Sakhalin Island is all about him. Sakhalin on the map of Russia, Sakhalin region. Where is the island, climate. When is the best time to go to Sakhalin

Russia Region Sakhalin Region Population 520 K people

Sakhalin island

Sakhalin- an island off the east coast of Asia. Part of the Sakhalin Region, largest island as part of the Russian Federation. It is washed by the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Sea of ​​Japan. It is separated from mainland Asia by the Tatar Strait (in the narrowest part, the Nevelskoy Strait, is 7.3 km wide and freezes in winter); from the Japanese island of Hokkaido - by the La Perouse Strait.

The island got its name from the Manchu name of the Amur River - "Sakhalyan-ulla", which means "Black River" - this name, printed on the map, was mistakenly attributed to Sakhalin, and in further editions of maps it was printed as the name of the island. The Japanese call Sakhalin Karafuto, this name goes back to the Ainu "kamui- kara-puto-ya-mosir ", which means" the land of the god of the mouth ".

In 1805, a Russian ship under the command of I.F. Kruzenshtern explored most of the Sakhalin coast and concluded that Sakhalin was a peninsula. In 1808 Japanese expeditions led by Matsuda Denzuro and Mamiya Rinzo proved that Sakhalin is an island. Most European cartographers were skeptical about the Japanese data. For a long time, on different maps, Sakhalin was designated either an island or a peninsula. Only in 1849 did the expedition under the command of GI Nevelskoy put an end to this issue, passing on the Baikal military transport ship between Sakhalin and the mainland. This strait was later named after Nevelskoy.

Geography

The island stretches meridionally from Cape Crillon in the south to Cape Elizabeth in the north. The length is 948 km, the width is from 26 km (Poyasok Isthmus) to 160 km (at the latitude of the village of Lesogorskoye), the area is 76.4 thousand km².

Sakhalin Island Map 1885

Relief

The relief of the island is made up of medium-high mountains, low mountains and low-lying plains. The southern and central parts of the island are characterized by mountainous terrain and consist of two meridionally oriented mountain systems - West Sakhalin (up to 1327 m in height - Mount Onor) and East Sakhalin mountains (up to 1609 m in height - in Lopatin), separated by the longitudinal Tym-Poronayskaya lowland. The north of the island (with the exception of the Schmidt Peninsula) is a gentle, hilly plain.

The shores of the island are weakly indented; large bays - Aniva and Terpeniya (wide open to the south) are located in the southern and middle parts of the island, respectively. The coastline has two large bays and four peninsulas.

The following 11 regions are distinguished in the relief of Sakhalin:

1. The Schmidt Peninsula (about 1.4 thousand km ²) is a mountainous peninsula in the extreme north of the island with steep, sometimes steep shores and two meridional ridges - Western and Eastern; the highest point is Tri Brata (623 m); connected with the North Sakhalin plain by the Okha isthmus, the width of which at its narrowest point is just over 6 km;
2. The North Sakhalin Plain (about 28 thousand km ²) is a gently hilly area south of the Schmidt Peninsula with a widely ramified river network, weakly expressed watersheds and separate low mountain ranges, stretching from the Baikal Bay in the north to the confluence of the Nysh and Tymisha rivers in the south point - Daakhuria town (601 m); The northeastern coast of the island stands out as a sub-area, which is characterized by large lagoons (the largest are Piltun, Chayvo, Nyisky, Nabilsky, Lunsky bays), separated from the sea by narrow strips of alluvial spits, dunes, low sea terraces - in this sub-area and the main Sakhalin oil and gas fields are located on the adjacent shelf of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk;
3. The West Sakhalin Mountains stretch almost 630 km from the latitude with. Hoe (51º19 "N) in the north to the Krillon Peninsula in the extreme south of the island; the average width of the mountains is 40-50 km, the largest (at the latitude of Cape Lamanon) is about 70 km; the axial part is formed by Kamyshovy (north of the Poyasok Isthmus) and South Kamyshovy Ridges;
4. The Tym-Poronayskaya lowland is located in the middle of the island and is a hilly-ridged lowland, stretching for about 250 km in the meridional direction - from the Terpeniya Bay in the south to the confluence of the Tym and Nysh rivers in the north; the maximum width (up to 90 km) reaches at the mouth of the Poronai River, the minimum (6-8 km) - in the valley of the Tym River; in the north it passes into the Nabil lowland; covered with a thick cover of Cenozoic sediments, composed of sedimentary deposits of the Quaternary period. sandstones, pebbles; the heavily swampy southern part of the lowland is called the Poronayskaya "tundra";
5. The Susunai Lowland is located in the southern part of the island and stretches for about 100 km from Aniva Bay in the south to the Naiba River in the north; from the west, the lowland is bounded by the Western Sakhalin Mountains, from the east - by the Susunai Range and the Korsakov Plateau; in the southern part the width of the lowland reaches 20 km, in the center - 6 km, in the north - 10 km; absolute heights in the north and south do not exceed 20 m above sea level, in the central part, at the watershed of the basins of the rivers Susuya and Bolshaya Takoy, they reach 60 m; refers to the type of internal lowlands and is a tectonic depression filled with a large layer of Quaternary deposits; within the limits of the Susunaiskaya lowland are the cities of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Aniva, Dolinsk and about half of the island's population lives;
6. The East Sakhalin Mountains are represented in the north by the Lopatinsky mountain cluster (the highest point is the city of Lopatina, 1609 m) with ridges radially extending from it; two spurs in the opposite direction represent the Nabil ridge; in the south, the Nabilsky ridge passes into the Central ridge, in the north, sharply declining, into the North Sakhalin plain;
7. the lowland of the Terpeniya Peninsula - the smallest of the regions, occupies a large part of the Terpeniya Peninsula to the east of the Terpeniya Bay;
8. The Susunai Range stretches from north to south for 70 km and has a width of 18-120 km; the highest points are Mount Pushkinskaya (1047 m) and Chekhov Peak (1045 m); it is composed of Paleozoic deposits, at the foot of the western macroslope of the ridge is the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
9. The Korsakov plateau is bounded in the west by the Susunai lowland, in the north by the Susunaysky ridge, in the east by the Muravyov lowland, in the south by the Aniva Bay, has a slightly wavy surface formed by a system of flat-topped ridge ridges elongated in the northeastern direction; the town of Korsakov is located on the southern tip of the plateau on the shore of Aniva Bay;
10. Muravyov lowland is located between Aniva bays in the south and Mordvinov bays in the north, has a ridged relief with flat tops of ridges; there are many lakes within the lowland, incl. the so-called "Warm Lakes", where the people of South Sakhalin like to go on vacation;
11. Tonino-Anivsky ridge stretches from north to south, from Cape Svobodny to Cape Aniva, for almost 90 km, the highest point is Mount Kruzenshtern (670 m); composed of Cretaceous and Jurassic deposits.

View of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk from the high coast near the lighthouse in the Tyoplye Lakes region

Climate

Sakhalin's climate is cool, moderately monsoon (the average January temperature is from -6 ° C in the south to -24 ° C in the north, in August - from + 19 ° C to + 10 ° C, respectively), marine with long snowy winters and short cool summers.

