Sights of the Kuril Islands: list and description. Fauna and wildlife

In view of recent events, many inhabitants of the planet are interested in where the Kuril Islands are located, as well as to whom they belong. If there is still no concrete answer to the second question, then the first can be answered quite unambiguously. The Kuril Islands are a chain of islands approximately 1.2 kilometers long. It runs from the Kamchatka Peninsula to an island landmass called Hokkaido. A kind of convex arc, consisting of fifty-six islands, is located in two parallel lines, and also separates the Sea of Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean. The total territorial area is 10,500 km 2. Stretched from the south state border between Japan and Russia.

The lands in question are of inestimable economic and military-strategic importance. Most of them are considered part Russian Federation and refers to Sakhalin region. However, the status of such components of the archipelago, including Shikotan, Kunashir, Iturup, and the Habomai group, is disputed by the Japanese authorities, which classifies the listed islands as part of the Hokkaido prefecture. Thus, you can find the Kuril Islands on the map of Russia, but Japan plans to legalize the ownership of some of them. These territories have their own characteristics. For example, the entire archipelago belongs to Far North when looking at legal documents. And this is despite the fact that Shikotan is located in the same latitude as the city of Sochi and Anapa.

Kunashir, Cape Stolbchaty

Climate of the Kuril Islands

Within the area under consideration, a temperate maritime climate prevails, which can be called cool rather than warm. The main impact on climatic conditions exert pressure systems that usually form over the North Pacific Ocean, the cold Kuril Current, as well as Sea of Okhotsk. South part the archipelago is covered by monsoon atmospheric flows, for example, the Asian winter anticyclone also dominates there.

Shikotan Island

It should be noted that the weather on the Kuril Islands is quite changeable. The landscapes of the local latitudes are characterized by less heat supply than the territories of the corresponding latitudes, but in the center of the mainland. The average minus temperature in winter is the same for each island included in the chain, and ranges from -5 to -7 degrees. In winter, prolonged heavy snowfalls, thaws, increased cloudiness and blizzards often occur. In summer, temperature indicators vary from +10 to +16 degrees. The further south the island is located, the higher the air temperature will be.

The main factor influencing the summer temperature index is the nature of the hydrological circulation characteristic of coastal waters.

If we consider the components of the average and northern group islands, it is worth noting that the temperature of coastal waters there does not rise above five to six degrees, therefore, these territories are characterized by the lowest summer rate for the Northern Hemisphere. During the year, the archipelago receives from 1000 to 1400 mm of precipitation, which is evenly distributed over the seasons. You can also talk about everywhere excess moisture. On the southern side of the chain in summer, the humidity index exceeds ninety percent, due to which fogs dense in consistency appear. If you carefully consider the latitudes where the Kuril Islands are located on the map, we can conclude that the area is particularly difficult. It is regularly affected by cyclones, which are accompanied by excessive precipitation, and can also cause typhoons.

Simushir Island

Population

Territories are populated unevenly. The population of the Kuril Islands lives year-round in Shikotan, Kunashir, Paramushir and Iturup. There is no permanent population in other parts of the archipelago. There are nineteen in all settlements, including sixteen villages, an urban-type settlement called Yuzhno-Kurilsk, as well as two major cities, including Kurilsk and Severo-Kurilsk. In 1989 it was recorded maximum value the population, which was equal to 30,000 people.

The high population density at the time Soviet Union due to subsidies from those regions, as well as big amount military personnel who inhabited the islands of Simushir, Shumshu and so on.

By 2010, the rate had dropped significantly. In total, 18,700 people occupied the territory, of which approximately 6,100 live within the Kuril District, and 10,300 in the South Kuril District. The rest of the people occupied the local villages. The population has decreased significantly due to the remoteness of the archipelago, but the climate of the Kuril Islands also played its role, which not every person can withstand.

Uninhabited Ushishir Islands

How to get to the Kuriles

The easiest way to get here is by air. local airport called "Iturup" is considered one of the most important aviation facilities built from scratch in post-Soviet times. It was built and equipped in accordance with modern technological requirements, so it was given the status of an international air point. The first flight, which later became regular, was accepted on September 22, 2014. They became the plane of the company "Aurora", which arrived from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. There were fifty passengers on board. This event was negatively perceived by the Japanese authorities, who attribute this territory to their country. Therefore, disputes about who owns the Kuril Islands continue to this day.

