 160 mg/l and arsenic up to 10-12 mg/l.

     The park boasts mountain, tundra and sea landscapes. The combination of present volcanic and ancient glacial landscapes offer spectacular vistas. Within the valley of the Nalycheva River, various microclimates highlight the richness and diversity of the flora and fauna. Many species are seen only here and are of special interest. The vegetation that appears on the hydro thermally changed soil near the hot mineral springs has a special interest for researchers as well. Erman (stone) birch forests in the vicinities of the hot springs are considered unique in Kamchatka, as are several rare species of orchids (including the wonderful Lady's Slipper Orchid).

     The location of the park is very convenient for recreational use. The south boundary of the park is only 10-15 km from Petropavlovsk and Yelizovo and actually borders the boundaries of the cities. It takes only 15-20 minutes to get to the center of the park by helicopter. The area of the park is the most well-known and accessible place for many inhabitants of the peninsula. There is a path from Pinachevo to the park central part. Its length is 44 km. A special regime of nature use and conservation is settled in the Nalychevo Nature Park. Any activity in the area can be carried out on the permission of the Kamchatka Nature Parks Directorate.
     For many people living in southern Kamchatka, this park is the most well-known and accessible place to enjoy the beauty and unique vistas of Kamchatka.

     The park hosts 33 known species of mammals. The biggest, of course, are the bear, the deer and the snow sheep. There is a heavy concentration of bears in the valley during the salmon spawning and berry seasons. Volcanic slopes and Nalychevo Cape rocks are the habitats of big horn sheep. There are 145 known species of birds (including 90 nesting species). Special protection is provided to the brant goose, the Steller's sea eagle, the white-tailed eagle, the gyrfalcon, the peregrine falcon, and the golden eagle. Five species of the Pacific salmon spawn in the Nalycheva River and its tributaries. Rare species of char salmon and Kamchatka rainbow trout can be seen here as well.