The following factors influence the climate:

1. The geographical location is between 46º and 54º N. determines the arrival of solar radiation from 410 kJ / year in the north to 450 kJ / year in the south.
2. The position between the Eurasian continent and the Pacific Ocean determines the monsoon nature of the climate. It is associated with a humid and cool, rather rainy Sakhalin summer.
3. The mountainous terrain affects the direction and speed of the wind. A decrease in wind speed in intermontane basins (in particular, in the relatively large Tym-Poronayskaya and Susunayskaya lowlands) contributes to cooling the air in winter and warming up in summer, it is here that the greatest temperature contrasts are observed; at the same time, the mountains protect the named lowlands, as well as the western coast from the effects of the cold air of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.
4. In summer, the contrast between the western and eastern coasts of the island is enhanced by the correspondingly warm Tsushima Current of the Sea of ​​Japan and the cold East Sakhalin Current of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.
5. The cold Sea of ​​Okhotsk affects the island's climate as a giant thermal accumulator, determining a long cold spring and a relatively warm autumn: snow in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk sometimes lasts until mid-May, and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk's flower beds can bloom until early November. If we compare Sakhalin with similar (in terms of climatic indicators) territories of European Russia, then the seasons on the island replace each other with a delay of about three weeks.

Air temperature and precipitation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in the XXI century (temperature: II.2001-IV.2009; precipitation: III.2005-IV.2009):

Parameters / Months	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	Vii	VIII	IX	X	XI	XII	Year
Maximum air temperature, ºС	1,7	4,1	9,0	22,9	25,0	28,2	29,6	32,0	26,0	22,8	15,3	5,0	32,0
Average air temperature, ºС	−11,6	−11,7	−4,6	1,8	7,4	12,3	15,5	17,3	13,4	6,6	−0,8	−9,0	3,2
Minimum air temperature, ºС	−29,5	−30,5	−25,0	−14,5	−4,7	1,2	3,0	4,2	−2,1	−8,0	−16,5	−26,0	−30,5
Amount of precipitation, mm	49	66	62	54	71	38	37	104	88	96	77	79	792

The maximum temperature on Sakhalin (+ 39 ° C) was noted in July 1977 in the village. Pogranichnoe on the east coast (Nogliki district). The minimum temperature on Sakhalin (-50 ° C) was recorded in January 1980 in the village. Ado-Tymovo (Tymovsky district). The registered temperature minimum in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is -36 ° C (January 1961), the maximum is + 34.7 ° C (August 1999).

The highest average annual precipitation (990 mm) falls in the city of Aniva, the lowest (476 mm) - at the Kuegda meteorological station (Okha region). The average annual precipitation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (according to long-term data) is 753 mm.

The earliest stable snow cover appears on Cape Elizaveta (Okhinsky District) and in the village of Ado-Tymovo (Tymovsky District) - on average on October 31, the latest - in Korsakov (on average on December 1). The average dates for the melting of the snow cover are from April 22 (Kholmsk) to May 28 (Cape Elizabeth). In Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, stable snow cover appears on average on November 22 and disappears on April 29.

The most powerful typhoon in the last 100 years ("Phyllis") hit the island in August 1981. The maximum precipitation then fell on August 5-6, and only 322 mm of precipitation fell on the south of Sakhalin from August 4 to 7 in the south of Sakhalin (about three monthly norms) ...

Inland waters

The largest rivers of Sakhalin:

River	Administrative district (s)	Where does	Length, km	Pool area, km²	Average annual runoff, km³
Burrow	Tymovskiy, Smirnykhovskiy, Poronayskiy	Gulf of Patience, Sea of ​​Okhotsk	350	7990	2,49
The darkness	Tymovsky, Nogliki	Nyisky Bay of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk	330	7850	1,68
Naiba	Dolinsky	Gulf of Patience, Sea of ​​Okhotsk	119	1660	0,65
Lutoga	Kholmsky, Anivsky	Aniva Bay, Sea of ​​Okhotsk	130	1530	1,00
Shaft	Nogliki	Chayvo Bay, Sea of ​​Okhotsk	112	1440	0,73
Ain's	Tomarinsky	lake Ainskoe	79	1330	...
Nysh	Nogliki	Tym river (left tributary)	116	1260	...
Uglegorka (Esutu)	Uglegorsky	Sea of ​​Japan (Tatar Strait)	102	1250	0,57
Langeri (Langres)	Okhinsky	Amur estuary of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk	130	1190	...
Big	Okhinsky	Sakhalin Gulf of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk	97	1160	...
Rukutama (Vitnitsa)	Poronaisky	lake Nevskoe	120	1100	...
Reindeer	Poronaisky	Gulf of Patience, Sea of ​​Okhotsk	85	1080	...
Lesogorka (Taimyr)	Uglegorsky	Sea of ​​Japan (Tatar Strait)	72	1020	0,62
Nabil	Nogliki	Nabilsky Bay of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk	101	1010	...
Malaya Tym	Tymovsky	Tym river (left tributary)	66	917	...
Leonidovka	Poronaisky	Poronai river (right tributary)	95	850	0,39
Susuya	Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Anivsky	Aniva Bay, Sea of ​​Okhotsk	83	823	0,08

There are 16120 lakes on Sakhalin with a total area of ​​about 1000 km². The areas of their greatest concentration are the north and southeast of the island. The two most large lakes Sakhalin - Nevskoye with a mirror area of ​​178 km² (Poronaysky district, near the mouth of the Poronai river) and Tunaycha (174 km²) (Korsakovsky district, in the north of the Muravyov lowland); both lakes belong to the lagoon type.

Natural resources

Sakhalin is characterized by a very high potential of natural resources. In addition to biological resources, the reserves of which Sakhalin is one of the first in Russia, the island and its shelf have very large hydrocarbon reserves. In terms of the volume of explored reserves of gas condensate, the Sakhalin Region ranks 4th in Russia, gas - 7th, coal - 12th and oil - 13th, while within the region, the reserves of these minerals are almost entirely concentrated on Sakhalin and its shelf. Other natural resources of the island are timber, gold, platinum.

Flora and fauna

Both the flora and fauna of the island are depleted both in comparison with the adjacent areas of the mainland, and in comparison with the located south of the island Hokkaido.

Flora

As of the beginning of 2004, the flora of the island includes 1521 species of vascular plants belonging to 575 genera from 132 families, with 7 families and 101 genera being represented only by alien species. The total number of alien species on the island is 288, or 18.9% of the total flora. According to the main taxonomic groups, vascular plants of the Sakhalin flora are distributed as follows (excluding invasive ones): vascular spore plants - 79 species (including lycopods - 14, horsetails - 8, ferns - 57), gymnosperms - 9 species, angiosperms - 1146 species ( including monocots - 383, dicots - 763). The leading families of vascular plants in the flora of Sakhalin are sedges ( Cyperaceae) (121 species excluding alien species - 122 species including alien species), Compositae ( Asteraceae) (120 - 175), cereals ( Poaceae) (108 - 152), rosaceous ( Rosaceae) (58 - 68), buttercup ( Ranunculaceae) (54 - 57), heather ( Ericaceae) (39 - 39), clove ( Caryophyllaceae) (38 - 54), buckwheat ( Polygonaceae) (37 - 57), orchid ( Orchidaceae) (35 - 35), cruciferous ( Brassicaceae) (33 - 53).

