Petropavlovsk
The city of
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (pop. 200,000) is the industrial, scientific and cultural center of
Kamchatka,
Russia.
Founded by the explorer
Vitus Bering, who reached Avacha Bay in
1740 and laid the foundation stone for the port of Petropavlovsk, named after his two ships, the
St. Peter and the
St. Paul, built in
Okhotsk for his second expedition.
See also: Petropavl, in Kazakhstan.