It is worth noting that a trip to the Kuriles must be planned in advance. Route planning should take into account that the total archipelago includes fifty-six islands, among which Iturup and Kunashir are the most popular. There are two ways to get to them. It is most convenient to fly by plane, but tickets should be bought a few months before the scheduled date, since there are quite a few flights. The second way is a trip by boat from the port of Korsakov. The journey takes from 18 to 24 hours, but you can buy a ticket only at the box office of the Kuriles or Sakhalin, that is, online sales are not provided.

Urup is desert island volcanic origin

Interesting Facts

Despite all the difficulties, life on the Kuril Islands is developing and growing. The history of the territories began in 1643, when several sections of the archipelago were surveyed by Marten Fries and his team. The first information received by Russian scientists dates back to 1697, when V. Atlasov's campaign across Kamchatka took place. All subsequent expeditions led by I. Kozyrevsky, F. Luzhin, M. Shpanberg and others were aimed at systematic development of the area. After it became clear who discovered the Kuril Islands, you can familiarize yourself with several interesting facts associated with the archipelago:

To get to the Kuriles, a tourist will need a special permit, since the zone is a border zone. This document is issued exclusively by the border department of the FSB of Sakhalinsk. To do this, you will need to come to the institution at 9:30 - 10:30 with your passport. The permit will be ready the very next day. Therefore, the traveler will definitely stay in the city for one day, which should be taken into account when planning a trip.
Due to the unpredictable climate, visiting the islands, you can get stuck here for a long time, because with bad weather the airport of the Kuril Islands and their ports stop their work. Frequent obstacles are high clouds and nebula. At the same time, we are not talking about a couple of hour flight delays. The traveler should always be prepared to spend an extra week or two here.
All five hotels are open for guests of the Kuriles. The hotel called "Vostok" is designed for eleven rooms, "Iceberg" - three rooms, "Flagship" - seven rooms, "Iturup" - 38 rooms, "Island" - eleven rooms. Reservations must be made in advance.
Japanese lands can be seen from the windows of local residents, but the best view opens on Kunashir. To verify this fact, the weather must be clear.
The Japanese past is closely connected with these territories. Japanese cemeteries and factories remained here, the coast from the Pacific Ocean is densely lined with fragments of Japanese porcelain, which existed even before the war. Therefore, here you can often meet archaeologists or collectors.
It is also worth understanding that the disputed Kuril Islands, first of all, are volcanoes. Their territories consist of 160 volcanoes, of which about forty remain active.
The local flora and fauna is amazing. Bamboo grows here along the highways, magnolia or mulberry tree can grow near the Christmas tree. The lands are rich in berries, blueberries, lingonberries, cloudberries, princesses, redberries, Chinese magnolia vines, blueberries and so on grow abundantly here. Locals say that you can meet a bear here, especially near the Tyati Kunashir volcano.
Almost every local resident has a car at his disposal, but there are no gas stations in any of the settlements. Fuel is delivered inside special barrels from Vladivostok and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Due to the high seismicity of the region, its territory is built up mainly with two- and three-story buildings. Houses with a height of five floors are already considered skyscrapers and a rarity.
Until it is decided whose Kuril Islands, the Russians living here, the duration of the vacation will be 62 days a year. Inhabitants southern ridge can enjoy a visa-free regime with Japan. This opportunity is used by about 400 people per year.

The Great Kuril Arc is surrounded underwater volcanoes, some of which regularly make themselves felt. Any eruption causes a resumption of seismic activity, which provokes a “seaquake”. That's why local lands prone to frequent tsunamis. The strongest tsunami wave about 30 meters high in 1952 completely destroyed the city on the island of Paramushir called Severo-Kurilsk.

The last century was also remembered for several natural disasters. Among them, the most famous was the 1952 tsunami that occurred in Paramushir, as well as the 1994 Shikotan tsunami. Therefore, it is believed that such a beautiful nature of the Kuril Islands is also very dangerous for human life, but this does not interfere local cities develop and the population grow.