Fauna

Pink salmon goes to spawn in an unnamed river flowing into Mordvinov Bay

"Red Book"

The island's fauna, flora and mycobiota include many rare protected species of animals, plants and fungi. 12 species of mammals registered on Sakhalin, 97 species of birds (including 50 nesting ones), seven species of fish, 20 species of invertebrates, 113 species of vascular plants, 13 species of bryophytes, seven species of algae, 14 species of fungi and 20 species of lichens (t i.e. 136 species of animals, 133 species of plants and 34 species of mushrooms - 303 species in total) have the status of protected, i.e. are included in the "Red Book of the Sakhalin Region", while about a third of them are simultaneously included in the "Red Book of the Russian Federation".

Of the "federal Red Book" flowering plants, the flora of Sakhalin includes heart-shaped aralia ( Aralia cordata), calypso bulbous ( Calypso bulbosa), Glen's cardiocrinum ( Cardiocrinum glehnii), Japanese sedge ( Carex japonica) and lead gray ( C. livida), lady's shoes are real ( Cypripedium calceolus) and large-flowered ( C. macranthum), two-leaved Gray ( Diphylleia grayi), capless cap ( Epipogium aphyllum), Japanese kandyk ( Erythronium japonicum), a tall paunch ( Gastrodia elata), xiphoid iris ( Iris ensata), ailantholus nut ( Juglans ailanthifolia), seven-bladed calopanax ( Kalopanax septemlobum), tiger lily ( Lilium lancifolium), Tolmachev's honeysuckle ( Lonicera tolmatchevii), long-legged winged seed ( Macropodium pterospermum), whole-leaved miyakia ( Miyakea integrifolia) (miyakia is the only endemic genus of vascular plants in Sakhalin), nest flower nodule ( Neottianthe cucullata), peonies obovate ( Paeonia obovata) and mountain ( P. oreogeton), bluegrass rough ( Poa radula) and Viburnum Wright ( Viburnum wrightii), i.e. 23 kinds. In addition, there are eight more "federal Red Book" plants on the island: two types of gymnosperms - Sargent's juniper ( Juniperus sargentii) and pointed yew ( Taxus cuspidata), three species of ferns - Asian half-hair ( Isoёtes asiatica), Mikel's leperumor ( Leptorumohra miqueliana) and Wright's mecodium ( Mecodium wrightii), two species and one species of mosses - Japanese brioxify ( Bryoxiphium norvegicum var. japonicum), northern necker ( Neckera borealis), and the dumbest plagiotetium ( Plagiothecium obtusissimum).

Population

According to the results of the 2002 census, the population of the island was 527.1 thousand people, incl. 253.5 thousand men and 273.6 thousand women; about 85% of the population are Russians, the rest are Ukrainians, Koreans, Belarusians, Tatars, Chuvashs, Mordovians, several thousand people each, representatives of the indigenous peoples of the North - Nivkhs and Oroks. 2002 to 2008 Sakhalin's population continued to decline slowly (by about 1% per year): mortality still prevails over births, and the attraction of labor from the mainland and from neighboring countries to Russia does not compensate for the departure of Sakhalin residents to the mainland. At the beginning of 2008, about 500 thousand people lived on the island.

The largest city on the island is the regional center Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (173.2 thousand people; 01.01.2007), other relatively large cities - Korsakov (35.1 thousand people), Kholmsk (32.3 thousand people), Okha (26.7 thousand people), Nevelsk (17.0 thousand people), Poronaysk (16.9 thousand people).

According to the districts of the island, the population is distributed as follows (results of the 2002 census, people):

District	Whole population	%% of the total	Urban population	Rural population
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and subordinate settlements	182142	34,6	177272	4870
Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky	17509	3,3	14764	2746
Anivsky	15275	2,9	8098	7177
Dolinsky	28268	5,4	23532	4736
Korsakovsky	45347	8,6	39311	6036
Makarovsky	9802	1,9	7282	2520
Nevelsky	26873	5,1	25954	921
Nogliki	13594	2,6	11653	1941
Okhinsky	33533	6,4	30977	2556
Poronaisky	28859	5,5	27531	1508
Smirnykhovsky	15044	2,9	7551	7493
Tomarinsky	11669	2,2	9845	1824
Tymovsky	19109	3,6	8542	10567
Uglegorsky	30208	5,7	26406	3802
Kholmsky	49848	9,5	44874	4974
Sakhalin as a whole	527080	100	463410	63670

History

Archaeological finds indicate that people appeared on Sakhalin in the Paleolithic, about 20-25 thousand years ago, when as a result of glaciation the level of the World Ocean dropped and land "bridges" were restored between Sakhalin and the mainland, as well as Sakhalin and Hokkaido. (At the same time, on another land "bridge" between Asia and America, located on the site of the modern Bering Strait, Homo sapiens moved to the American continent). In the Neolithic (2-6 thousand years ago) Sakhalin was inhabited by the ancestors of modern Paleo-Asian peoples - the Nivkhs (in the north of the island) and the Ainu (in the south).

The same ethnic groups constituted the main population of the island in the Middle Ages, with the Nivkhs migrating between Sakhalin and the lower Amur, and the Ainu between Sakhalin and Hokkaido. Their material culture was in many ways similar, and their livelihoods were provided by fishing, hunting and gathering. At the end of the Middle Ages (in the 16th-17th centuries), Tungus-speaking peoples appeared on Sakhalin - the Evenks (nomadic reindeer herders) and the Oroks (Uilta), who, under the influence of the Evenks, also began to engage in reindeer husbandry.

According to the Simoda Treaty (1855) between Russia and Japan, Sakhalin was recognized as their joint indivisible possession. According to the St. Petersburg Treaty of 1875, Russia received the Sakhalin Island as property, in return transferring all the northern Kuril Islands to Japan. After the defeat of the Russian Empire in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 and the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty, Japan received South Sakhalin (part of Sakhalin Island south of the 50th parallel). As a result of the victory over Japan during the Second World War, the entire territory of Sakhalin Island and all the Kuril Islands were included in the Soviet Union (RSFSR). On the territory or part of the territory of about. Sakhalin in current time there are no claims either from Japan or any other country.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk was founded by the Russians in 1882 under the name Vladimirovka. After the victory of the USSR and its allies in World War II, together with the entire island, it passed to the USSR.

I posted a note about Sakhalin and illustrated it with such wonderful photographs that I cannot resist reposting it:

Sakhalin is the largest island in Russia. It is located off the eastern coast of Asia, and is washed by the waters of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Sea of ​​Japan. Sakhalin is separated from the mainland by the Tatar Strait, which connects the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Sea of ​​Japan. And from Japanese island Hokkaido - La Perouse Strait. Sakhalin stretches for 948 km from north to south, with an average width of about 100 km.

Nivkhi. Photo by IK Stardust

The indigenous inhabitants of Sakhalin - the Nivkhs (in the north of the island) and the Ainu (in the south) - appeared on the island during the Middle Ages. At the same time, the Nivkhs migrated between Sakhalin and the lower Amur, and the Ainu - between Sakhalin and Hokkaido. In the 16th century, Tungus-speaking peoples - the Evenks and Oroks - came to Sakhalin from the mainland and began to engage in reindeer herding.

