Coastline of Sakhalin. Where is Sakhalin Island on the map of Russia. What factors influence the island's climate?

Russia's largest island is Sakhalin, where there are significant natural gas deposits. The island is located off the eastern coast of Asia and is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Tartary, the width of which at its narrowest is just over seven kilometers, and at its widest three hundred and twenty-eight.

Where is Sakhalin

From a geological point of view, the island belongs to the Eurasian continent. From an economic-geographical point of view - to the Far Eastern economic region of the Asia-Pacific region. Administratively, the island is the Sakhalin region with its center in the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Black River Rocks - this is how the traditional name of the island Sahallyan-Ulla is translated from Chinese, from which the Russian name comes. However, there is an alternative name used by the Japanese - Karafuto. Translated from the language of the Ainu, the indigenous local population, this name means “Land of the God of the Mouth.” But in modern Japanese, a transcription of the Russian name of the island, sounding like “Saccharin,” is increasingly used.

History of the study

Several Russian sailors are of key importance in the history of exploration of the island's coast. One of them is Admiral Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern, who in 1805 made a long voyage along the coast of the island, carefully exploring it and describing it. However, during his expedition, the traveler was not able to completely bypass it, so the question of whether it was a peninsula or the entire island remained unclear.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the region attracted close attention from key world powers and an increasingly powerful Japan, which sent several expeditions to explore the Far Eastern coast. Two Japanese admirals made several voyages along the coast of Sakhalin and came to the conclusion that it was an island, but European researchers did not trust Japanese data.

Only in 1849, the Russian explorer Gennady Nevelsky managed to sail around Sakhalin on the ship "Baikal" and finally put an end to the question: where is Sakhalin and what is it after all - a peninsula or an island. The name of the admiral is immortalized in the name of the strait he discovered, which is now called the Nevelskoy Strait and is the narrowest part of the large Tatar Strait.

Island climate

The region where Sakhalin Island is located is located in a temperate monsoon climate zone, which is influenced by factors such as the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, the Pacific Ocean and mountainous terrain.

The island experiences long, cold springs and relatively warm autumns. Climatic seasons, when compared with the European part of the country, change with a delay of about three weeks. This means that the warmest month of the year is August, and the coldest month is February.

At the same time, snow can remain on Sakhalin until mid-May, and rare snowfalls can occur in June. But flowers can be found in flowerbeds in cities until mid-October. The island's position between the Pacific Ocean and the cold Sea of ​​Okhotsk significantly affects the climate and makes the weather difficult to predict.

History and politics

The Far Eastern region has long been under the scrutiny of key global and regional players, but in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Japan and Russia played decisive roles.

The first attempts to regulate the status of the island in accordance with international standards were made in 1855, when an agreement was signed between Japan and the Russian Empire, which went down in history as the Treaty of Simondon. The text stated that the island was a “joint indivisible possession” of both powers. However, this formulation did not make the relations of the countries transparent, since the status of the island was actually not determined.

In order to resolve all existing issues, the states signed a new agreement in 1875. According to the newly signed St. Petersburg Treaty, Russia received ownership of Sakhalin, and Japan received all the Northern Kuril Islands.

After Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905, the southern part of Sakhalin went to Japan. For a long time, Sakhalin served as a source of tension between the two neighboring countries, until Japan occupied the northern part of the island in 1925. However, after the victory of the Soviet Union in World War II, the entire island and all the Kuril Islands ceded to the USSR. But this did not become the final chord in the territorial dispute between Russia and Japan - today the Land of the Rising Sun lays claim to some islands of the Kuril archipelago, and a peace treaty between the countries has not been signed.

Economy of Sakhalin

The region where Sakhalin is located is very rich in natural resources. The island's wealth includes offshore gas fields and marine biological reserves.

In addition, the Sakhalin region is the place where the Sakhalin-2 project is located, which was first discussed back in 1988. The project involved the development of two offshore fields, one of which contains mainly oil with associated gas, and the other, on the contrary, consists mainly of natural gas with a small oil content.

Southern Sakhalin, where the island's largest city and the region's capital is located, is the economic and transport center of the region. The entire population of the Sakhalin region does not exceed five hundred thousand people. The largest city in Sakhalin, where the airport and administrative offices are located, is Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, which has a population of one hundred and ninety-four thousand people.

