The surrounding society and the main economic activity of the region of residence

Kamchatka Territory was formed on July 1, 2007, following the unification of the Kamchatka region and the Koryak Autonomous Area. According to the census of 2010, over 322 thousand people lived in the region, with the following ethnic groups predominating: 252.6 thousand Russians (78.43%), 11.5 thousand Ukrainians (3.57%), 6.6 thousand Koryaks (2.06%), 2.4 thousand Itelmens (0.74%). The region is characterized by a constant population decline, both due to migration to the central regions of the country and a decrease in reproduction.

According to the census 2020, 288.7 thousand people inhabit the region, with more than half of them living in the regional center (56.45%). The population density is one of the lowest in the country: 0.62 people/km2. Only the area surrounding the regional center (the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky) is relatively dense.

The Kamchatka Territory includes 3 cities of regional subordination (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Vilyuchinsk, and Elizovo); 11 districts, 4 of which (Karaginsky, Olyutorsky, Penzhinsky, Tigilsky) make up the Koryak area (an administrative unit with a special status).

The Magadan region was formed on December 3, 1953. Initially, it included the Chukotka National area, which separated in 1992. Currently, the region consists of 9 municipalities and includes two cities, Magadan and Susuman. According to the census of 2010, about 157 thousand people lived in the Magadan region: 127.9 thousand Russians (81.4%), 9.8 thousand Ukrainians (6.2%), 2.6 thousand Evens (1.6%), 0.9 thousand Koryaks (0.6%), 0.6 thousand Itelmens (0.4%), 0.3 thousand Kamchadals (0.2%). Population density is 0.32 people/km2. According to the population census of 2020, 136 thousand people live in the region, of which 89.8 thousand people reside in the regional center (66%). Population density has decreased to 0.30 people/km2.

The economy of the Kamchatka Territory is of a pronounced monostructural nature. Production is represented mainly by the fishing industry, forestry, agriculture, and construction sectors, and sea and air transport. The fishing industry of Kamchatka makes up 17.3% of the total fishing industry of Russia, with marine fishing predominating. This industry is the most efficient and competitive sector of the economy; a significant part of the region’s production and labor potential is based on it.

Fishing enterprises actively compete for raw materials (quotas) and sales markets.

The second most important sector of the economy is the forestry and wood processing industry, the products of which are mainly exported outside the region. The agricultural sector is represented by two types of production: traditional occupations of the indigenous peoples of the North (reindeer husbandry, fishing), and crop production, indoor and grassland farming. The overwhelming majority of gross agricultural product comes from the second type of farming. Agricultural land makes up 1% of all land in the region, arable land 0.1%. Potatoes, cabbage, fodder crops, milk, eggs, and meat are produced in commercial quantities.

There is an opportunity to make greater use of the geothermal resources for growing vegetables under glass. The food processing industry, represented by joint-stock companies (bakery plants, food processing plants, dairies, a mineral water plant, and a confectionery factory) is closely connected to agriculture.

The mineral resources base of Kamchatka is quite rich. However, the development of the mining industry is hampered by the lack of technologies and infrastructure for the environmentally conscious mode of exploitation and further remediation. The mining industry is represented by several enterprises, with a limited scope of production.

In addition, the limiting factor for industrial development is the lack of local energy sources. The region's energy industry (559 power plants of various capacities) operates only on the fuel supplied from outside the region. Also, the region does not have a unified energy system; the structure of consumption is mostly of the household and non-industrial type.

The region is one of the ten largest in Russia in terms of reserves of mineral raw materials. They are predominantly precious and non-ferrous metals, iron, brown and hard coal, peat, and hydrocarbons. There are also deposits of facing stone, oil, and gas. The basis of the production sector is the mining industry (60% of the total production), energy (up to 20%), and the food industry. Transport and communications, fish production, and processing demonstrate a high level of development. In 2006, 18.5 tons of gold and 664.5 tons of silver were mined.

The Yana-Kolyma gold province (part of the Magadan region) has a precious metals resource potential of up to 7 thousand tons.

The largest deposits are Natalka and Pavlik, which belong to the Omchak gold ore cluster. Mining and processing plants have been launched and ore is being collected for processing and extraction of gold. The Sopka Kvartsevaya gold-silver deposit and the Igumenovskoye gold deposit are also being prepared for development.

The region enjoys a high rate of economic development. It has the status of a special economic zone until 2025. This makes it possible to provide tax benefits, including for expensive equipment for the mining industry. The city of Magadan is actively developing the transport infrastructure: the commercial and fishing ports, the airport, and tourist facilities are being reconstructed.

The region is an energy-excessive one. The bulk of the energy is generated by the Frishter Kolyma Hydroelectric Station. The Kolyma Reservoir, formed by the dam, ranks 16th in the 20 largest in the world.