Where is Sakhalin? Sakhalin Island: area, population, climate, natural resources, industry, flora and fauna. Description and location of the island

Sakhalin Island is a place extraordinary beauty, vibrant nature and unique climate. Snow remains until the end of April, but the warmth of spring appears already in February. Summer unfolds at the end of June and delights throughout September. Soft, colorful autumn bewitches, 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 Strait of Tatar, and 17 large rivers, and there are more than 16 thousand lakes. Great amount mushrooms, plants and animals found on the island are rare and protected. The island's topography is composed of medium-high mountains, low mountains and low-lying plains. According to the tradition of the Far East, mountains are called hills, the beauty of which is unforgettable all year round, especially in the numerous passes.

Sakhalin Island: photos

Sakhalin Island: where is it located?

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 (Nevelskoy Strait) is 7.3 km, in the south of the island. Hokkaido (Japan) is separated by the La Perouse Strait. It extends 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 Sakhalin narrows: on Okha to 6 km, on Poyask to 27 km. Area 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, Zonalny and Okha. Of these there are regular flights to various 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: from Sheremetyevo - Aeroflot, from Domodedovo - Transaero. Local airline flying to different cities Far East, - "Sakhalin air routes".

There are no flights from the village of Zonalnoye 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 there by water from Vanino ( Khabarovsk region) to Kholmsk ( Sakhalin region). These ferries operate daily and all year round. They operate without a clear schedule, and the price rises every year, significantly outpacing inflation, plus it varies depending on the season (more expensive in summer, cheaper in winter).

Sakhalin Island: video

Flight over Sakhalin

Picture of Sakhalin - a sunny island on Earth

Located in the far east of Russia, the Sakhalin region includes islands, which can be clearly seen on the map. The region includes Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Island chain.

Sakhalin is located off the eastern coast of the Eurasian continent. Its area is 76.6 thousand km 2. The island has an elongated shape 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 Kuril Islands and the Japanese Islands. 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, not dangerous for people.

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

For residents of Japan, there is another name - Karafuto Island. The island is surrounded by the Seas of Okhotsk and Japan. Between the island and the mainland there are 2 straits - Tatarsky and Nevelsky.

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 are 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 at its narrowest part 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 between them. The northern part of the island is low-lying, the southern part is predominantly mountainous with steep, rocky shores.

The coastline is indented, there are many small bays that are round, elongated and weird shape. Some bays are separated from the sea by 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 non-stop flight from Moscow to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk airport. The flight takes about 8.5 hours. Modern airliners are equipped with individual audio and video systems, and flight information is available to each passenger. Travelers are provided with hot meals, which are 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 trip on the route Moscow – Vladivostok. There are 2 options: branded 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. 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 ferry journey takes about 12 hours. If desired, personal transport can be loaded onto the ferry by pre-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 to the total area of the Kuril Islands. The area of Sakhalin significantly exceeds the total area of the Kuril Islands. The regional center is the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Sakhalin regions:

Kuril regions:

Kurilsky;
North Kuril;
Yuzhno-Kurilsky.

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

Climate features in different parts of the island

Sakhalin on the map climatic zones Russia is located in the monsoon climate region of temperate latitudes. However, the climate varies from region to region. This is due to his geographical location(meridional elongation and location between seas with different characteristics), proximity to a huge continent and relief.

The proximity to Eurasia explains the general monsoon climate of the island - the direction of the winds in winter period northern and northwestern, 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 - by northern shores colder than in the south.

Along the shore Sea of Okhotsk The cold East Sakhalin Current passes through, 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 special feature of the island is its 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 wide into Salmon Bay, located in the intermountain basin.

The valley has moderately cold, rather wet winters with an average January temperature of -8 o C, humid, not very hot summers from +15 to + 20 o C. Summer precipitation prevails in August, in winter snow drifts reach 0.5 - 1.0 m However, snow does not last everywhere, so skiers are better off choosing other areas.

The Tymovskaya Valley of central Sakhalin is the most frozen place, as it is located between mountain ranges that prevent the penetration of wet 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 frosts are possible at times.

In addition to special areas, there are 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 northern regions warm up less.