Sakhalin Ainu

Many, perhaps, will be surprised to learn that several geographical names Sakhalin Oblast are of French origin. For this we must thank the great navigator Jean-Francois La Perouse, who during round the world in 1787 he mapped the strait between Sakhalin and Hokkaido. Now this body of water 101 kilometers long bears the name of its discoverer. They sang about him in a sincere Soviet song: "And I am throwing stones from the steep bank of the wide La Perouse Strait."

Strait of La Perouse

The presence of the French in this region far from the banks of the Seine is reminiscent of, for example, the Crillon Peninsula, named after the bravest military leader of the times of Henry IV, Louis Balbes Crillon. Fans of Alexandre Dumas remember this colorful character from the novels The Countess de Monsoreau and Forty-Five. “Why am I not a king,” he whispers to himself on the last page of The Countess, ashamed of his monarch's indifference to the villainous murder of the Comte de Bussy.

Dinosaurs of Cape Crillon. Photo by Olga Kulikova

By the way, the earthen ramparts of the medieval fortress of Siranusi are located on the Krillon Peninsula. Who it was erected is not known for certain - it could have been either an outpost of the Mongol empire, or the Tungus Jurchen tribes, who created the Jin empire on the territory of Primorye and northern China. One thing is clear: the fortification was built according to all the rules of the fortification of that time.

Shafts of the Siranusi fortress and the lighthouse at Cape Krillon

The island of Moneron in the Tatar Strait was also named La Perouse, in honor of his associate, engineer Paul Moneron. The first marine natural park in Russia is located on this piece of land.

Tourist complex on the island of Moneron

Moneron is famous for its unique waterfalls, columnar rocks and wildlife, and the island has every chance of becoming a Mecca for underwater photographers in the country in the near future.

Sea lions on the island of Moneron. Photo by Vyacheslav Kozlov

On Moneron. Photo by Vyacheslav Kozlov

After La Perouse, Russian expeditions began to explore the region. In 1805, a ship under the command of Ivan Kruzenshtern explored most of the Sakhalin coast. By the way, for a long time on different maps Sakhalin was designated either an island or a peninsula. And only in 1849 the expedition under the command of Grigory Nevelskoy put an end to this issue, passing on the military transport ship "Baikal" between Sakhalin and the mainland.

Lighthouse at Cape Aniva. Anvar Photos

In the 19th century, the Sakhalin land for more than thirty-five years was a refuge for exiles - an official Russian hard labor. Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, who visited the island in 1890, called it "hell on earth". The most inveterate criminals of the empire served their sentences here, for example, the thief Sonya Zolotaya Ruchka, who tried to escape from here three times and became the only woman who was ordered to be shackled by the prison administration.

The famous thief Sonya the Golden Hand in the Sakhalin penal servitude

After the seizure of Sakhalin by the Japanese in 1905 and the signing by the tsarist government, under pressure from the United States, the "Portsmouth Treaty" was abolished. At the same time, the southern part of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands were proclaimed the governorship of Karafuto and ceded to Japan. 15 years later, the Japanese occupied the northern part of the island and left it thanks to the efforts of Soviet diplomacy only in 1925. Only after the end of the Second World War did Sakhalin become a part of our state again. Although to this day, Russia and Japan are arguing about whose foot first set foot on this island.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Monument at the place of occurrence of Vladimirovka

In 1882, the settlement of Vladimirovka was founded for the convicts who had served their term on Sakhalin. From 1905 to 1945, when South Sakhalin was the territory of Japan, Vladimirovka was the center of Karafuto prefecture and bore the name Toyohara.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Photo by Sir Fisher

In 1945, the territory was occupied by Soviet troops, and South Sakhalin became part of the USSR. A year later Toyohara was renamed Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and a year later it became the capital of the Sakhalin Region.

Museum of local lore. Photo Illusionist

Museum of local lore. Photo by Irina V.

Perhaps one of the most striking sights of the island is the Sakhalin Regional local history museum... It is located in the building of the former Japanese governorship of Karafuto, built in 1937, this is almost the only monument of Japanese architecture in Russia. The museum's collections cover the period from ancient history to the present day.

Eleven-inch cannon, model 1867. The cannon was made in 1875 in St. Petersburg, and during the Russian-Japanese war of 1904-1905. took part in the defense of Port Arthur

The Chekhov's Book Museum "Sakhalin Island" is another pride of Sakhalin residents. The building of the museum was built in 1954, has an attic and resembles with its architecture Chekhov's "house with a mezzanine". In this museum, they can tell a lot of interesting things about the writer's Sakhalin journey: for example, about the fact that Anton Pavlovich took a pistol on a voyage to the local shores in order ... to have time to shoot himself if the ship goes down. The classic was terribly afraid of drowning.

Near the station there is a museum of railway equipment, which contains samples of Japanese equipment that worked on Sakhalin, including the Japanese Wajima snow blower shown in the photograph and the head section of the Japanese passenger diesel train (Ki-Ha)

Resurrection Cathedral in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Photo Igor Smirnov

Alpine skiing is one of the most popular pastimes among Sakhalin residents. The most a nice place within the boundaries of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk there is a tourist center "Mountain Air". In the dark, it can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.

View of the Mountain Air route from Victory Square

Sakhalin apocalyptic

Devil's bridge. Photo father Fyodor

Abandoned tunnel and bridge on the old Japanese railway Kholmsk - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Going into the tunnel, the road deviates to the right and rises, then after exiting the tunnel it goes around the hill and then crosses itself along the bridge. above the entrance portal of the tunnel. In this way, a giant turn of the spiral is formed, which ensures the rise of the road to the ridge while maintaining an acceptable slope.

And here are the remains of the steamer Luga, which ran aground at Cape Crillon sixty years ago.

Danger Stone Island

Lighthouse on the stone Danger

The Stone of Danger is a rock located 14 km southeast of Cape Crillon - the southernmost point of Sakhalin Island - in the La Perouse Strait. The rock greatly impeded the movement of ships along the strait. To avoid a collision, sailors were exhibited on the ships, whose duty was to listen to the roar of sea lions located on the Danger Stone. In 1913, a concrete tower with a lighthouse was erected on the rock.

Flora and fauna

Sakhalin crab. Raido Photos

A fish day for Sakhalin residents is a common thing. Fish, fish roe, crustaceans, molluscs, algae - from all this variety, incredibly tasty dishes rich in protein are obtained.

A giant sandwich with red caviar was prepared for the City Day of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The dimensions of the culinary masterpiece are 3 by 5 m. It was made in the form of a heart, symbolizing love for the birthday man.

Sakhalin chanterelle. Photo by Andrey Shpatak

According to scientists, without prejudice to reproduction in Sakhalin waters, more than 500 thousand tons of fish, about 300 thousand tons of invertebrates, and about 200 thousand tons of algae can be caught annually. The fishing industry has been and remains the main one for the region.

This area is translated from Japanese as "the land of the god of the mouth", the Manchu language calls it "Sakhalyan-ulla". Initially, Sakhalin was identified on maps as a peninsula, but subsequent expeditions have provided a lot of evidence in favor of the opinion that Sakhalin is still an island.