Flora and fauna

Brief analysis of the flora.

In the Kuril Islands, according to D.P. Vorobyov, 1171 species of only vascular plants grow, belonging to 450 genera and 104 families. There is no more accurate information, since no one was engaged in generalization and analysis of the flora of the region after him. Of these, 47 species (4%) are adventitious plants. There are 49 species of trees, including 6 conifers, 94 species of shrubs, of which 3 are conifers, 11 species of woody lianas, 9 species of shrubs, 5 species of bamboo, 30 species of evergreens, including 7 coniferous and 23 deciduous. Among the latter heather and lingonberry predominate - 16 species. In floristic terms, the richest is Kunashir, where 883 species grow. Some fewer species on Iturup (741) and Shikotan (701). All types of trees, 10 types of vines and 4 types of bamboo are found on these islands. Flora of vascular plants of the Kuril Islands shows significant similarity with the flora neighboring countries and regions. Species common with Kamchatka - 44%, with Sakhalin - 67%, with Japan - 78%, with Primorye and Amur Region - - 54%, with North America - 28%. Common species for the Kuriles and Sakhalin make up 56.7% of the entire flora of Sakhalin. In the Kuril Islands, only 2 families of the Sakhalin flora are absent - water-colored and boxwood, they are absent in Kamchatka and Primorye. The flora of the Kuriles is much poorer in comparison with the flora of Primorye and the Amur Region: representatives of 240 genera of the flora of this part of the mainland, including apricot, microbiota, ephedra, hazel, hornbeam, barberry, deutsia, mistletoe, etc., are absent on the islands. The flora of the Japanese island of Hokkaido, closest to the Kuriles, has 1629 species. Japanese flora has the greatest similarity with the flora of the southern Kuriles (37.7%) and less - with the flora of the northern islands (17.86%). In the 60s of the last century, Kuril Vorobyov counted 34 endemics among the species of vascular flora. But this number, in his opinion, should be reduced due to the description of some of them in Kamchatka, Sakhalin, and Japan. Among the endemics there are 4 species of grasses, sedges - 2 species, willows - 5, dandelions - 8, wrestler - 1, St. Significant differences in the ecological situation on the islands determined both the distribution of individual species and the quantitative representation of some taxa. The number of species on the islands given below is not definitively established. Research is constantly making adjustments. Literature data indicate that 883 species grow in Kunashir, Iturup 741, Shikotan 701, Urup 399, Simushin 393, Ketoi 241, Paramushir 139, Alaida 169. Extensive thickets of algae are common off the coast of the Kuriles. The vegetation of fresh water bodies is not very rich.

Fauna and wildlife.