Winter is snowy, with snowstorms. Snow avalanches occur in the mountains; in some places the snow depth reaches 8 m. In the north, winter conditions have been observed since the end of October; in the south, winter comes a month and a half later.

The specificity of Sakhalin - typhoons coming from the open spaces Pacific Ocean. In summer there are strong winds reaching hurricane speeds and heavy rains, with possible floods, landslides and mud flows, and destruction in populated areas. In winter there are snowstorms for several days, snow drifts up to 2 m, broken wires, disruption of transport.

Inland waters

Sakhalin on the map of Russia is a region with a dense river network. However, most rivers are small rivers, mostly mountainous. There are only two rivers on the island more than 300 km long, and several more 120-130 km long.

There are more than 16 thousand lakes on the island.

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

Neva Lake on Sakhalin

Rivers	Lakes
Poronai	Nevskoe
Tym	Tunaicha
Lutoga	Besse
Langeri	Ayinskoye
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 predominate, mosses and lichens are ubiquitous. In rare meadows there are forbs and sedges. Taiga massifs consist mainly of larches and cedars. To the south spruces and firs appear, on mountain slopes dwarf cedar dominates.

The most interesting is the flora of southern Sakhalin. Northern taiga and southern species coexist here. Spruce and larches are entwined with vines of wild grapes and lemongrass. Hydrangea and rhododendron shrubs among yews and yellow maples.

The dwarf cedar grows next to the cork tree, mountain sakura and weigela. The hollies are surrounded by ferns. In the undergrowth there are often impenetrable thickets of Kuril bamboo. In the river valleys, willows and alders common to the middle zone are common, and oaks and ash trees are also found. The fauna of Sakhalin is not rich.

These are mainly taiga representatives:

There are still wild reindeer in the north. There are many birds on Sakhalin; some stop here to rest on their way if they fly from afar. Indigenous species are common to the taiga and forests of Russia. On some secluded lakes, white swans breed their chicks in the summer. In the forests of southern Sakhalin there are birds and butterflies characteristic of more southern region- Hokkaido Islands.

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

Minerals

The island's mineral resources are very diverse. The main one is oil and gas deposits. Thanks to this, Sakhalin hosts a unique gas liquefaction production facility, which, along with oil, is successfully exported.

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

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

Attractions

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

Sports and Tourist 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 help cable car.
It operates all year round and begins on Victory Square. At night, the complex glows with illuminated lights.

Bear Museum

The museum contains exhibits characterizing the life and culture of the 18th-21st centuries. Attention is drawn to numerous toys in the form of bears, as well as products from famous Russian creative centers.

Workshops of various types, a garden with live butterflies, and a planetarium are available to 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 memory of 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, 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 bad weather, were restored. The complex is located on Glory Square in the city center.

Sakhalin Regional Museum of Local Lore

Located on Kommunistichesky Avenue in the building of the former Japanese Museum. In the territory museum complex There is a park with a fountain and interesting exhibits. Free admission. Internal exhibitions tell about history and nature, the culture of indigenous peoples, modern development the edges. The paleontology department introduces organisms that inhabited the region millions of years ago.

Sakhalin Zoobotanical Park

The zoobotanical park occupies a vast area on Detskaya Street. True to its name, it is a botanical park with a zoo. Among the plants there are local wild plants, cultivated species, vines, herbs, and mushrooms.

The zoo contains mammals and birds, and it is interesting to visit the exatarium. You can touch the animals at the petting zoo. At the zoo you have the opportunity to see representatives listed in the Red Book.

Chekhov Peak

The Susunai mountains are not very high, only 2 peaks rise above 1 thousand m. 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 climb is not the most difficult, but appropriate shoes are required. You can climb to the top along a path marked dangerous areas, ropes have been stretched, some stones have been painted.

In some places there are plants and birds from the Red Book. Although for many city residents this is favorite place recreation, areas of untouched landscapes have been 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.