Ecology of the island

The Sakhalin region is exposed to significant environmental risks, since the extraction of hydrocarbons on the shelf is associated with certain technological difficulties.

In 2007, major international environmental organizations filed a lawsuit against the British government with the intention of obliging it not to provide a loan to a company engaged in offshore development on Sakhalin. This behavior was caused by the fact that the Sakhalin Energy company did not have the necessary documentation and environmental assessment.

Geographical characteristics of Sakhalin

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.

Photo of Sakhalin Island from space. Enlarged image

Geologically, Sakhalin is part of the Cenozoic folded region as part of the Pacific folded geosynclinal belt. In the structure of Sakhalig, two meridional anticlinoria are distinguished - East Sakhalin and West Sakhalin, separated by Central Sakhalin. In the core of the East Sakhalin anticlinorium, Paleozoic rocks are exposed, in the core of the West Sakhalin anticlinorium - Upper Cretaceous; The Central Sakhalin region is composed of Neogene deposits. Strong seismicity indicates ongoing mountain-building processes.

Climate of Sakhalin

Sakhalin, separated from the mainland by the Tatar Strait, stretches from north to south for almost 1000 km. Its central and, especially, southern parts are predominantly mountainous in nature. There are wide low-lying strips along the coast.

The main watershed of Sakhalin is the Western Sakhalin Ridge, dividing the river network into two groups, one of which belongs to the Okhotsk basin, the other to the Sea of ​​Japan basin. To the east of it, separated by a deep fault depression, is the short but higher Eastern Sakhalin Ridge, the highest point (peak, Nevelskogo, 2013 m) which is the highest for the entire island. The climate of Sakhalin is harsh. Winter here is long and cold, frosts reach -48°. The average monthly air temperature of the coldest month - January - in the north is -23°, in the south -8°. Summer is short and cool: The average monthly air temperature in the warmest month - July - does not exceed 15-17°.

Water resources of Sakhalin

The main rivers of Sakhalin are the Tym and Poronoy. They laid out their valleys in the central tectonic depression between the Western and Eastern ranges. The lengths of the rivers are about; 250 km, the catchment area is approximately 8000 km 2. Both rivers are distinguished by significant water content: their average annual flow exceeds 100 m 3 /sec, and modules reach 12-19 l/sec km 2. Other rivers of Sakhalin are short, mountainous watercourses, also characterized by high water content.

The regime of Sakhalin rivers is complex. The flood passes through them in three waves. In spring there is high water; from the melting of snow within the flat parts of the basins, at the beginning of summer there is a flood formed due to melting snow in the mountains, and, finally, in the middle of summer (July-August) there are floods caused by monsoon showers.

The coast of the island is replete with lakes, such as lagoons; they are shallow and separated from the sea by narrow spits; separate groups of lakes stretch along the coast for tens of kilometers. Most of them have communication and water exchange with the sea through narrow straits. Some lakes were separated from the sea and turned into fresh water bodies.

Sakhalin is an elongated island located in the Pacific Ocean. In the Russian Far East (between 45°50' and 54°24'N latitude). Together with the Kuril Islands, it forms the Sakhalin region, the capital of which is Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

The island has a length from north to south of 948 km, with an average width of several tens of kilometers. The island's area is 76,400 square kilometers, making it the 23rd largest island in the world.

Sakhalin Island is within walking distance of the Asian continent, from which it is separated by the Strait of Tartary; in the northern part, the distance to the continent narrows to approximately 7 km. In the south, the La Perouse Strait separates it from Japanese Hokkaido. The northern point of the island is Cape Elizabeth, and Cape Crillon is the southernmost point.

The island's territory is mostly mountainous, with the exception of the northern part, where the northern lowlands begin. The central and southern mountains are mainly elongated in the meridional direction, the largest of which are the Western chain. In the Eastern chain, Mount Lopatina (1609 m) is the highest point of the island. There are no large rivers on the island.

Climate

The temperature on Sakhalin Island is quite low for its latitude; this is caused by cold sea currents that carry cold to the shores of Sakhalin; the western shores of Sakhalin are the most exposed to the cold.