The terrestrial invertebrate fauna of the South Kuril Islands is unique and far from being fully explored. Here passes northern border distribution of a huge number of species found in addition to the South Kuriles in Japan, Korea and China. In addition, the Kuril species are represented by populations adapted to the peculiar insular conditions of existence. Insect fauna of the southern part Kuril archipelago closer to the fauna of Hokkaido. However, the insect fauna of the islands is given a certain originality by the Kuril endemics, the presence of which was established only in last years. Currently, 37 species and subspecies of endemic insect species are known, found on the territory of Kunashir and Shikotan. The fauna of the orders of Hemiptera (230 species), Coleoptera (only weevils make up 90 species), Orthoptera (27 species), mayflies (24 species) and other representatives of this vast class is diverse. 4 species of South Kuril insects are currently listed in the Red Book of Russia. These are: wrinkled-winged ground beetle, Maksimovich's beauty, similar mimevemia, owl asteropetes. In addition, two types of sailboats common on the territory of the reserve: the Maaka tail-bearer and the blue tail-bearer are included in the regional Red Book of the Sakhalin Region. On the island of Kunashir and the islands of Malaya Kuril ridge(including Shikotan) there are currently 110 species of non-marine molluscs. The species composition of fish in inland waters is the richest in Kunashir and includes 22 species. Salmonids (pink salmon, chum salmon, Dolly Varden) are the most widespread. Sakhalin taimen, spawning in the lakes of the island, is listed in the Red Book of Russia. In the Kurilsky Reserve on the island of Kunashir, there are 3 species of amphibians - the Far Eastern frog, the Far Eastern tree frog and the Siberian salamander. The total number of birds found in the area Kuril Reserve and the reserve Small Kuriles, is 278 species. rare birds 113 species are recited, of which 40 species are listed in the Red Data Books of the IUCN and the Russian Federation. About 125 species of birds nest on the islands. The Kuril Islands are inhabited by a unique population of the island subspecies of the fish owl. This area has the highest density of this species in the world. At least 26 pairs of these birds nest in Kunashir, and there are only a little more than 100 pairs left in the world. The South Kuril Islands are inhabited by 28 species of mammals. Of these, 3 species of marine mammals are listed in the Red Books of the IUCN and the Russian Federation - the Kuril sea otter, the island seal Antur and the sea lion. An endemic species, the Shikotan vole, lives on the island of Shikotan. The largest representative of the terrestrial fauna is the brown bear, found only in Kunashir (more than 200 animals). Chipmunk, sable, weasel and acclimatized European mink are also found in the thickets on Kunashir Island. On the territory of the islands of Kunashir and Shikotan, the fox and hare are widespread. The most numerous representatives of the fauna are small mammals: shrews (the most common species is the clawed shrew) and rodents (red-gray vole, Japanese mouse). On the territory of the small islands of the Lesser Kuril Ridge, only the fox, the gray-backed vole, the rat, the house mouse and the clawed shrew are found. Of the cetaceans in the waters of the islands, families of killer whales, minke whales, flocks of the Pacific white-sided dolphin, white-winged and common porpoise can often be found.

kuril island russia japan

1.6 Population

76.6% of the population are Russians, 12.8% Ukrainians, 2.6% Belarusians, 8% other nationalities. The permanent population of the islands lives mainly on southern islands- Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and northern - Paramushir, Shumshu. The basis of the economy is the fishing industry, because. basic natural wealth- biological resources of the sea. Agriculture has not received significant development due to unfavorable natural conditions. There are certain features in the formation of the population of the Kuril Islands. After the deportation of Japanese citizens in the post-war years, the influx of labor was mainly carried out by immigrants from the mainland. In national terms, the population was mainly represented by Slavic peoples. Representatives of the peoples of the North and Koreans were practically absent in the Kuriles. This trend continues to the present. Over the past decades, the process of forming a permanent population has continued on the islands, primarily at the expense of local natives and people of retirement age, who, due to the current difficult socio-economic situation, are not able to move to the mainland. The number of both the actual population and the permanent one, after the collapse of the 90th year, continues to decline and today is about 8,000 people. The reasons for this situation are the low natural population growth and the migration outflow of the Kuril people. More of them drop out than they come in. An analysis of the age and sex structure of the population leads to the conclusion that the process of its formation has not yet ended. The main indicator of this is the predominance of men over women, an increased proportion of people of working age and a small number of elderly people, which is not typical for most regions of the country. Consider those who are employed in the field of labor activity. The number of employees has steadily increased in recent years and reached 3,000 in 2000. At the same time, the number of unemployed has been declining in recent years. The labor resources of the district were distributed as follows - the bulk of the able-bodied population is employed in industry, the rest are evenly distributed among other industries National economy. In recent years, the birth rate has slightly exceeded the death rate. Thus, we can say that the natural decline in the population was replaced by a natural increase in the population. The migration balance is also negative. Although the outflow of the population that took place in the 90s has decreased. Most of the youth receive higher education (60-70%). In general, the population of the Kuril Islands is decreasing. This is primarily due to the remoteness of the islands, undeveloped transport infrastructure, unfavorable weather conditions difficult socio-economic situation. Added to this is the uncertainty about the future political status of a number of the South Kuril Islands, the territory of which Japan claims. Inhabitants disputed islands, and the regional authorities are practically withdrawn from the ongoing negotiations between Moscow and Tokyo.

Near the islands of the Kuril ridge, underwater vegetation is represented by huge underwater meadows of seaweed, most occupied by seaweed. It is used for many purposes, it is also taken as food.