When climbing to the top, you can get acquainted with plants typical of Sakhalin: dwarf cedar and Kuril bamboo, rhododendrons and dwarf birches. From the top a beautiful panorama opens up - hills, lakes, bays and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. From the city to the foot it is easy to reach by car or on foot from the Yuri Gagarin Park. You can purchase a 10-hour excursion from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Cape Giant

The natural monument Cape Giant is a huge remnant of dense rock, sharpened by the wind over many thousands of years. But he is not the only one here; the entire coast up to Cape Ptichy looks like a museum of bizarre stone figures. The forest goes down almost to the water itself. Tourists can see bird colonies, seal rookeries, and the summer migration of pink salmon to spawn.

Fans of car trips should not rush to the shore in early spring, since part of the route passes along the coastal strip. The track is made more convenient by a bulldozer, which clears it at the start tourist season

. If you wish, you can join the excursion, which lasts 10 hours and starts in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Korsakov sea trade port small town Korsakov is located in Aniva Bay. Numerous berths, harbor cranes, and a clean area indicate the development and importance of the harbor. Tankers and dry cargo ships, small ones, dock here for loading passenger ships

and container ships. They approach the piers and cruise ships . The port provides connections between the island and the Kuril Islands and Japan. To see the panorama of the city and port, you can climb observation deck

. The road to Korsakov does not take much time: about 1 hour by regular bus or train, less than 1 hour along the highway by private 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.

Departures from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Kholmsk every hour regular bus. 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 time it is not cleared.

Yacht club "Vodnik" in the city of Kholmsk

The yacht club on Sovetskaya Street has existed since 1969, uniting children and adult lovers of sailboats. Club members participate in competitions and go on sailing trips. Children can receive professional training to work on yachts different types.

Quiet Bay

In Quiet Bay the only noise is made by seagulls and waves rushing onto the shore. The bay is protected from the wind by wind-worn rocks. You can walk along the shore and look into the grottoes. Fishing, undersea world, the beauty of coastal plants also attract lovers. Fans of mountain walks can climb the Zhdanko ridge, look into the distance, at the sea, do interesting photos.

Tikhaya Bay received its name from Ivan Kruzenshtern, a famous Russian navigator, but in winter strong winds and snowstorms rage here. Therefore, a winter visit to the bay may only appeal to professional climbers and athletes. You can get here by car or by train from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk station. The journey by train 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 educational tourism, so before your trip you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for visitors.

This small island, towering 440 m above the sea, is an ancient, already collapsed volcano. 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 park staff easier.

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

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

They can only get here by boat from the Nevelsk port, which is not always possible due to the weather. To be on the safe side, you can buy a 2-day tour from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Then you will not need to worry about transport and excursions.

Rocks "Three Brothers"

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

Further - by taxi or on foot along the shore. If you decide to travel around the island in a personal car, you need to follow the highway. The final destination of the route is Cape Jonquiere. This is where it is located natural monument"Three brothers". These are three rocks, similar to each other, but different in size. Like brothers - eldest, middle, youngest. The picturesque group is placed on the coat of arms and flag of the city.

Fossil enthusiasts can add specimens of coal, ancient shells and plants to their collections.

A lighthouse is visible on the shore, existing since late XIX in, now dilapidated. Another interesting object- a tunnel through the rock, built at the same time, for a horse-drawn railway.

It was never used because it was flooded at high tide, but it is still walkable. At the exit from the tunnel, another group of three rocks is visible - “Three Sisters”. They are smaller and less impressive than their “brothers”.

Thermal springs

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

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

Not far from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk there are Sinegorsk springs. Their composition is unique because they contain arsenic. The sanatorium has a staff of highly qualified specialists to provide assistance to 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 decide on travel dates in advance. Although Sakhalin is on the map winter tourism Russia does not look very expressive; the winter months from the first days of December to the last days of April are suitable for skiers to relax. Sanatoriums operate regardless of the time of year. It is better to postpone sightseeing until the summer.

Article format: Mila Friedan

Video about Sakhalin

What is life like on Sakhalin Island:

Russia Region Sakhalin region Population 520 thousand people

Sakhalin island

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

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

In 1805, a Russian ship under the command of I.F. Kruzenshtern explored most of the coast of Sakhalin and concluded that Sakhalin was a peninsula. In 1808, Japanese expeditions led by Matsuda Denjuro and Mamiya Rinzou proved that Sakhalin is an island. Most European cartographers were skeptical of the Japanese data. For a long time, on various maps Sakhalin was designated either an island or a peninsula. Only in 1849 did an expedition under the command of G.I. Nevelsky put a final point on this issue, passing on the military transport ship “Baikal” between Sakhalin and the mainland. This strait was subsequently named after Nevelsky.

