The peninsula of Kamtchatka was not discovered by the Russians before the latter end of the last century. The first expedition towards those parts was made in 1696, by sixteen Cossacks, under the command of Lucas Semaenoff Morosko, who was sent against the Koriacks of the river Opooka by Volodimer Atlassoff, commander of Anadirsk. Morosko continued his march until he came within four days' journey of the river Kamtchatka, and having rendered a Kamtchadal village tributary, he returned to Anadirsk.

The following year Atlassoff himself, at the head of a larger body of troops, penetrated into the peninsula, took possession of the river Kamtchatka by erecting a cross upon its banks; and built some huts upon the spot, where Upper Kamtchatkoi Ostrog now stands.

These expeditions were continued during the following years: Upper and Lower Kamtchatkoi Ostrogs and Bolcheresk were built; the southern district conquered and colonized; and in 1711, the whole peninsula was finally reduced under the dominion of the Russians.

During some years the possession of Kamtchatka brought very little advantage to the Crown, excepting the small tribute of furs exacted from the inhabitants. The Russians, indeed, occasionally hunted in that peninsula foxes, wolves, ermines, sables, and other animals, whose valuable skins form an extensive article of commerce among the eastern nations. But the far trade carried on from thence was inconsiderable, until the Russians discovered the islands situated between Asia and America, in a series of voyages.