Great forests of Melano spermae encircle each island of the range, spreading out around them in a green stripe that reaches up to half a mile. The most amazing algae are the algae Nereocystis Lutkeanus. They grow very fast. Starting to grow in April, already at the end of June, algae reach 50 meters in length and rise to the water surface of the sea. Sailing on a boat, it is quite difficult to escape from their embrace.

ground vegetation

The ridge of the Kuril Islands has a fairly strong stretch from north to south, due to which the vegetation cover on each individual island is very diverse. The southern islands of the ridge have the richest species composition of plants, the northern islands are covered with less vegetation, and the middle ones are completely poor in it. In addition, the vegetation varies depending on the height above sea level.

The northernmost islands of the Kuril chain are covered with thickets of shrubby alder and dwarf pine. There are also many swamps and tundra vegetation. The local vegetation is similar to the vegetation of Cape Lopatka. These include edible species such as blueberries, sweet grass, sweet root (sout), wild garlic, sarana, shelamaynik, kutagarnik (kanasut), cloudberry and shiksha berries.

The poorest species composition has vegetation growing on the southern islands of the northern link and the northern islands of the middle link of the Kuril chain. These islands also have a small area and absolute heights very low. Even bushy alder and elfin cedar do not grow here. Bare areas of steep mountain slopes can often be found on the islands of Ekarma, Chirinkotan and Raikoke. Only in the lowlands are green mosses and rare flowers.

The peaks and highlands of the Middle and Northern Kuriles are covered with green islands of grass scattered between the stones and consisting of small shrubs, individual bunches and specimens of herbaceous plants. There are also many lichens and mosses growing here.

The islands, which make up the middle link of the Kuril ridge, do not have coniferous tree species, except for dwarf pine. On them there are thickets of shrubby alder and groves of elm birch with a small undergrowth of Kuril bamboo. The northern border of bamboo growth passes through the island of Ketoi. The main part of the Middle Kuriles is occupied by thickets of heath and dwarf pine. The further south you go, the larger the heathland areas become.

To the south of the Bussol Strait, an increase in species vegetation and vegetation density is very clearly felt. Dense thickets of grass occupy the island of Etorofu and the lowlands of the island of Uruppu. On the island of Etorofu, you can also find thickets of nettles, asas, umbrella grasses and fuca, which do not make it possible to pass through the island, you can only walk along the beaten paths or go by sea. In the depressions of the island of Kunasari, a jungle of nettles, sas and umbrella plants has grown, reaching the height of a man. Reeds grow in the river valleys of the island, interspersed with irises, sorrel, wild onions and lilies. On dry hills, they give way to beautiful carpets of forget-me-nots, daisies, carnations, geraniums, buttercups and dandelions. The sand dunes of Sikotan Island are covered with fragrant roses and wild peas.

The southern islands of the Kuril ridge, such as Etorofu, Uruppu and Kunasari, are covered coniferous forests Sakhalin fir (Abiessachalinensis), Hokkaido spruce (Piceajezoensis) and a small amount of Glen spruce (PiceaGlehni). Coniferous forests begin at the foot of the mountains, while the further north, the lower the upper limit of their distribution.

Sometimes maple (Acerukurunduense) and yew are found in coniferous forests. The forest undergrowth consists of sasa - almost impenetrable thickets of Kuril bamboo. Above the coniferous forests are groves of elm birch, with an undergrowth of cedar elfin and the same bamboo. Sometimes they contain tall herbs, represented by Kamchatka shalamaynik (Filipendulakamtscha-tica), spear-leaved cacao (Cacaliahastata), sweet hogweed (Heracleumdulce), palm-leaved ragwort (Seneciopalmatus), bear angelica (Angelicaursina) and other plants. Even higher, above the groves of elm birch, there are dense thickets of shrubby alder (Alnus Maximoviczii) and dwarf pine (Pinuspumila).

In the southern islands, especially Kunashiri Island, the southern mountain slopes are covered with groves of hardwoods such as oak, maple, aspen and Japanese birch. But their areas are very small. The further south, the more noticeable is the vertical zonality of vegetation - the northern forests are located on low hills and lowlands (Syumushu Island), the southern ones reach high mountain slopes. On the island of Uruppu, only the mountain peaks are not overgrown with forest - more time year they are covered with snow. Most high points the islands of Kunasiri are occupied by groves and lone trees. In the lowlands of the island of Sikotan, meadows and marshes spread, and forests occupied the tops of the hills.