Geography

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

Map of Sakhalin Island 1885

Relief

The island's topography is composed 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- Western Sakhalin (up to 1327 m high - the city of Onor) and East Sakhalin mountains (up to 1609 m high - the city of Lopatina), separated by the longitudinal Tym-Poronayskaya lowland. The north of the island (with the exception of the Schmidt Peninsula) is a gently rolling plain.

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

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

Schmidt Peninsula (about 1.4 thousand km²) is a mountainous peninsula on far north islands with steep, sometimes steep shores and two meridional ridges - Western and Eastern; highest point- Three Brothers (623 m); connected to the North Sakhalin Plain by the Okha Isthmus, the width of which at its narrowest point is just over 6 km;
The North Sakhalin Plain (about 28 thousand km²) is a gently rolling territory south of the Schmidt Peninsula with a widely branched river network, poorly defined watersheds and individual low mountain ranges, stretches from the Bay of Baikal in the north to the confluence of the Nysh and Tym rivers in the south, the highest point is the city of Daakhuria (601 m); The north-eastern coast of the island stands out as a sub-region, which is characterized by large lagoons (the largest are Piltun, Chaivo, Nyisky, Nabilsky, Lunsky bays), separated from the sea by narrow strips of alluvial spits, dunes, low sea terraces - it is in this sub-region and the main Sakhalin oil and gas fields are located on the adjacent shelf of the Sea of Okhotsk;
The Western Sakhalin Mountains stretch almost 630 km from the latitude of the village. Khoe (51º19" N) in the north to the Crillon 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 Kamysovy (north of the Poyasok isthmus) and South Kamyshovy ridges;
The Tym-Poronayskaya lowland is located in the middle part of the island and is a hilly lowland stretching approximately 250 km in the meridional direction - from Terpeniya Bay in the south to the confluence of the Tym and Nysh rivers in the north; reaches its maximum width (up to 90 km) at the mouth of the Poronay River, and its 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 Poronai “tundra”;
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 limited by the Western Sakhalin Mountains, from the east by the Susunaisky ridge 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, on the watershed of the Susuya and Bolshaya Takaya river basins, reach 60 m; belongs to the type of internal lowlands and is a tectonic depression filled with a large thickness of Quaternary deposits; within the Susunai Lowland are the cities of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Aniva, Dolinsk and about half the island’s population lives;
The East Sakhalin Mountains are represented in the north by the Lopatinsky mountain cluster (the highest point is Lopatin, 1609 m) with ridges radiating from it; two spurs in the opposite direction represent the Nabilsky ridge; in the south, the Nabilsky ridge passes into the Central Ridge, in the north, sharply descending, into the North Sakhalin Plain;
lowland of the Terpeniya Peninsula - the smallest of the areas, occupies most of the Terpeniya Peninsula east of Terpeniya Bay;
The Susunaisky ridge 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); composed of Paleozoic deposits, at the foot of the western macroslope of the ridge is the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
The Korsakov plateau is limited from the west by the Susunay lowland, from the north by the Susunay ridge, from the east by the Muravyovsky lowland, from the south by Aniva Bay, and has a slightly undulating surface formed by a system of flat-topped ridged ridges elongated in the northeast direction; at the southern end of the plateau on the shores of Aniva Bay is the city of Korsakov;
The Muravyovskaya Lowland is located between the Aniva Bay in the south and the Mordvinova Bay in the north, and has a ridged topography with flat tops of the ridges; within the lowland there are many lakes, incl. the so-called “Warm Lakes”, where South Sakhalin residents like to go on vacation;
The Tonino-Aniva 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 shore near the lighthouse in the Warm Lakes area

Climate

The climate of Sakhalin is cool, moderate monsoon ( average temperature January from −6ºС in the south to −24ºС in the north, August - from +19ºС to +10ºС, respectively), sea with long snowy winters and short cool summers.