The harsh lands of Sakhalin are located east of the Asian coast. The island is the largest in the Russian Federation and is a neighbor of the Kuril Islands. A traveler who has visited these places remains deeply impressed for a long time. Natural monuments are the main treasure of the island.

Description and location of the island

Cold waters of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk wash the territory of Sakhalin, warm waters are taken from the Japanese and The Pacific... Treason, La Perouse and Soviet are the only border with the state of Japan. The distance from Sakhalin to the mainland is completely occupied by water.

Sakhalin's area is 87 thousand square kilometers. This figure includes the islands Tyuleniy, Ush, Moneron, Kuril ridge with the Kuril archipelago.

From the extreme southern point of the island to the northern one, there are 950 km. The entire area of ​​Sakhalin looks like a scaly fish (from the altitude of the ISS flight), where the scales are many rivers and lakes scattered across the island.

Separates Sakhalin and the mainland. There are two headlands in the strait, the width between which is about seven kilometers. For the most part, the coast is flat with numerous river estuaries that flow into the seas.

History

The historical background of the island begins with the Early Paleolithic era, this is about three hundred thousand years ago.

Today, more than 10 thousand kilometers separate the Sakhalin area with the Russian capital. The plane flies through seven time zones before arriving at the airport of the largest city, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Russian travelers in the 17th century often became pioneers, discovering new lands of their vast country. In the 50s of the 19th century, an expedition led by Nevelskoy finally proved the Japanese theory that Sakhalin is an island formation. At the same time, the island was inhabited by peasants, and became a border point between Russia and Japan, therefore, military posts were placed throughout the territory. The next 30 years turned this place into a colony where exiles were sent.

The treaties between Russia and Japan made a great impact on the study of Sakhalin land. In ninety years, the Russian-Japanese border has changed four times. Due to armed intervention by the Japanese in 1920, the entire area of ​​Sakhalin was occupied. The troops were withdrawn only in 1925, and seven years later the island became part of the region. Of the Far East, as the Sakhalin region.

Wandering from one country to another, the Kurils after the Second World War finally returned to the Soviet Union. The modern border of the region was formed in 1947.

The capital of Sakhalin is the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, which was formed by settlers at the end of the 19th century.

Tourism on Sakhalin

The geography of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands is a treasure trove of the Far East. The development of island attractions is still ongoing. The development of tourism, according to the authorities, should bring the region's economy to a qualitatively new level of development. There are about 60 travel companies operating on the island, and most of the tourists are immigrants from neighboring Japan. They are attracted by the diversity of not only natural, but also historical monuments... The island's authorities also look after the Japanese heritage left over from the time of the occupation.

In recent years, ecotourism has been actively developing on Sakhalin. But given the fact that the Japanese are more focused on comfortable conditions of stay, then travel companies are limited to field trips, and hotels and hotels are increasingly improving the service and services provided. Almost all hotels have a menu with oriental cuisine (including Japanese).

A program of trips to Chekhov Peak is being implemented. Territories are being improved more and more, including construction tourist complex in the village of Goryachy Klyuchi and Aquamarine camp sites. A project is being prepared for the construction of complexes near thermal mineral springs.

Of the sights, one can single out: the incredible beauty of the Bird Lake; partially destroyed Devil's Bridge; the largest waterfall on Kunashir Island - Bird; active volcanoes of the Kuril Islands - Golovnina, Tyatya; lighthouse at Cape Aniva; the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk covered with white rocks; picturesque lake Tunaicha; the natural treasury of the Kuril Islands - the island of Iturup; northern hot springs of the island; education on the rocks about. Kunashir - Cape Column; the southern point of the island is Cape Crillon; most beautiful waterfall on Russian territory - Ilya Muromets.

Sakhalin population

There are about 500 thousand multinationals, the population consists of Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Koreans, Mordovians, Tatars, as well as indigenous people.

Includes several nationalities: Nivkhs, Tonchi, Evenks, Ainu, Nanai, Uilta. These are the inhabitants of the local lands who lived there before the establishment of modern borders. Indigenous peoples are unfortunately very small in number. However, they are still developing their National economy and lead a national life.

Flora

There is no diversity among the flora and fauna of Sakhalin. Compared to the Japanese Islands, the territory of the Sakhalin Region is rather poor in terms of the number of flora and fauna.

F. Schmidt began to study the flora of the island in the middle of the 19th century. On this moment on Sakhalin there are about 1500 species of plants with vessels for holding water, dissolved mineral salts and other organic elements (vascular).

About seventy percent of Sakhalin is forested, despite environmental problem deforestation and annual fires, the north of the island is still occupied by conifers. This area is considered a dark coniferous taiga. New trees grow very slowly due to lack of sunlight. In order for a young tree to receive a good dose of sun, it has to wait for one of the old representatives of the forest to fall and bring a gap into the dark taiga veil.

There are, of course, light-coniferous forests, but their representatives are mainly larch, which are not widespread on the island. Why is this happening? The special soil, under which the clay layers are located, is to blame for everything. They do not allow water to pass through and, accordingly, do not allow trees to develop and grow well. And a very small part of the forest is occupied by deciduous forests.

Sakhalin forests are rich in wild rosemary, which forms serious thickets and swamps. Blueberries and cranberries are common berries here, and cloudberries grow in the swamps. A large number of perennial grasses and shrubs are represented.

Fauna

Allows forty-four species of mammals to live on the island. Bears are common here reindeer, otters, wolverines, raccoon dogs and a large number of rodents, about 370 different species of birds, of which 10 are predators.

During the period of the island's development by man, a large amount of flora and fauna was destroyed, therefore, a rather long list of endangered animals and plants of Sakhalin was included in the Red Book.

Industry

The Sakhalin industry is developing at a fairly rapid pace, it includes oil and gas, coal, fishing and energy industries. Of course, oil and gas production remains an advantage for many years. Thanks to the developments of Sakhalin scientists, Russia entered the list of leading countries in the export of liquefied natural gas. Sakhalin supplies gas to Japan, Thailand, Korea, Mexico and China.

The development of shelf deposits made it possible to improve the condition of roads, residential premises, and so on in monetary terms. For the constant growth of the region's economy, work is underway to attract continuous investment in existing projects.

Sakhalin climate

The climatic conditions of the island are moderate monsoons, due to the direct proximity to the water. The winter is quite snowy and long here, and the summer is cold. For example, January weather has strong north winds and frosts. Quite often you can get into a blizzard. Snow avalanches are not uncommon here, sometimes the winter wind reaches the incredible speed of hurricane force. In winter, the temperature drops to -40 degrees, and even lower when adjusted for the wind.

Summer on Sakhalin is short - from mid-June to early September with temperatures from 10 to 19 degrees above zero. It is rainy enough, the Pacific Ocean brings high humidity.

A warm current flows in the southwest Sea of ​​Japan, and the eastern coast is washed by the Sea of ​​Okhotsk with a cold current. By the way, it is the Sea of ​​Okhotsk that dooms Sakhalin to cold spring weather. Snow usually does not melt until May. But there were also record highs of +35 degrees. In general, each season comes here with a three-week delay. Therefore, August is the warmest days, and February is the coldest.