The island has very cold winters, with January temperatures ranging between -18°C and -25°C in the north and between -6°C and -12°C in the south. Temperatures rise very slowly due to the proximity of cold seas, so spring comes late, about three weeks later than on the mainland. The hottest month of the year is generally August, with average temperatures between 11°C and 16°C in the north and between 16°C and 20°C in the south.

Population

At the beginning of the 20th century, about 32,000 Russians (of whom 22,150 were deported) lived on the island along with several thousand natives. Currently, Sakhalin has 673,000 inhabitants, of which 83% are Russian. 400,000 Japanese who lived in the southern part of the island were forced to take refuge in Japan after World War II. The capital, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, which has nearly 200,000 residents, is home to a small number of Koreans who were brought here during World War II to work in the coal mines.

Popular science film about nature. Sakhalin, ecology and life of indigenous peoples

Sakhalin was not always separated from the mainland. At the dawn of civilization, the water level in the world's oceans steadily decreased, as a result of which so-called “bridges” arose in the strait. Presumably, it was along them that the first people moved here (about 300 thousand years ago). During the Middle Ages, the main inhabitants of Sakhalin were the Nivkhs and Ainu - small peoples who constantly migrated between the island and the Asian part of the mainland. Later, Tungus-speaking tribes were added to them. The name “Sakhalin” itself appeared due to a geographical error. Due to an oversight, the Manchu name of the Amur River - Sahallyan-Ulla - was correlated with the territory of the island. By the way, the literal translation of the word is “Rocks of the Black River.”

Until about the 50s of the 19th century, Sakhalin Island was ruled by China. At the same time, the territory did not officially belong to the Middle Kingdom. In 1855, the governments of Japan and Russia concluded the Treaty of Shimoda, according to which both states declared Sakhalin to be a joint possession. However, after 20 years, Russia annexed the island, paying Japan for it with the northern Kuril Islands. However, the joy from the expansion of possessions was short-lived. After the loss in the Russo-Japanese campaign, the southern part of the island again went to the Land of the Rising Sun. The fate of Sakhalin was finally decided only after World War II, when Russia completely regained the island, and with it the previously lost Kuril Islands.

Economy and population

A little less than 500 thousand people live on Sakhalin, about 200 thousand of whom are residents of the regional center, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The overwhelming majority of the population is Russian, although among the local inhabitants you can meet both Koreans and people from the former Soviet republics. But there are very few representatives of indigenous peoples here: only 1% of the total.

The region's economy is unevenly developed, which is why the standard of living of the population in different parts of Sakhalin differs. For example, the northern part of the island, including Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, survives on oil production, while the remote and western areas, where production stopped during the collapse of the Soviet Union, are forced to literally struggle for existence. Ultimately, unemployment and a low standard of living led to the fact that most of the residents of the Sakhalin periphery turned to poachers. Illegal shooting of wild animals and the extraction of red caviar using barbaric methods are slowly but surely causing irreparable damage to the nature of the great island...

Climate and nature

When going on a trip to Sakhalin, it is better to prepare in advance for weather surprises. Since the island's climate is temperate and monsoon, the weather here is not stable. Local snowy and frosty winters are actively “helped” by atmospheric vortices, bringing with them strong snowstorms. Spring here is long and cold, but summer is relatively warm, but short and often rainy. Another weather problem for Sakhalin is frequent and unpredictable cyclones, bringing with them destructive typhoons and floods.

Sakhalin is an island with a unique ecosystem that was formed in a certain isolation. The terrain is formed by small mountains, low mountains and, to a lesser extent, lowland plains, with 2/3 of the territory occupied by taiga. By the way, there is no shortage of fresh water on Sakhalin: 17 rivers and over 16 thousand lakes abundantly provide life-giving moisture to the island’s flora and fauna. Despite the fact that the flora and fauna of Sakhalin is somewhat poorer compared to the mainland or the nearest Japanese island of Hokkaido, it has something to surprise wildlife lovers. About 136 species of animals and almost 133 species of local plants are listed in the Red Book. In addition, here you can find endemic (growing or living only in a specific place) representatives of the animal and plant world.

