The Kuril Islands are one of the most inaccessible, interesting and exotic places in Russia. A chain of volcanoes, the tops of which rise above the ocean, and the foot is at a depth of several kilometers, separates the Sea of Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands in total, but only 4 of them are inhabited. The islands form two arcs - the Big and Small Kuril ridge.
Kuril Islands: historical background and climate
Before the arrival of the Russians, the Kurils were inhabited by the Ainu, who gave names to many islands, volcanoes, rivers that have survived to this day.
The Kuriles became known to Russia in the 17th century as a result of several expeditions from Kamchatka. The settlement of the islands was very slow. Stormy sea, lack of convenient bays, constant fogs and earthquakes - all this greatly hampered the development of the islands.
And today the Kurils are practically not inhabited when compared with other Russian territories. Only on Paramushir, Iturup, Kunashir and Shikotan people live permanently. On the other islands, scientific expeditions of volcanologists and biologists work seasonally, border posts are located or seaweed is fished.
The climate of the islands is determined by the influence of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean. There are neither severe frosts in winter nor heat in summer. In summer, the islands are almost always shrouded in thick fog, because water takes longer to warm up than air. Cyclones and typhoons with heavy rains are very common. Almost every island has a valley, well protected from the sea by mountains or forest, where it is noticeably warmer.
Iturup Island
Iturup is the largest island in the Kuril Islands. It stretches over 200 kilometers in length and ranges from 7 to 27 kilometers in width. Like all Kuriles, Iturup is of volcanic origin. There are 20 volcanoes, of which 9 are active. Volcanic and mountain ranges occupy a significant part of the island. There are many waterfalls, rivers, lakes, mineral springs on Iturup. One of the most famous is the magnificent Ilya Muromets waterfall, over 140 meters high.
The nature of the island is very interesting. Trees of various climatic zones grow in the forests: fir and spruce, larch and oak, maple and Kuril bamboo. There are also many unique endemic plants, including: island wormwood and Kuril edelweiss, mountain peony and pointed yew. There are many brown bears on the island.
The capital of the island - the city of Kurilsk - is located on the Okhotsk side, on the shores of the Kuril Bay. Communication with Sakhalin is carried out by airplanes and motor ships. But the weather on Iturup is so unpredictable and changeable that flights are often delayed for a very long time. It is planned to make Iturup airport international in order to receive flights not only from Sakhalin, but also from Magadan, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Japan and China.
Kunashir Island
The name in the Ainu language means "Black Island". Kunashir is an island adjacent to Iturup, it is almost two times smaller. There are four active volcanoes here, the highest and most famous of which - Tyatya - rises above the island.
The three mountain ranges of the island are connected by three crosspieces that used to be straits. The island is bordered by picturesque sea terraces.
There are many rivers and lakes in Kunashir, hot springs located on the slopes of volcanoes. In coniferous forests you can see Sakhalin fir, Ayan spruce and Glen spruce. In deciduous forests grow grapes, Chinese lemongrass, Kuril bamboo, Japanese maple. The oldest tree in the entire Far East also grows on Kunashir. This is the millennial yew Sage. The fauna of the island is represented by brown bear, sable, European mink, weasel, chipmunk. There are a lot of birds here.
The central village of Kunashira - Yuzhno-Kurilsk - is located on the coast of the South Kuril Strait. There are other villages on the island with military units and border detachments. There is an airport.
Shikotan Island
Shikotan is the largest island of the Lesser Kuril ridge and the only one with a permanent population. There are no active volcanoes on the island, but there are several extinct ones. Mountains and volcanoes are not high (over 300 meters), but this height allows you to escape from tsunamis that occur in this earthquake-prone area. A tsunami station operates on Shikotan, warning residents in advance of an impending threat. There are only two villages on the island - Malokurilsk and Krabozavodskoe. Malokurilsk is located on the shore of a deep bay, perfectly protected from waves and winds. Here is the port of the island, as well as a fish factory, which worked even in the most difficult years of perestroika, and today it produces canned fish, which are considered one of the best in the country.
The nature of Shikotan is noticeably poorer than on Kunashir. The mountains and hills of the island are covered with grass and forests, where bamboo, wild grapes, spruce, birch and larch grow. One of the most beautiful places is Cape End of the World. Here you can see the Pacific Ocean in all its might.
A trip to the Kuril Islands is a trip to the end of the world, to the land of volcanoes, nature untouched by civilization and a restless ocean.
