Petrov Island, Primorsky Krai: description, sights, excursions and reviews

Almost at the edge of the world in the cold Sea of Japan is a piece of fertile land with bright carpets of flowers, majestic groves of evergreen trees, singing sands and restless flocks of white-winged seagulls. This island of Petrova is a paradise, exciting with its legends and surprising with dozens of signs. Many people dream here, but only 1,000 people a year are allowed on the island. Although the size of this piece of land is tiny, excursions to it leave a lot of unforgettable sensations and impressions. Some even consider the island of Petrov an anomalous zone, as hinted at by the bizarre forms of long-longevity trees. And they say that here are buried unknown treasures, but they are forbidden to seek them, because these lands are reserved.

We invite you to take a short walk along this unique island, look into the camping site and admire all its sights.

Location

Where there is the island of Petrova, the places are pretty wild and uninhabited. One word is the reserve! Search for this islet in the northern water area of the Sea of Japan. It lies only 660 meters from the shores of the Bay of Singing Sands. The nearest settlement from the island is the village of Transfiguration, located on the shore of the eponymous bay. Before it is 8 km by water, and by land about 10 km. The second close settlement to the island is the village of Kievka, which is located on the same river. Up to it on a straight line about 9 km. The rest of the coast is occupied by forest lands of the Lazovsky Reserve. Before Nakhodka - the nearest city from the island is 226 km along the route, and about 335 km to Vladivostok.

Petrov Island (Primorye Territory), how to get there

A trip to this wonderful island is not an easy task.

Car enthusiasts should follow from Nakhodka along the P447 highway to the village of Lazo, where it is necessary to turn onto the P448 road leading to the village of Transfiguration. Moving along this road, it is necessary to turn off the settlement of Benevskoye by the sign to Kievka, to reach the barrier. There is a checkpoint where the entry to the reserve territory is paid. It is advisable to book a pass in advance. From the barrier, the road leads through the forest to camp No. 10. From there, Petrov Island is sent on a motor boat. It is forbidden to swim on private floating crafts.

Public transport is even harder to get here. From Vladivostok and Nakhodka to the Transfiguration there are bus services. Now this route is additionally accompanied by a private minibus. Specify the time of its departure and the price can be on the carrier's website. We need to go to the village of Lazo, from where we organize excursion tours to the island.

Those who did not have enough space in the group of tourists can try to contact the administrator of the cordon independently, get to one of the bays where no pass is required, and go on foot to the Bay of Singing Sands, and already pay for their visit to the reserve.

Geographical characteristics

Petrov Island is very small. Its length between the most extreme points is less than a kilometer, and the width is about 550 meters. The area of this span of land is only 40 hectares. From the side it resembles a whale carcass, while its highest point is 113 meters. The shores of the island from the sea side are rocky and unapproachable, and on the part of the continent they are more flat. On its territory there is a spring, which, as the workers of the reserve say, has medicinal properties. At one time, many hundreds of years ago there lived Chinese people who had slaves. They built a thin sand spit, stretching almost 600 meters and breaking off from the shore of the bay only 40 meters away.

Historical facts

Many mysteries keep the island of Petrova. The Primorye Territory, whose history dates back to the Paleolithic times, knew both glorious and sad events in its time. As scientists suppose, once the lands of the island of Petrov were a cape. Here, there were found sites of primitive people, who lived about 10,000 years ago. Now the island is declared a reserve, therefore archaeological research on it is prohibited. Earlier excavations indicate that there was a short-lived kingdom of the Bohai Empire. In the tenth century the Khitan conquered it, and later the island passed to the Jurchens. The last rulers of the island were Chinese pirates, who were called ilou. It was on their orders slaves built a sandbar. Ilou specifically did not bring her to the shore, so that enemy forces could not easily cross to the island. Later this piece of land became part of Russia. He was named after Alexander Petrov, Rear Admiral and Traveler, who took part in several expeditions to study Primorye.

Animal world

Extremely interesting for visiting the island of Petrova. The reserve Lazovskaya, in whose possession it enters, has under its protection more than 300 species of birds and about 100 species of animals. On the island live, mainly birds. Here gulls, eagles, white swifts, Ussuri cormorants nest, and from mammals you can find only rodents and squirrels. By the way, there is a sign that the first to notice the squirrel must make a wish.

Other permanent land inhabitants of the island are an impressive number of insects and a very small detachment of snakes. But for a short time here come spotted deer, bears and even tigers.

The water world near Petrov Island is more diverse. On its rocky "beaches" like to luxuriate seals. On the seabed, through unusually clear water, sea urchins, stars and corals can be discerned. Here live dozens of fish species, octopuses and other mollusks. In October, migratory whales stop to rest and feed near the island.

The world of plants

The unique in its beauty and species diversity is the Petrov Island (Primorsky Krai). Scientists have counted here about 300 species of higher vascular plants, including magnolia vine, ginseng, orchids, aralia, eleutheroc, Korean pine (growing only in this region). But the most famous plant, unquestionably, is yew. According to legend, the island was brought to the island by the Chinese. They appreciated yew wood is very expensive, for example, a woman they cost two modest in size plaques. There are legends that in their yew yew lanes held sacred rituals, and even made human sacrifices. Now the crowns of these trees have formed such a thick canopy that under it there are practically no other plants. Only a few species could settle down there, among them linden and feldondendron or Amur velvet.

Excursions

On the island of Petrova (Primorsky Krai) excursions are organized from the village of Lazo. They cost from 5000 rubles. Tourists are delivered to the Bay of Singing Sands, which is also a tourist attraction. This name was given to her for the fact that the sand in her walking produces characteristic sounds. Further, if weather permits, tourists are transported to the island, where they pass along the trail. Its length is 2.7 km. Smoking and tearing plants here is prohibited, but it is allowed to photograph them. The route passes through the main attraction of the island - yew grove. In addition, one can see stone stoves and earthen ramparts left from the ilo, to admire the bay of Love, bordered by almost impregnable rocks, into two unusual rocks, named Grandfather and Baba.

If the weather is stormy or rainy on the island is not forwarded.

Recreation centers

Many people are worried about the question of where to stop, if you do not get to immediately get to the island of Petrova. Primorsky Krai has not yet been developed enough, but here there are comfortable tourist bases and camping sites. The most desired for tourists is on the island. Here, in a strictly designated place, tents are set up, and fires are allowed nearby. Meals for tourists are organized complex, they do not have to cook anything themselves. The second camp is broken up in the Bay of Singing Sands. Here, many wait for good weather to cross to the island.

Those who could not find a place in these two campsites can stay at the hostel "Reindeer" and at the Orlan tourist center. Both are in the immediate vicinity of the Bay of Singing Sands.

Reviews

Everyone who visited the island of Petrov describes it as a wonderful and even, to some extent, a mystical place where one wants to return. The advantages of the island are its unique nature, unusual microclimate, clean beaches with clear water and white sand. As a shortcoming, tourists note not always suitable weather conditions that prevent crossing to the island, and difficulties with a trip to the Bay of Singing Sands.