The summer season brings floods to the island. In the 80s, Sakhalin suffered from a powerful typhoon. He left more than four thousand people homeless. And in 1970, a typhoon poured more than the monthly norm of precipitation in a few hours. A typhoon fifteen years ago brought mudflows and landslides. Usually such weather conditions come from the Pacific Ocean.

Geography and Geology

The geographic relief of Sakhalin Island is determined by mountains of medium and low altitude, as well as flat areas. West Sakhalin and East Sakhalin mountain systems located in the south and center of the island. The north is represented by a hilly plain. The coast is marked by four peninsular points and two large bays.

The relief of the island consists of eleven regions: the Schmidt Peninsula is a land with a steep rocky coast and mountainous terrain; the plain of northern Sakhalin - a territorial area with hills and many river networks, it is here that the main oil and gas fields are located; mountains of the western part of Sakhalin; lowland Tym-Poronayskaya - located in the center of the island, its main part is swampy; the Susunayskaya lowland - located in the south and most of all inhabited by people; the eponymous ridge - Susunaisky, which includes the famous peaks of Chekhov and Pushkin; mountains of eastern Sakhalin with highest point- Mount Lopatin; the peninsula of Patience with its lowland; the Korsakovskoe plateau; lowland Muravyevskaya, consisting of numerous lakes, popular among local residents; ridge Tonino-Anivsky, famous for the Kruzenshtern mountain and for its deposits of the Jurassic period.

Minerals

The first place among the natural resources of Sakhalin Island is occupied by biological, moreover, this niche brings the region to the first place in the Russian Federation. The island is rich in hydrocarbon reserves and coal deposits. In addition, a large amount of timber, gold, mercury, platinum, chromium, germanium and talc are mined on Sakhalin.

How to get to the mainland?

The distance from Sakhalin to the mainland of Russia can be covered in several ways: by plane (for example, from the nearest city of Khabarovsk), by ferry from Vanino, and for extreme lovers in winter you can overcome the water part on foot on frozen ice.

It is considered the narrowest point between the mainland and the island, its width is about seven kilometers.

However, the island has interesting story frozen construction railroad, begun under Stalin. Moreover, the trains had to pass through special tunnels through the already mentioned Cape Nevelskoy and Cape Lazarev. Convicts from the GULAG prisons were involved in the construction of railway tracks. Work proceeded at a rapid pace, but the death of the leader completely stopped the project. Many prisoners were granted amnesty.

Surprisingly, not a single bridge has been built over the years. Therefore, modern developments begin precisely with the intentions of constructing bridge crossings. Moreover, Russia intends to connect Sakhalin with Japan for more fruitful cooperation between the regions.

Sakhalin Island is a place extraordinary beauty, vibrant nature and peculiar climate. Snow lies until the end of April, but the warmth of spring appears already in February. Summer unfolds at the end of June and pleases the whole September. Soft colorful autumn spells, and winter drives you crazy with countless winds and huge levels of snow.

Sakhalin is washed by the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Sea of ​​Japan, it is separated from the mainland by the Tatar Strait, 17 large rivers run across the island, and there are more than 16 thousand lakes. The huge number of fungi, plants and animals found on the island are rare and protected. The relief of the island is made up of medium-high mountains, low mountains and low-lying plains. The mountains, according to the tradition of the Far East, are called hills, the beauty of which all year round unforgettable, especially in the many passes.

Sakhalin Island: photos

Sakhalin Island: where is it

It is washed by the waters of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Sea of ​​Japan. It is separated from the mainland by the Tatar Strait, the width of which at its narrowest point (the Nevelskoy Strait) is 7.3 km, in the south of the island. Hokkaido (Japan) is separated by the La Perouse Strait. Stretched meridionally from Cape Crillon in the south to Cape Elizabeth in the north. The length is 948 km, with an average width of about 100 km, on the isthmuses of Sakhalin it narrows: on Okhinskoye up to 6 km, on Poyask up to 27 km. The area is 76.4 thousand km2.

Sakhalin Island on the world map

Sakhalin Island: how to get there

There are two main ways to get to the island - air and water. As for the air: there are four passenger airports on Sakhalin: in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Shakhtersk, Zonal and Okha. Of these there are regular flights to different cities on the mainland, including Moscow, Khabarovsk, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Blagoveshchensk, Vladivostok, Sovetskaya Gavan, as well as to various cities in China, South Korea and Japan.

Two airlines fly from Moscow to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: Aeroflot from Sheremetyevo and Transaero from Domodedovo. The local airline operating flights to various cities in the Far East is Sakhalin Air Routes.

There are no flights from the village of Zonalnoe and the city of Shakhtersk to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, but from them you can fly to Sovetskaya Gavan and Khabarovsk. This can be done with the help of Amur Airlines.

You can get by water from Vanino ( Khabarovsk region) to Kholmsk (Sakhalin Oblast). These ferries are daily and all year round. They run without a clear schedule, and the price grows every year, significantly outstripping inflation, plus it jumps depending on the season (more expensive in summer, cheaper in winter).

Sakhalin Island: video

Flight over Sakhalin

Painting of Sakhalin - the sunny island on Earth

Located in the far east of Russia, the Sakhalin Region includes islands, which is clearly visible on the map. The region includes Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Island Ridge.

Sakhalin is located off the eastern coast of the Eurasian continent. Its area is 76.6 thousand km 2. The island is elongated in the north-south direction, about 950 km long.

From a geological point of view, Sakhalin is the northwestern part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which also includes the Kuriles and the Japanese Islands. The island formations included in the "ring of fire" are characterized by earthquakes, often destructive, as well as volcanic eruptions. There are volcanoes on Sakhalin - mud volcanoes that are not dangerous for people.

It is believed that the name of the island originated from the name of the Amur on an old map. The name "Sakhalyan-Ulla", belonging to the river and mistakenly attributed to the island, was fixed thanks to later maps, where the island was called Sakhalin.

For the inhabitants of Japan, there is another name - Karafuto Island. The island is surrounded by the Okhotsk and Japanese seas. Between the island and the mainland there are 2 straits - Tatarsky and Nevelskoy.

The Nevelskoy Strait is narrow, less than 7.5 km wide, and is covered with ice in winter. The Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Sea of ​​Japan is connected by the La Perouse Strait, which separates the territory of Russia - Cape Krillon in the south of Sakhalin, from the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The strait is deep, on average 20-40 m, and wide (even in the narrowest part of 43 km), which makes it convenient for navigation.

The relief of Sakhalin emphasizes its shape. Mountain ranges stretch along the coasts, with low-lying areas located between them. The northern part of the island is more low-lying, the southern part is predominantly mountainous with steep, rocky shores.

The coastline is indented, there are many small bays of a rounded, elongated and bizarre shape. Some of the bays are separated from sea ​​space coastal ledges or islands.

How to get to Sakhalin

Sakhalin on the map of Russia gives an idea of ​​the distance to it. The fastest way to get there is by plane. There are 2 options: fly to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk or Vladivostok.

Most convenient way getting to the island is a non-stop flight from Moscow to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk airport. The flight takes about 8.5 hours. Modern liners are equipped with individual audio and video systems, each passenger has access to information about the flight. Travelers are provided with hot meals served twice. The time difference with Moscow is 8 hours.