Vegetation cover is distributed depending on the exposure of the slopes: for example, on the island of Ekarum, shrubs are located on the eastern side. Also, the formation and distribution of vegetation is strongly influenced by the orographic structure of the islands, protection from the impact strong winds and distribution of the loose cover of the weathering crust.

Forests are of low quality. Trees are exposed to high atmospheric humidity, which leads to early rotting of trees, the formation of knots and hollows. The island of Etorofu has the best composition of the forest, although it also has most of the dry trees. In those valleys through which the corridor winds pass, and those located on the windward mountain slopes, you can often find creeping, flag and dwarf trees with a twisting and curved trunk.

Fauna of the Kuril Islands

For a long period of time, the main object of the fishery was the sea beaver (otter) and the fur seal. Over time, due to uncontrolled fishing, the number of these animals has declined quite a lot.

The number of the fur seal was so large that its rookeries were on almost all the islands of the ridge. Before the advent of cruel industrialists, the clothing of the local Ainu was made from the skins of a cat. In the 70-80s of the last millennium, the clothes of the Ainu already began to be sewn from the skins of birds, and only the edges of the clothes and collars were sheathed with fur of the cat. On the islands of Raikoke, Sredneva and Musiru, in the old days there were rookeries of fur seals, each of which numbered 50,000 individuals. Now they are abandoned.

By the end of the last century, the number of the sea beaver also began to decrease. In one season, the production of a schooner was 2,000 fur seal skins, while only 70-80 beaver skins could be harvested in a year. Previously, herds of sea beavers numbered 100 or more heads, but now it is rare to find 12 individuals in a herd. In the last century, there were 18 sea lion rookeries on the islands of the Kuril ridge, and the annual production was 100,000 individuals. There are no such number of sea lion rookeries anywhere in the world. When sailing near the islands, sailors use the roar of sea lions and the smell of their rookeries as a guide. Nerpa is found throughout the ridge. Fishing for it is much less. Near the southern islands live grey-bellied, humpback and gray whales, which are rarely seen off the northern islands.
Also near the southern islands there are many dolphins, which are also the object of fishing. All harvested animals have wonderful skins (beaver, seal and sea lion), fat and tasty meat (seal and sea lion). The migratory route of whales, which in summer follow the Pacific Ocean for feeding and in autumn return to the coast of Korea for wintering and further south, runs along the Kuril Islands.

Near the islands of the ridge, you can meet such industrially valuable large whales as the herring or fin whale (Balaenopteraphysalus), sperm whale (Phyxtercutodon) and bottlenose. A variety of freshwater fish is found in rivers and lakes: mountain and spring trout, roach. In summer, large herds of salmon fish rush to the mouths of island rivers for spawning, where they become available for fishing. Typical salmon fish of the Sea of Okhotsk include pink salmon, sockeye salmon, chum salmon, coho salmon and pink salmon, and on the southern islands there is sim.

The coastal waters of the islands are home to many invertebrates: sea urchins, jellyfish, crabs, starfish, clams, holothurians and sea anemones.

Due to the proximity of a large body of water on the Kuril Islands, a large number of oceanic birds nest, characteristic of the southern and central parts Pacific Ocean. These include storm petrels, petrels and albatrosses. Near freshwater reservoirs there are red-throated loons and ducks: merganser, mallard, teal, killer whale, sea crested duck, pintail and scoter. There are also many nesting gulls, waders and terns. The Kuril Islands are rich in coastal seabirds, which form huge nesting colonies on majestic steep cliffs - bird rookeries. These include gulls-talkers (kitti) and two species of guillemots that lay their eggs in rocky ledges, where they can then be collected and eaten. Great auks, auks, guillemots, puffins and old men nest in stone screes, minks and rock crevices.

