Connecting continents. Which bridges take the breath away of all travelers. Phuket island in the history of Thailand Weather in Phuket, tourist seasons
One of the little-known attractions of Crimea is the island of Tuzla. It is located in the southern part of the Kerch Strait. Covered mostly with sand. The island has the shape of an arc, the length of which is almost 6 kilometers. During severe storms, part of the island goes under water.
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Since ancient times, when sea level was 4 meters lower, Tuzla Island has been part of the Taman Peninsula. And if you look at maps that are 200-500 years old, you can see that the island of Tuzla either split into several islands or connected with the Taman Peninsula.
The last time the island of Tuzla was connected to the mainland was in November 1925. Then there was a strong storm and part of the land went 300 meters into the sea. A little later, after another storm, the island of Tuzla moved even further, almost one kilometer from the coast. The average depth in the sea between the island and the mainland is about 3 meters.
Infrastructure
On the island of Tuzla there is a small fishing village, several vegetable gardens and orchards, as well as two recreation centers. One of them has a small shop.
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There is electricity on the island. There are even two piers. There are two concrete roads along the shore. It is to strengthen the bank that concrete blocks are used. In the fall of 2015, the island of Tuzla was connected to the mainland by a bridge that is being built to connect Crimea with Russia.
Ukraine's dispute with Russia over the island of Tuzla
The two states have been arguing over this territory since the 90s of the last century. If Russia recognized that the island belongs to Ukraine, then all the ships that pass from the Black Sea to the Azov Sea would turn out to be sailing through the territory of Ukraine. Then all profits, including those from Russian ships, were supposed to go to the Ukrainian treasury. In 2003, Kuchma and Putin signed an agreement in which the Russian side actually recognized the island of Tuzla as Ukrainian, and Ukraine had no claims to Russian ships.
In March 2014, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the Kerch Strait could no longer be a subject of discussion with Ukraine.
It rightfully occupies the most important place among the other islands of Thailand. It is not only the largest Thai island, but also one of the smallest provinces (only Samut Songkhram is smaller). That is why it is not marked on the map with the word Koh, which means island. The province of Phuket includes the island of Phuket itself and 39 other islands surrounding it and is equal in area to Singapore.
One version of the formation of Phuket says that the island was formerly part of the mainland and separated as a result of tectonic activity. Vivid evidence of tectonic shifts is where 43 large and small islands are located.
Ancient map of Siam
The arrowheads that were found by archaeologists in the Kamala area are over 3,000 years old, meaning Phuket was inhabited several thousand years ago. Whether the descendants of the Stone Age people lived here, some of whom can still be seen (the Mani and Sakai peoples), is still unknown. They disappeared from the provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. Other early inhabitants of Phuket are the Sea Gypsies (Mokenov and Cheo Le), who migrated here from the Nicobar and Andaman Islands and still inhabit the coastal areas. They have their own language, culture and religion, different from the Thais.
Fountain in Phuket Town, 20s
The first settlers may have been nomadic sailors from India and Burma during the early Iron Age. Even before our era, the island of Phuket became a convenient place for traders traveling from the Indian Peninsula to China. At that time, Phuket was known by the names Manikram, which translated from Tamil as “Crystal Mountain”, and Hai Leng from the Chinese “Sea Dragon of the Indian Ocean”. Claudius Ptolemy, in his Geography, compiled in the 2nd century AD, mentions a port in the west of the Malacca Peninsula called Takola, referring to modern Phuket. But now this fact is increasingly being refuted, moving the port further north to the mainland, to the area of Phang Nga province.