The climate is influenced by the following factors:

Geographical location between 46º and 54º N. latitude. determines the arrival of solar radiation from 410 kJ/year in the north to 450 kJ/year in the south.
The position between the Eurasian continent and the Pacific Ocean determines the monsoon climate. It is associated with the humid and cool, rather rainy Sakhalin summer.
Mountainous terrain affects wind direction and speed. A decrease in wind speed in intermountain basins (in particular, in the relatively large Tym-Poronai and Susunai lowlands) contributes to air cooling in winter and warming 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.
In summer, the contrast between the western and eastern coasts of the island is enhanced by the respectively warm Tsushima Current of the Sea of Japan and the cold East Sakhalin Current of the Sea of Okhotsk.
The cold Sea of Okhotsk affects the island's climate as a giant thermal accumulator, determining a long, cold spring and 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 European Russia, then the seasons on the island succeed each other with a delay of about three weeks.

Air temperature and precipitation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in the 21st century (temperature: II.2001-IV.2009; precipitation: III.2005-IV.2009):

Options / 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
Total precipitation, mm	49	66	62	54	71	38	37	104	88	96	77	79	792

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

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

The earliest stable snow cover appears on Cape Elizaveta (Okha district) and in the village of Ado-Tymovo (Tymovsky district) - on average October 31, the latest - in the city of Korsakov (on average December 1). The average dates for the disappearance of 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 in total from August 4 to 7, 322 mm of precipitation fell in the south of Sakhalin (about three monthly norms) .

Inland waters

The largest rivers of Sakhalin:

River	Administrative district(s)	Where does it flow	Length, km	Basin area, km²	Average annual runoff volume, km³
Poronai	Tymovsky, Smirnykhovsky, Poronaysky	Terpeniya Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk	350	7990	2,49
Tym	Tymovsky, Nogliki	Nyisky Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk	330	7850	1,68
Naiba	Dolinsky	Terpeniya Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk	119	1660	0,65
Lutoga	Kholmsky, Anivsky	Aniva Bay, Sea of Okhotsk	130	1530	1,00
Shaft	Nogliki	Chaivo Bay, Sea of Okhotsk	112	1440	0,73
Ainskaya	Tomarinsky	lake Ainsk	79	1330	...
Nysh	Nogliki	Tym River (left tributary)	116	1260	...
Uglegorka (Esutoru)	Uglegorsky	Sea of Japan (Strait of Tartary)	102	1250	0,57
Langeri (Langry)	Okhinsky	Amur Estuary of the Sea of Okhotsk	130	1190	...
Big	Okhinsky	Sakhalin Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk	97	1160	...
Rukutama (Vitnitsa)	Poronaisky	lake Nevskoe	120	1100	...
Deer	Poronaisky	Terpeniya Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk	85	1080	...
Lesogorka (Taimyr)	Uglegorsky	Sea of Japan (Strait of Tartary)	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 16,120 lakes on Sakhalin with a total area of about 1,000 km². The areas of their greatest concentration are the north and southeast of the island. The two most large lakes Sakhalin - Nevskoe with a mirror area of 178 km² (Poronaisky district, near the mouth of the Poronai River) and Tunaycha (174 km²) (Korsakovsky district, in the north of the Muravyovskaya 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 ranks among 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 in Sakhalin and its shelf. Other natural resources of the island include timber, gold, and 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 island's flora includes 1,521 species of vascular plants, belonging to 575 genera from 132 families, with 7 families and 101 genera represented only by alien species. The total number of alien species on the island is 288, or 18.9% of the entire flora. According to the main systematic groups, the vascular plants of the Sakhalin flora are distributed as follows (excluding aliens): vascular spores - 79 species (including lycosperms - 14, horsetails - 8, pteridophytes - 57), gymnosperms - 9 species, angiosperms - 1146 species ( including monocotyledons - 383, dicotyledons - 763). The leading families of vascular plants in the flora of Sakhalin are sedges ( Cyperaceae) (121 species excluding aliens - 122 species including aliens), Asteraceae ( Asteraceae) (120 - 175), cereals ( Poaceae) (108 - 152), Rosaceae ( Rosaceae) (58 - 68), ranunculaceae ( Ranunculaceae) (54 - 57), heather ( Ericaceae) (39 - 39), cloves ( Caryophyllaceae) (38 - 54), buckwheat ( Polygonaceae) (37 - 57), orchids ( Orchidaceae) (35 - 35), cruciferous ( Brassicaceae) (33 - 53).

