Kamchatka Oblast (,
Kamchatskaya oblast) was, until being incorporated into
Kamchatka Krai on July 1, 2007, a
federal subject of
Russia (an
oblast). To the north, it bordered
Magadan Oblast and
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.
Koryak Autonomous Okrug was located in the northern part of the oblast. Including the autonomous okrug, the total area of the oblast was , encompassing the southern half of the
Kamchatka Peninsula. The
administrative center of Kamchatka Oblast was the
city of
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Population:
Kamchatka's natural resources include
coal,
gold,
mica,
pyrites, and
natural gas. Most of the inhabitants live in the administrative center,
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The main employment sectors are
fishing,
forestry,
tourism (a growing industry), and the
Russian military. There is still a large military presence on the peninsula; the home base of Russia's Pacific
submarine fleet is across
Avacha Bay from
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at the Rybachy base. There are also several air force bases and radar sites in Kamchatka.