The largest bird markets are located on the islands of Ketoi, Onekotan, Sirinkotan, Buroton and Usishiru, as well as on the satellite islands - the rocks of Kotani (Bird), Kamome and others.
Ground birds are also very diverse. Here live forest birds similar to those that live in Primorye and Kamchatka. These include bullfinches, nutcrackers, woodpeckers, jays, grosbeaks, tits, pikas and buntings. A large number of northern taiga birds lives on the islands, these are tap-dancers, smurfs, nutcrackers and black woodpeckers. And on southern half the ridges are inhabited by the Japanese long-tailed tit, blue flycatcher, Japanese quail and others. The most common bird species are barn swallows, wagtails and skylarks. On the northern and middle islands of the Kuril ridge (Onekotan, Araito, Paramusir, Syumusyu, Simushiru and Haramukotan) on treeless mountain peaks the tundra partridge nests, which has its own special local subspecies - Logopusmu-tuskurilensis. The birds of prey of the islands include the peregrine falcon, gyrfalcon, rough-legged buzzard, hawks, several species of owls, huge carrion-eating eagles. In total, 170 species of birds live on the Kuril Islands, most of which nest in the south.

Most of the land mammals are represented by forest animals. The brown bear is found on the northern and southern islands. Almost all islands are home to foxes - it is not only on small islands. Fox fur is very beautiful, especially silver-brown. Due to the special value of fox fur, the Japanese built fox nurseries on many islands. Squirrels, otters, hares, sables, as well as a huge number of small rodents live on the southern islands.

There are few reptiles on the Kuril Islands; they can be found only in the southern part of the ridge. Also in this part there are many insects, which are practically absent on the middle islands and a little more on the northern ones. The southern islands are home to many ants, beetles, cockroaches, bumblebees, ticks, mosquitoes, midges and flies.

What is interesting about the Kuril Islands and is it possible to organize a trip on your own? Who owns the Kuriles now: the essence of the Russia-Japan conflict.

The islands of the Sakhalin ridge, bordering Japan, are considered an oriental wonder of nature. Of course, we are talking about the Kuril Islands, whose history is as rich as nature. To begin with, it is worth saying that the struggle for 56 islands located between Kamchatka and Hokkaido began from the moment of discovery.

Kuril Islands on the map of Russia

Kuril Islands - pages of history

So, at the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century, when Russian navigators mapped hitherto uncharted lands, turned out to be inhabited, the process of appropriation of uninhabited territories began. At that time, the Kuril Islands were inhabited by a people called Ayans. The Russian authorities tried to attract these people into their citizenship by any means, not excluding force. As a result, the ayans, together with their lands, still went over to the side Russian Empire in exchange for the abolition of taxes.

The situation fundamentally did not suit the Japanese, who had their own views on these territories. Diplomatic methods failed to resolve the conflict. Eventually, according to a document dated 1855, the territory of the islands is considered undivided. The situation became clear only after the end of the Second World War, when amazing territory with a harsh climate was transferred to official ownership.

According to the new world order, the Kuril Islands passed into the possession of the Soviet Union - the victorious state. The Japanese, who fought on the side of the Nazis, had no chance.

Who actually owns the Kuril Islands?

Despite the results of the Second World War, which secured the USSR the right to own the Kuril Islands at the world level, Japan still claims the territory. So far, no peace treaty has been signed between the two countries.

What is happening now - in 2019?

By changing tactics, Japan is compromising and is currently contesting Russia's ownership of only a PART of the Kuril Islands. These are Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Khabomai group. At first glance, this is a small part of the Kuriles, because there are 56 units in the archipelago! One point is confusing: Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan are the only Kurile Islands, where there is a permanent population (about 18 thousand people). They are located closest to the Japanese "border".

The Japanese and world media, in turn, throw firewood into the firebox of the conflict, exaggerating the topic and convincing ordinary citizens of Japan that the Kuril Islands are vital to them and unfairly captured. When, by whom, at what moment - it does not matter. The main thing is to create as many potential hotbeds of conflict around one vast, but a little unlucky country. Suddenly you're lucky, and somewhere the case will "burn out"?