Fauna

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

"Red Book"

The fauna, flora and mycobiota of the island include many rare protected species of animals, plants and fungi. 12 species of mammals, 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 fungi - a total of 303 species) have protected status, i.e. are listed in the Red Book of the Sakhalin Region, while about a third of them are simultaneously included in the Red Book Russian Federation".

Of the "federal Red Book" flowering plants, the flora of Sakhalin includes Aralia cordate ( Aralia cordata), calypso bulbosa ( Calypso bulbosa), Glen's cardiocrinum ( Cardiocrinum glehnii), Japanese sedge ( Carex japonica) and lead gray ( C. livida), real lady's slippers ( Cypripedium calceolus) and grandiflora ( C. macranthum), Gray's bifolia ( Diphylleia grayi), leafless muzzle ( Epipogium aphyllum), Japanese kandyk ( Erythronium japonicum), tall pot-bellied ( Gastrodia elata), iris xiphoid ( Iris ensata), ailantholfolia nut ( Juglans ailanthifolia), Calopanax sevenloba ( Kalopanax septemlobum), tiger lily ( Lilium lancifolium), Tolmachev's honeysuckle ( Lonicera tolmatchevii), long-legged winged seed ( Macropodium pterospermum), miyakia wholeleaf ( Miyakea integrifolia) (Miyakia is the only endemic genus of vascular plants on Sakhalin), Nestflower capulaceae ( Neottianthe cucullata), peonies obovate ( Paeonia obovata) and mountain ( P. oreogeton), rough bluegrass ( Poa radula) and Wright's viburnum ( Viburnum wrightii), i.e. 23 species. In addition, eight more “federal Red Book” plants are found on the island: two species of gymnosperms - Sargent’s juniper ( Juniperus sargentii) and pointed yew ( Taxus cuspidata), three species of pteridophytes - asiatic grasshopper ( Isoеtes asiatica), leptorumora Mikel ( Leptorumohra miqueliana) and Wright's mecodium ( Mecodium wrightii), two species and one variety of mosses - Bryoxyphium japonica ( Bryoxiphium norvegicum var. japonicum), nekera northern ( Neckera borealis), and plagiothecium obtuse ( 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 are representatives of the indigenous peoples of the North - Nivkhs and Oroks. From 2002 to 2008 The population of Sakhalin continued to decline slowly (by about 1% per year): mortality still prevails over birth rates, and the attraction of labor from the mainland and from countries neighboring 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 of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (173.2 thousand people; 01/01/2007), others are relatively big cities- Korsakov (35.1 thousand people), Kholmsk (32.3 thousand people), Okha (26.7 thousand people), Nevelsk (17.0 thousand people), Poronaisk (16.9 thousand people).

The population is distributed among the regions of the island as follows (results of the 2002 census, people):

Area	Whole population	%% of 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 in general	527080	100	463410	63670

Story

Archaeological finds indicate that people appeared on Sakhalin in the Paleolithic, approximately 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, along 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).

These same ethnic groups formed the main population of the island during the Middle Ages, with the Nivkh migrating between Sakhalin and the lower Amur, and the Ainu migrating between Sakhalin and Hokkaido. Their material culture was similar in many ways, and their livelihood came from fishing, hunting and gathering. At the end of the Middle Ages (in the 16th-17th centuries), Tungus-speaking peoples appeared on Sakhalin - Evenks (nomadic reindeer herders) and Oroks (Uilta), who, under the influence of the Evenks, also began to engage in reindeer herding.

According to the Treaty of Shimoda (1855) between Russia and Japan, Sakhalin was recognized as their joint undivided possession. According to the Treaty of St. Petersburg of 1875, Russia received ownership of the island of Sakhalin, in return transferring to Japan all the northern Kuril Islands. After the defeat of the Russian Empire in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 and the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth, Japan received South Sakhalin (the part of Sakhalin Island south of the 50th parallel). As a result of the victory over Japan during World War II, the entire territory of Sakhalin Island and all Kurile Islands. To the territory or part of the territory of the island. Sakhalin currently has no claims from Japan or any other country.

