PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY (Far East), July 1 (RIA Novosti) - A new constituent entity, the Kamchatka Territory, officially appeared in Russia Sunday after the merger of two Far Eastern regions.

At a referendum held October 23, 2005, most residents of the Kamchatka Region and the Koryak Autonomous Area voted for the two regions' merger.

The merger is expected to boost economic growth in the region and help develop the Koryak Autonomous Area, one of the least populated and poorest regions in Russia located nine time zones east of Moscow.