Representatives of the Russian Federation represented by the President and the Foreign Ministry remain calm. But they do not tire of reminding once again that we are talking about the territory of Russia, which belongs to it by right. Well, in the end, it does not make claims to Poland on Gdansk and - on Alsace and Lorraine 😉

Nature of the Kuril Islands

Not only the history of the development of the islands is interesting, but also their nature. In fact, each of the Kuril Islands is a volcano, and a good part of these volcanoes are currently active. Thanks to volcanic origin, the nature of the islands is so diverse, and the surrounding landscapes are a paradise for photographers and geologists.

Eruption of the Crimean volcano (Kuril Islands, Russia)

Local residents. Bears of the Kuril Islands.

The Kuril Islands have many geothermal sources, which form whole lakes with hot water, saturated with healthy micro and macro elements. The Kuril Islands are home to a huge number of animals and birds, many of which are found only in these parts. The plant world is also rich, represented for the most part by endemics.

Journey to the Kuril Islands 2019

According to its parameters, the territory of the Kuril Islands is perfect for traveling. And even if the climate is harsh, almost no sunny days, high humidity and abundance of precipitation - weather imperfections are covered by the beauty of nature and surprisingly clean air. So if you are worried about the weather on the Kuril Islands, then you can survive it.

Urup Island
Most of the Kuril Islands are uninhabited. Only crumbling buildings and rusty equipment speak of the former presence of people.

Collapsed buildings and abandoned equipment is a common picture for the Kuriles.

Discarded and sand-washed ships, some of which ended up on the island 70 years ago along with the Kuril landing force.

Iturup Island
Iturup is the largest and most populated island of the Kuril chain. Belongs to the southern group. The Russian ownership of the island is disputed by Japan. As a result, Japan not only refuses common interstate projects on Southern Kuriles, but also prohibits its private entrepreneurs from any cooperation with local companies and individuals.

On Iturup, especially in its northern part, between the rivers Glorious and Glush, there are a lot of bears. Numerous paths, trodden in bamboo thickets, lead to the river, where the bears feast on fat-filled fish.

Chirpoy Island
Chirpoy is the most large island in the Black Brothers. It has two active volcanoes.

On Chirpoy, you can not only climb to the top of an active volcano, but also look into its crater.

Simushir Island
Broughton Bay on Simushir Island was to become the second most important (after Avacha Bay) base of the Pacific Fleet of the USSR. Alas, it didn't. Today, the village of Kraterny has turned into a ghost town.

Ushishir Island
Inside the island of Ushishir is a submerged volcano caldera, which, after passing the reef, can be entered by boat. Small geysers throw out boiling water along the banks, and sulfuric streams, smoking, flow into the bay.

A whole population of arctic foxes lives permanently on Ushishir. Fearless and completely tame animals with great curiosity examine rare people here, beg for a treat and are not averse to stealing something.

Matua Island
Due to the large difference in depths at the boundary of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Kuril-Kamchatka basin of the Pacific Ocean, as well as due to the significant difference in water temperatures, the Kuril Straits are covered with fog for most of the year and are very dangerous for navigation.

The Sarychev volcano on the island of Matua is considered active.

Shiashkotan Island
Frozen lava forms amazing sculptures.

Harimkotan Island
Harimkotan Island is the surface part of the Severgin volcano. A significant part of the island's surface is covered with ash.

Thickets in the foreground are almost impenetrable alder and cedar elfin forests. There are no roads or paths on Harimkotan, so it takes hours to overcome any unfortunate kilometer of the way.

Climbing the Severgin volcano, you find yourself above the clouds. It feels like you're looking at the world from the window of an airplane.

Volcanoes in the Kuril Islands - for every taste. You can selflessly admire the ideal masses of cones from afar. And you can dry wet clothes on a small personal volcano. The hot springs are a special treat. After lying down for half an hour in a puddle freshly dug in the ashes, you experience the deepest physical pleasure and peace of mind. Especially if outside the puddle it is cold, damp and nothing can be seen because of the fog.

Ekarma Island
The islands of Ekarma and Onekotan (in the background) are the surface parts of living volcanoes.

Onekotan Island
Black volcanic beaches on the Kuril Islands - not at all exotic.

Volcano within a volcano. In the southern part of Onekotan Island in the caldera ancient volcano a lake was formed, in the center of which a new, younger volcano (Krenitsyna) rose.

Paramushir Island
Paramushir is one of the two northern islands where there is a permanent population.