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

Sakhalin is Russia's largest island, located in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, east of Russia and north of Japan.

Since in its structure, Sakhalin Island resembles a fish, with a fin and tail, the island has disproportionate dimensions.

Its dimensions are:
- in length, more than 950 kilometers
- in width, in its narrowest part, more than 25 kilometers
- in width, in its widest part, more than 155 kilometers
- total area islands, reaches more than 76,500 square kilometers

Now let's plunge into the history of Sakhalin Island.

The island was discovered by the Japanese around the middle of the 16th century. And by 1679, a Japanese settlement called Otomari (the current city of Korsakov) was officially formed in the south of the island.
During the same period, the island was given the name Kita-Ezo, which translated means Northern Ezo. Ezo - former name Japanese island Hokkaido. Translated into Russian, the word Ezo means shrimp. This suggests that near these islands lived large cluster one of the main Japanese delicacies, shrimp.

The island was discovered by Russians only at the beginning of the 18th century. And the first official settlements on the current island of Sakhalin were developed by 1805.

I would like to note that when Russian colonists began to create topographic maps Sakhalin, there was one mistake because of which the island got its name, Sakhalin. This is due to the fact that maps were drawn up taking into account rivers, and because of the location from which the colonists began mapping the topography, main river there was the Amur River. Since some of the guides of the Russian colonists through the untouched thickets of Sakhalin were immigrants from China, the Arum River, according to the old written Chinese languages, namely from the Manchu dialect, the Amur River sounded like Sakhalyan-Ulla. Due to the fact that Russian cartographers did not correctly enter this name, namely, the place Sakhalyan-Ulla, they entered it as Sakhalin, and they wrote this name on most maps where there were branches from the Amur River, on mainland they considered that such a name was assigned to this island.

But let's get back to history.

Due to the abundant resettlement of Russian colonists to the island, the Japanese, in 1845, declared the current island of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands independent, the inviolable property of Japan.

But due to the fact that most of the north of the island was already inhabited by Russian colonists, and the entire territory of present-day Sakhalin was not officially appropriated by Japan and was considered not disbanded, Russia began disputes with Japan about the division of the territory. And by 1855, the Treaty of Shimoda was signed between Russia and Japan, in which it was accepted that Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands were a joint undivided possession.

Then in 1875, in St. Petersburg, a new treaty was signed between Russia and Japan, according to which Russia renounced its part of the Kuril Islands in exchange for full ownership of the island.

Photos taken on Sakhalin Island, between the mid-18th and early 19th centuries

In 1905, due to the defeat of Russia in the Russo-Japanese War, which took place from 1904 to 1905, Sakhalin was divided into 2 parts - Northern part which remained under the control of Russia and the South, which went to Japan.

In 1907, the southern part of Sakhalin was designated Karafuto Prefecture, with its main centers represented by the first Japanese settlement on Sakhalin Island, the city of Otomari (present-day Korsakov).
Then main center, moved to another large Japanese city, Toehara (the current city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk).

In 1920, Karafuto Prefecture was officially given the status of an external Japanese territory and, from an independent Japanese territory, came under the control of the Ministry of Colonial Affairs, and by 1943, Karafuto received the status of an internal land of Japan.

On August 8, 1945, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, and 2 years later, namely 1947, the Soviet Union won this, the second Russo-Japanese War, taking Southern part Sakhalin and all the Kuril Islands.

And so, from 1947 to the present day, Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands remain part of the Russian Federation.

I would like to note that after the deportation of more than 400,000 Japanese back to their homeland began by the end of 1947, at the same time, mass migration of the Russian population to Sakhalin Island began. This is due to the fact that the infrastructure built by the Japanese on the southern part of the island required labor.
And since there were many minerals on the island, the extraction of which required a lot of labor, mass exile of prisoners began to Sakhalin Island, which was an excellent free labor force.

But due to the fact that the deportation of the Japanese population occurred more slowly than the migration of the Russian population and the Sylochniks, the deportation was finally completed by the end of the 19th century. Russian and Japanese Citizens had to live side by side for a long time.

Photos taken on Sakhalin Island between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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