https://sputnikglobe.com/20110917/166901517.html

Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog

Sputnik International

The Commander Islands, belonging to the Aleutian District in Kamchatka Territory, will celebrate the 270th anniversary of their discovery by Vitus Bering on... 17.09.2011, Sputnik International

2011-09-17T07:19+0000

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16690/13/166901369_0:0:0:0_1920x0_80_0_0_1bfb5cb1071fa43994618f1e992d2805.jpg

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“

252

2011

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“

252

News

en_EN

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“

252

1920

1080

true

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“

252

Sputnik International

photo

Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog

07:19 GMT 17.09.2011

The Commander Islands, belonging to the Aleutian District in Kamchatka Territory, will celebrate the 270th anniversary of their discovery by Vitus Bering on September 17.

© RIA Novosti . V. Chistiakov / Go to the mediabankThe Commander Islands, belonging to the Aleutian District in Kamchatka Territory, will celebrate the 270th anniversary of their discovery by Vitus Bering on September 17.

Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog - Sputnik International

1/13

Go to the mediabank

The Commander Islands, belonging to the Aleutian District in Kamchatka Territory, will celebrate the 270th anniversary of their discovery by Vitus Bering on September 17.

© RIA NovostiWhen the St. Peter packet ship found its way to these islands in order to replenish water reserves, the ship commanded by Vitus Bering, a Dane, had voyaged for five months in the Pacific between the Kamchatka Peninsula and Alaska.

2/13

When the St. Peter packet ship found its way to these islands in order to replenish water reserves, the ship commanded by Vitus Bering, a Dane, had voyaged for five months in the Pacific between the Kamchatka Peninsula and Alaska.

© RIA Novosti . F. Chelnokova / Go to the mediabankThe sailors failed to make their stop short. The long voyage with limited reserves caused scurvy among most sailors, including Vitus Bering. Hard conditions were taking their human toll – the sea was constantly hostile – and by late November the sea made short work of the battered vessel and disgorged it onto the shore. Commander Bering died ten days later. Later, the island which became a permanent home to the 60-year-old seafarer was named after him.

3/13

Go to the mediabank

The sailors failed to make their stop short. The long voyage with limited reserves caused scurvy among most sailors, including Vitus Bering. Hard conditions were taking their human toll – the sea was constantly hostile – and by late November the sea made short work of the battered vessel and disgorged it onto the shore. Commander Bering died ten days later. Later, the island which became a permanent home to the 60-year-old seafarer was named after him.

© RIA Novosti . M. Shilenkov / Go to the mediabankHaving lost 29 of the 75-member crew, the sailors who survived until spring built from the wreckage a small two-mast ship and returned to Kamchatka by August.

4/13

Go to the mediabank

Having lost 29 of the 75-member crew, the sailors who survived until spring built from the wreckage a small two-mast ship and returned to Kamchatka by August.

5/13

Go to the mediabank

The island became the burial place for 14 sailors including Bering.

© RIA Novosti . V. Chistiakov / Go to the mediabankThe archipelago consists of 15 islands of various sizes, of which the largest are the Bering Island and the Medny Island; moreover, it is named the Commander Islands in reference to Commander Bering.

6/13

Go to the mediabank

The archipelago consists of 15 islands of various sizes, of which the largest are the Bering Island and the Medny Island; moreover, it is named the Commander Islands in reference to Commander Bering.

7/13

Go to the mediabank

The islands are located in a rather close proximity to one another at a distance of 175 kilometers to the east of Kamchatka.

© RIA Novosti . V. Kudryashev / Go to the mediabankIn 2002, the Commander Islands were included in the UNESCO MAB World Network of Biosphere Reserves – the archipelago is famed for beautiful tundra landscapes with rich sea polar fauna.

8/13

Go to the mediabank

In 2002, the Commander Islands were included in the UNESCO MAB World Network of Biosphere Reserves – the archipelago is famed for beautiful tundra landscapes with rich sea polar fauna.

9/13

Go to the mediabank

The coastal waters of the Commander Islands are home to 21 whale and cetacean species…

10/13

Go to the mediabank

and the islands are home to 300,000 of fur seals and sea lions,…

11/13

Go to the mediabank

as well as more than a half-million rare northern birds.

12/13

Go to the mediabank

Coastal waters are replete with fish.

© RIA Novosti . Igor Vainshtain / Go to the mediabankDespite the extremely fortuitous geographic position of the “land of wind and fog” – the Commander Islands are located on many cruise ships routes –, they can boast of only one populated settlement – the village of Nikolskoye, which has no maritime seasonal passenger checkpoint, thus restricting the flow of tourism.

13/13

Go to the mediabank

Despite the extremely fortuitous geographic position of the “land of wind and fog” – the Commander Islands are located on many cruise ships routes –, they can boast of only one populated settlement – the village of Nikolskoye, which has no maritime seasonal passenger checkpoint, thus restricting the flow of tourism.