The South Kamchatka Federal Reserve was established in 1983 for the protection of sea otters at the Lopatka Cape. It is situated in the extreme south of Kamchatka Peninsula in regions with a very unstable climate.The Reserve area is 225,000 ha, and the threemile offshore area is also protected.
There are three active volcanoes and numerous hot springs.
The nature complexes is mountain forest-tundra. The vegetation is dominated by elfin wood, and meadows and tundras occupy considerable areas. Due to the harsh climate, the meadows of the Lopatka Peninsula (the southernmost extremity of Kamchatka) are reminicent of sub-Arctic tundras, although they are situated in temperate latitudes.
The flora numbers 380 species of vascular plants. The Reserve is home to mammals characteristic of Kamchatka (over 40 species) but its area is of greatest importance to the sea otter and there is also the Kamchatka largest aggregation of the brown bear there. A unique summer-autumn aggregation of bears in basin of Lake Kurilskoe is due to abundant fish available (the lake is the Asia largest spawning ground for the blue-back salmon). The spawning of the salmon also attracts hundreds of big raptors, including Steller's sea eagles, white-tailed eagles, golden eagles. The winter ecosystem of Lake KUrilskoe is absolutely unique - the birds demonstrate there their unique adaptations to feeding on salmonids. The sea coast of the Reserve abounds of colonies of sea birds, the biggest of them being situated on the Utashud Island.

Lake Kurilskoye is the Asia biggest spawning ground for blue-back salmon.

Utashud Island. There are large colonies of sea birds and rookeries of marine mammals.