If you were unable to purchase a ticket for a direct flight, you can fly to international airport in Vladivostok, then by plane 2 hours to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Those wishing to see the country "from edge to edge" can be offered a train ride on the route Moscow - Vladivostok. There are 2 options: brand train"Russia" and luxury tourist class "Imperial Russia". The duration of the trip is at least 7 days. Then from Vladivostok in 2 hours by plane to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

A more difficult option to get to Sakhalin is by ferry. The ferry crossing connects the mainland port of Vanino and the island port of Kholmsk. A regular bus runs between Kholmsk and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. You can get to Vanino by personal transport, but the road is of poor quality.

You can get to Vanino by train from Khabarovsk - 1 day, from Vladivostok - 2 days. The journey by ferry takes about 12 hours. advance booking places for him. There is a gas station in Kholmsk, the A-392 highway will lead to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in an hour.

List of districts of the Sakhalin region with cities

Sakhalin on the map of Russia shows the ratio of its area and the total area of ​​the Kuril Islands. Sakhalin area is much larger than total area Smoked. The regional center is the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Sakhalin regions:

Kuril regions:

• Kuril;
• North Kuril;
• South Kuril.

The names of the district centers correspond to the names of the districts.

Climate features in different parts of the island

Sakhalin on the map climatic zones Russia is located in the monsoon climate of temperate latitudes. However, the climate in different areas different. This is due to its geographical position (meridional elongation and location between seas with different characteristics), proximity to the vast continent and relief.

The proximity to Eurasia explains the general monsoon nature of the island's climate - the direction of winds in winter is north and northwest, in summer time southern and southeastern. The elongation of the island explains the difference in the amount of heat received by its northern and southern regions - it is colder on the northern shores than in the south.

The cold East Sakhalin Current runs along the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk; the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan is influenced by the warm Tsushima Current. Mountain ranges change the movement of air masses and protect river valleys from the invasion of cold. A feature of the island is the seasonal temperature shift. Here February is the coldest month, August is the warmest month.

The most comfortable area for summer tourism is the Susunai Valley of southern Sakhalin, which opens with a wide part into the Salmon Bay, located in an intermountain basin.

The valley is moderately cold, quite wet winter with an average January temperature of -8 о С, humid, not very hot summers from +15 to + 20 о С. Summer precipitation prevails in August, in winter snow drifts reach 0.5 - 1.0 m.However, snow does not hold everywhere, therefore skiers are better off choosing other areas.

The Tymovskaya valley of central Sakhalin is the most freezing place, as it is located between mountain ranges that prevent the penetration of moist sea masses that soften the frosts. The average February temperature is -26 o C, the minimum is -54 o C. Summer is hot, sometimes the temperature rises to + 30-38 o C, but at times frosts are possible.

In addition to the special areas, there are the typical climatic characteristics of the entire island, as well as its north and south. Summers are humid and cool, fog and rain are common, but the northern regions are warmer less.

Winter is snowy, with snowstorms. Snow avalanches descend in the mountains, in some places the depth of the snow reaches 8 m. In the north, winter conditions are observed from the last days of October, in the south, winter comes later for a month and a half.

The specificity of Sakhalin is typhoons coming from the Pacific Ocean. In summer, strong winds reaching hurricane speeds and torrential rains are possible, with possible floods, landslides and mud flows, destruction in settlements... In winter - snowstorms for several days, snow drifts up to 2 m, wire breaks, disruption of transport.

Inland waters

Sakhalin on the map of Russia is a region with a dense river network. However, most of the rivers belong to small rivers, mainly mountain ones. There are only two rivers on the island with a length of more than 300 km, several more with a length of 120-130 km.

There are more than 16 thousand lakes on the island.

The largest are of the lagoon type. Small lakes are represented by oxbow lakes, thermokarst and dammed lakes in the highlands.

Lake Nevskoe on Sakhalin

Rivers	Lakes
Burrow	Nevskoe
The darkness	Tunaicha
Lutoga	Besse
Langeri	Ayinskoe
Rukutama

Of these, the first 4 rivers flow into various bays of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, the last one into Lake Nevskoye.

Features of the flora and fauna of Sakhalin

Due to the peculiarities of the Sakhalin climate, the flora of the island requires separate consideration for each climatic region.

For the northern part, where plains and many wetlands prevail, mosses and lichens are ubiquitous. On rare meadows, there are grasses and sedges. Taiga massifs consist mainly of larches and cedars. Firs and spruce trees appear to the south, dwarf cedar dominates the mountain slopes.

The flora of southern Sakhalin is the most interesting. Northern taiga and southern species coexist here. Spruces and larches are entwined with vines of wild grapes and lemongrass. Shrubs of hydrangea and rhododendrons among yews and yellow maples.

Dwarf cedar grows next to cork, cherry blossom and weigela. The hollows are surrounded by ferns. Impenetrable thickets of Kuril bamboo are frequent in the undergrowth. In the river valleys common willows and alders are common for the middle zone, oaks and ash trees come across. The fauna of Sakhalin is not rich.

These are mainly taiga representatives:

Wild reindeer are still preserved in the north. There are many birds on Sakhalin, some stop here for rest on the way, if they fly from afar. Indigenous species are common for the taiga and forests of Russia. On some secluded lakes, white swans hatch their chicks in summer. In the forests of southern Sakhalin, birds and butterflies are found, typical of the more southern region - the island of Hokkaido.

The world's largest fur seal rookery is registered on Tyuleniy Island.

Minerals

The mineral resources of the island are very diverse. The main one is oil and gas deposits. Thanks to this, a unique production facility for liquefying gas is located on Sakhalin, which, along with oil, is successfully exported.

High quality bituminous coal is actively mined and used locally. Deposits of gold and germanium are important. At present, a rich deposit of chromite ores has been discovered. Large-scale construction has been launched on Sakhalin, so the extraction of limestone for the production of cement is also a priority.

In addition, there are many small occurrences of non-ferrous metals, but they are not yet developed. The region is characterized by valuable mineralized and hot underground waters, since the island is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire.

sights

Sakhalin on the map of Russia is far from major cities and this is a good reason for excursion route... In Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk there are interesting places available for visiting, as they are located in the central part of the city. You can get there by city buses.

Sports and Tourism Complex "Mountain Air"

From a special platform on Mount Bolshevik, you can see the city and the hills surrounding it. You can walk or climb with cable car.
It operates all year round, its beginning on Victory Square. At night, the complex shines with illumination lights.

Bear Museum

The museum contains exhibits characterizing the life and culture of the 18th-21st centuries. Numerous toys in the shape of bears, as well as products from well-known Russian creative centers, attract attention.

Workshops of different directions, a garden with live butterflies, a planetarium work for visitors. The museum is located on the 6th floor of the City Mall. You can get there by bus from any area of ​​the city, including the airport and Train Station.

Memorial to the soldiers who died during the battles of 1945 on the territory of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. This is an extensive complex with military equipment, sculptures, and busts of Heroes of the USSR.
The dead are named on the wall of memory. The Eternal Flame burns in their honor. In 2018, the guns and tanks of the memorial, damaged by the bad weather, were restored. The complex is located on Glory Square in the city center.

