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 Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16690/06/166900637_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_a0fabab0ce7f033a049e71ebed0b47a4.jpg)
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.
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© RIA Novosti
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.
![Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16690/14/166901454_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_05499f6b64afe15dc8c29079784b657b.jpg)
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.
![Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16690/07/166900754_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_d79e4924e54534ca171b42c44d46b3cf.jpg)
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.
© RIA Novosti . V. Kudryashev / Go to the mediabankThe island became the burial place for 14 sailors including Bering.
![Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16690/13/166901387_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_de1f9282a9c4e42475c246240ef9fbbc.jpg)
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.
![Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16690/08/166900875_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_9da0edfa7a0660a10950d14e27a843b3.jpg)
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.
© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankThe islands are located in a rather close proximity to one another at a distance of 175 kilometers to the east of Kamchatka.
![Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16690/14/166901479_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_935d0f9575633cd2f018b75d9e4797e8.jpg)
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.
![Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16690/09/166900934_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_ff1ff0007ed4bd791a2af6623be2e7c9.jpg)
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.
© RIA Novosti . V. Kudryashev / Go to the mediabankThe coastal waters of the Commander Islands are home to 21 whale and cetacean species…
![Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16690/10/166901030_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_753d654b4aae9a5b023242305380e3ad.jpg)
The coastal waters of the Commander Islands are home to 21 whale and cetacean species…
© RIA Novosti . F. Chelnokova / Go to the mediabankand the islands are home to 300,000 of fur seals and sea lions,…
![Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16690/11/166901106_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_7e860b5858b00c935c7e4190b62a33d7.jpg)
and the islands are home to 300,000 of fur seals and sea lions,…
© RIA Novosti . Cheyshvily / Go to the mediabankas well as more than a half-million rare northern birds.
![Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16690/11/166901198_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_e1a49e0b6c4cc98fd7c80340f378d892.jpg)
as well as more than a half-million rare northern birds.
![Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16690/12/166901256_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_ddf5eeb501420679a2fe86ebeb70d06f.jpg)
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.
![Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog Commander Islands, the land of wind and fog - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16690/13/166901311_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_23bec67d73a3fc5dd8fc714872be2b42.jpg)
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.