The city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (pop. 200,000) is the industrial, scientific and cultural center of Kamchatka, Russia. Founded by the explorer Vitus Bering, who reached Avacha Bay[?] in 1740 and laid the foundation stone for the port of Petropavlovsk, named after his two ships, the St. Peter and the St. Paul, built in Okhotsk for his second expedition.