Sakhalin Regional Museum of Local Lore

Located on Kommunistichesky Prospekt in the building of the former Japanese Museum. On the territory of the museum complex there is a park with a fountain, interesting exhibits are installed. Free admission. Internal expositions tell about the history and nature, culture of indigenous peoples, modern development of the region. The Department of Paleontology introduces the organisms that inhabited the region millions of years ago.

Sakhalin Zoo and Botanical Park

The zoo-botanical park occupies a vast territory on Detskaya street. As the name suggests, it is a botanical park with a zoo. Among the plants there are local wild plants, cultivated species, lianas, herbs, mushrooms.

The zoo contains mammals, birds, it is interesting to visit the exatarium. V contact zoo you can touch animals. In the zoo there is an opportunity to see the representatives listed in the "Red Book".

Chekhov Peak

The Susunaisky mountains are not very high, only 2 peaks rise above 1 thousand meters. These are the peaks of Pushkin and Chekhov. The height of Chekhov Peak is 1045 m, Pushkin Peak is slightly higher. Chekhov Peak is located near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The ascent is not the most difficult, but appropriate footwear is required. You can climb to the top along the path, where dangerous areas are marked, ropes are stretched, some stones are painted.

Plants and birds from the "Red Book" are found in some places. Although this is a favorite vacation spot for many of the townspeople, there are sections of untouched landscapes preserved here. During the Japanese occupation of the island, a small temple was built on the highest platform, the remains of which are still visible.

While climbing to the top, you can get acquainted with plants typical for Sakhalin: dwarf cedar and Kuril bamboo, rhododendrons and dwarf birches. A beautiful panorama opens from the top - hills, lakes, bays and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. It is easy to get from the city to the foot by car or on foot from the Yuri Gagarin park. You can buy an excursion for 10 hours - from 9 to 19 hours.

Cape Giant

The natural monument Cape Velikan is a huge outlier of dense rock, cut by the wind for many thousands of years. But he is not the only one here, the entire coast to Cape Ptichiy looks like a museum of bizarre stone figures. A forest area descends almost to the water itself. Tourists can see bird colonies, seal rookeries, summer run of pink salmon to spawn.

Fans of car trips should not rush to the shore in early spring, as part of the way passes along the coastal strip. A bulldozer makes the track more comfortable, which clears it at the start tourist season... If you wish, you can join the excursion, which is designed for 10 hours and starts in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Korsakov Sea Trade Port

The small town of Korsakov is located in Aniva Bay. The many berths, harbor cranes, and clean territory convey the development and importance of the harbor. Here tankers and dry cargo vessels, small passenger ships and container ships get up for loading.

Come to the berths and cruise ships... The port provides communication between the island and the Kuril Islands and Japan. To see the panorama of the city and the port, you can climb the observation deck... The road to Korsakov does not take much time: about 1 hour by regular bus or train, less than 1 hour by personal car.

The main lighthouse in Kholmsk

The small port city of Kholmsk is located on the southwestern coast of Sakhalin. There are 5 lighthouses in the city, some of them are Japanese, some are Soviet. The main lighthouse began operating in 1958.

It is a striped tower made of reinforced concrete, towering 67 m above sea level, although its height is 29 m. The lighthouse performs 2 tasks - it acts as a light and radio beacon. The light signal comes on every night regardless of the season.

A regular bus leaves from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Kholmsk every hour. By car, you can drive along the highway in 1.5-2 hours. There is a dirt road from the city to the lighthouse, but in winter it is not cleared.

Yacht club "Vodnik" in the city of Kholmsk

The yacht club on Sovetskaya Street has existed since 1969; it unites children and adult sailboat enthusiasts. Club members participate in competitions, go sailing. Guys can get professional training to work on yachts different types.

Quiet Bay

In Tikhaya Bay, only seagulls and waves running ashore make noise. From the wind, the bay is covered with rocks, cut by the wind. You can walk along the shore, look into the grottoes. Fishing, underwater world, beauty of coastal plants also attract amateurs. Fans of walks in the mountains can climb the Zhdanko ridge, look into the distance, at the sea, and take interesting photos.

Tikhaya Bay got its name from Ivan Kruzenshtern, a famous Russian sailor, but in winter strong winds and blizzards are raging here. Therefore, a winter visit to the bay can only appeal to professional climbers and athletes. You can get here by car or by train from the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk railway station... The train journey will take no more than 3 hours, the further journey is on foot.

Moneron Island

The island is located near the southwestern coast of Sakhalin and is a national natural marine park. This is a specially protected area with the possibility of educational tourism, so before the trip you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for visitors.

It is a small island, towering 440 m above the sea, an ancient volcano that has already collapsed. The main advantage of the protected area is the unique combination of landscapes in a small area. The relative inaccessibility for most tourists makes the tasks of the park staff easier.

Picturesque mountains, alpine meadows, gorges with steep walls, waterfalls, stone sculptures, small caves - all this can be seen on Moneron. A trail made of boards has been laid especially for tourists, there are houses for visitors to the island, routes to the main attractions have been developed.

Around the island in summer, the sea is warm, the water is clear, so underwater photography is especially successful here. Of particular interest is the unique sea lion rookery, to which a special route has been laid.

They get here only by boat from the Nevelskoy port, which is not always possible due to the weather. For reliability, you can buy a 2-day tour from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Then there will be no need to worry about transport and excursions.

Rocks "Three Brothers"

In order to get to the rocks, you need to take a train in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, get to the Tymovskoye station, change to a bus there and get to the first capital of Sakhalin, Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinsky.

Further - by taxi or on foot along the coast. Having decided to move around the island in a private car, you need to follow the highway. The final destination of the route is Cape Jonquier. It is here that the natural monument "Three Brothers" is located. These are three rocks, similar to each other, but different in size. As brothers - senior, middle, junior. The picturesque group is placed on the coat of arms and the flag of the city.

Fossil lovers can add samples of coal, ancient shells and plants to their collections.

On the shore, you can see a lighthouse that has existed since the end of the 19th century, now dilapidated. Another interesting object is a tunnel through the rock, built at the same time, for a horse-drawn railway.

It was never used, as it was flooded at high tide, but you can still walk on it. At the exit from the tunnel, one more group of three rocks is visible - "Three Sisters". They are smaller and less showy than the "brothers".

Thermal springs

There are many thermal springs, since the island is located in the zone of active volcanoes. However, only 2 groups of all are used.

Supporters of organized treatment can purchase a ticket to the Dagi-Oasis sanatorium complex in the small village of Goryachy Klyuchi. Those who are used to living in hotels will be satisfied hotel room in the village of Nogliki. You can get here by train from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, then by car along an asphalt road.

• Not far from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk there are Sinegorsk sources. Their composition is unique, as they contain arsenic. The sanatorium has a staff of highly qualified specialists to assist vacationers. The sanatorium is located in the village of Sanatornoye, which is easily accessible by bus or car from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Ski resorts

In winter, the capital of the island offers the following options for vacationers:

It is important for tourists to determine the travel dates in advance. Although Sakhalin does not look very impressive on the map of winter tourism in Russia, winter months from the first days of December to the last days of April are suitable for skiers. The sanatoriums operate regardless of the season. Sightseeing is best postponed for the summer.

Article design: Mila Friedan

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