Sakhalin has become a truly paradise for fans of fishing and hunting. The abundance of fish and game in local forests and waters is difficult to describe in words. The Sakhalin taiga is also rich in mushrooms and berries. To collect a tasty “tribute”, it is not necessary to delve into the impenetrable jungle. Lingonberries, blueberries, cranberries, and redberries can be found here under almost every bush. However, going to the other side of the country solely for the gifts of the forest is not entirely reasonable, especially since the natural resources of the island are not limited to berry fields and fishing spots. There are also thermal springs, bathing in which can relieve chronic diseases, and fabulous caves filled with stalactite crystals, and sites of ancient man. However, it is worth noting that most of the entertainment here is suitable for those who are easy-going and ready to show at least minimal physical activity. Rafting, windsurfing, skiing and snowboarding, kayaking, mountaineering and paragliding, descending into mountain caves and unforgettable cycling - this is not a complete list of activities that Sakhalin is ready to offer supporters of an active lifestyle.

Sights of Sakhalin

The main and most valuable attraction of Sakhalin is its amazing nature. People come here not for high-quality European service and glossy sights, but for the delightful atmosphere of complete unity with nature, active recreation and an amazing feeling of complete freedom.

Reserves

The most convenient and correct option for getting to know the wildlife of Sakhalin Island is local nature reserves, the most interesting of which is the Vostochny State Nature Reserve. You can get here only with a special permit issued by the forest department, but the red tape with a pass is more than compensated by the impressions of the visit. It is here that you can encounter such a rare phenomenon for the island as dark coniferous taiga, watch how pink salmon, chum salmon and coho salmon go to spawn, and photograph clumsy sea lions resting on the coastal rocks. To get acquainted with the Sakhalin grouse and reindeer, it is better to go to the Nogliki Nature Reserve. In the fall, reindeer racing is held here, so if your visit to the island coincides with the autumn season, do not miss the opportunity to attend this unusual event. Well, the most interesting place to watch bird “bazaars” is in the Poronaysky Nature Reserve, which occupies the eastern part of Sakhalin and the Terpeniya Peninsula.

Volcanoes

Infernal vents filled with lava splashing in all directions are not about Sakhalin volcanoes. Here the craters erupt... earth mixed with water. The Pugachevsky and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsky mud volcanoes even look non-trivial. Regular circles, devoid of vegetation and dotted with miniature “pores” of craters, are reminiscent of cosmic landscapes from a science-fiction blockbuster. By the way, the last major eruption from the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsky volcano occurred in 2011, as a result of which a new mud field was formed in its vicinity.

Thermal springs

Sakhalin nature not only pleases the eye, but also heals the body. If you find yourself on the island, be sure to swim in the Sinegorsk mineral springs, because water with such a unique composition is found only on Sakhalin and Adler. Today, there are 4 mineral wells in the Sinegorsk deposit, the water from which is used for drinking, as well as for the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems.

In the northeast of Sakhalin Island, in the Nogliki region, there is another unusual place - the Daginsky thermal springs, which are funnel-shaped depressions in silty soil. Healing water with a high content of alkali, as well as silicic acid and a temperature reaching +40...+45 ° C, helps in the treatment of infertility and joint diseases. Once upon a time there was a hydropathic clinic on the adjacent territory, but then the place gradually fell into disrepair. Today, only a modest cabana reminds of the former glory of the natural resort. However, this did not make the springs any less healing, and the place is still popular with both the local population and tourists.

Lakes

One of the largest lakes on Sakhalin Island is Tunaicha. Located in the vicinity of the village of Okhotskoye, this beautiful reservoir is famous for the fact that it is home to about 29 species of fish. In addition, it is in Tunaichu that Sakhalin salmon comes to spawn. Officially, industrial fishing is prohibited here, but from August to September, amateurs are allowed to sit on the shores of the lake with a fishing rod.

Those who like more secluded places should book a tour to the South Kamyshov Ridge, where the fabulous lakes of Mount Spamberg are lost on a picturesque plateau. 18 pristine reservoirs, created as a result of rock collapses, have their own, partially isolated ecosystem. The plateau section is also famous for the fact that numerous springs and waterfalls in the Sakhalin region originate from here. Here you can also find the main waterfall of the island – Shuisky.

Caves

Sakhalin is one of the most successful places for novice speleologists. You should start getting acquainted with the local caves from Mount Vaida. There are plenty of fantastic multi-level dungeons decorated with bizarre sinter formations. The intricate network of wells, underground passages and halls of Wajda is assigned a medium level of difficulty, so during the caving tour you will hardly have to complain about the mediocrity and monotony of the excursion. A trip to the Bear Tragedies Cave will bring no less impressions. The gloomy stone hall, which has become a kind of cemetery for bear remains, is etched in the memory for a long time. Once upon a time, during archaeological excavations, objects of ancient cult were found here, as well as tools of labor of the first people.

43 km from Sakhalin, in the Strait of Tartary, is the island of Moneron. Today these lands are empty, although the first settlers appeared here in the first millennium BC. For some time, the island belonged to the Japanese, who seriously deteriorated its ecology by destroying most of the coniferous forests. A reminder of this era is the lighthouse that remains here in memory of Japanese colonization. Today Moneron has the status of a natural park and is actively visited by travelers. About 37 species of plants listed in the Red Book grow on the island, but among tourists Moneron is better known as a place for bird “bazaars”, as well as rookeries for sea lions and seals.

Hunters and fishermen

Tourists who come to Sakhalin to sit with a fishing rod and shoot local game have several recreation centers at their disposal. As a rule, these are hotel-type houses located in particularly picturesque and at the same time inaccessible places on the island. You often have to use special equipment to get to them, but for real adventurers this is by no means an obstacle. “Upper”, “Moguchi”, “Nizhnyaya” - each of the bases offers a similar range of services, including fishing, hunting, a Russian bath and other “brutal” pleasures. You can also get hold of hunting trophies in special farms. For example, the hunting family farm “Geeva” in the village. Nogliki invites its guests to “go” bear or moose hunting. 50 km from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk there is the Okhotsk farm, where anyone can shoot hares and ducks, and also try to catch chum salmon, pink salmon or taimen.

For skiers

On the outskirts of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is located the main ski slope of the island - the tourist complex "Mountain Air". You can relax here with your whole family at any time of the year, but the base attracts the maximum number of guests during the winter months. Skiing, snowboarding, tubing - for each sport there is its own type of equipped trails with a total length of about 10 km. There is a rental of sports equipment on the territory of the complex, in addition, all slopes of the camp site are equipped with special lifts. In summer, people come here to paraglide or rent a bike for exploring the surrounding area.

Mineral springs, volcanoes, ski slopes - all this is certainly interesting, but not entirely original. If you are one of those who crave unusual sights, welcome to the Krasnogorsk Yew Forest. There is no such green area, entirely consisting of hundred-year-old yew trees, in any other corner of the planet. You can get a lot of positive emotions and just as many spectacular photographs on Tyuleniy Island, where the largest rookery of marine mammals is located. Fans of anomalous places covered in mystical legends should look into the outskirts of Frog. Well, you can taste the delicious gifts of Sakhalin nature at the Uspenovsky cranberry gardens. A vast treeless space, completely covered with a carpet of berries, will appear in your dreams for a long time.

Museums

Despite the fact that Sakhalin is considered to be the land of nature tourism, some cultural entertainment is also available here. Art connoisseurs will be interested in visiting the exhibition of the art museum, which is located on Lenin Street in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. You can get acquainted with the history, as well as the flora and fauna of the island, at the local history museum, located in a colorful Japanese house on Kommunistichesky Avenue. If you come with children, be sure to take time to visit the zoo and botanical park, where you can see rare and endangered species of local animals. The Museum of the History of the Sakhalin Railway, which contains rare examples of railway equipment, also offers its guests an interesting and educational excursion.

How to get there

You can get to Sakhalin relatively quickly and comfortably by plane. The Russian company Aeroflot operates several direct flights from Moscow to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. A standard flight usually takes from 8 to 9 hours. An option for those who are not looking for an easy route is the Vanino-Kholmsk ferry crossing. To get to the port of Vanino (Khabarovsk Territory), you must purchase a train ticket in advance on the route: Moscow-Khabarovsk or Moscow-Vladivostok (the trip lasts from 5 to 6 days). It is better to get from Khabarovsk railway station to Vanino by taxi. The final stage of the journey is boarding the ferry and a 14-hour sail through the Tatar Strait.