Yaowarat Street in the 20s
Although the island of Phuket was not a major city on the Great Silk Road, trade ships from Persia, Sri Lanka, Arabia, India, Burma, China and Siam entered the port, which could not but affect the life of the island. Immigrants began to appear: Malays, Indians, Siamese, who brought their culture, religion and traditions. But until the 16th century, the island of Phuket, like the entire coast of the Andaman Sea, was attacked by pirates. It was only when the ancient Thai state of Ayutthaya began to fight with Malacca for control of the strait and trade routes, and the Portuguese colonists moved a little further east, that Phuket appeared in the first international written sources under the name Junk Ceylon. And Siamese records from the time of King Naraya spoke about the island of Muang Thalang or Thalang Bangkhli. Thus, you understood that Phuket had many names, which were reflected in the name of the region of Thalang Island and the name. The most likely version of the origin of the name Phuket is from the Malay word Bukit, which translates as “hill, mountain”. The island was first called that during the reign of Rama V. And in 1967, the name was officially changed to Phuket.
Thalang Street in the 1920s
In the 14th century, tin deposits were discovered in Phuket, and Europeans began to flock here: the Portuguese, French, British and Danes, who at first had limited access to the mines. The period of the “tin boom” occurred in the 19th century, and at the end of the century, the island of Phuket became the second most developed city in Siam, second only to Bangkok. Thousands of ambitious Chinese workers flocked to Phuket to work in the mines of European owners or to serve under foreigners. The Chinese brought with them traditional culture, religion and cooking. The new settlers intermarried with local residents and created a special culture called “Baba-Yaya”. The ethnic composition of the island changed, Chinese settlers occupied the middle of the island, pushing Muslim residents to the coasts and north. The Portuguese, by order of the governor, could take full ownership of the mine if they built a street in modern Phuket Town, and this is how the streets of Montri, Dibuk and others appeared. Over time, many Chinese workers and traders became rich and built mansions for their families. In 1830, British Ambassador John Crawford wrote about the new settlers: “The Chinese are the most valuable product brought to Siam from China.” The influence of the Sino-Portuguese style can be fully felt while walking through the narrow streets of old Phuket Town.
The most important event of the island of Phuket is the attack of the Burmese in 1785 and the feat of the heroine sisters. At that difficult time, most of the men left the island to participate in hostilities on the mainland. The governor's wife, Chan (her name is also pronounced Jan), was mourning her untimely death when news reached her of an impending Burmese attack. Then the brave Chan, with the support of her younger sister Muk, gathered all the women, shaved their heads bald and dressed them in men's clothes. With fake weapons made of palm leaves, everyone lined up on the rampart blocking the entrance to Phuket. The Burmese besieged the ford for about a month, but then retreated. King Rama I, having learned about such a feat, granted the title Thao Thep Kasatri Chan and the title Thao Si Soonthon to her sister Muk. One of the main streets of Phuket island is now named Thep Kasatri in honor of Chan, there is a monument to the two heroine sisters on it, and nearby is the Si Sunthon Temple in honor of Muk. Every year on March 13, the Heroines Day is celebrated, and Thais, driving past the monument, always greet the sisters.
Monument to the heroine sisters in the 50s
In parallel with tin mining, other industries developed in Phuket: growing Hevea trees, shrimp and fishing. These industries were mainly carried out by Siamese and Malays. Rubber trees appeared on the island at the beginning of the 20th century thanks to the governor of Trang province, Phraya Ratsad. At that time, rubber plantations occupied 40% of the island's vegetation, but today they have declined to only 30%.
Tin mines in the 1920s
In the 20th century, tin mines were depleted, and the value of tin on the world market fell completely. During the Japanese occupation, trade and business in the country declined, and several Chinese families remained afloat in Phuket. Thanks to their hard work and skills, the island of Phuket was reborn. In modern society, many influential people are of Chinese descent. For example, the current governor of Phuket is one of the descendants of Chinese settlers.
Crossing from Phuket to the mainland, 1952
By the 1980s, it was impossible not to appreciate the environmental damage from the by-products of tin processing, and local residents staged mass protests against the construction of new plants. In 1992, the last tin mine was closed. Paradoxically, tin mining marked the beginning of tourism. Golf courses and a famous one were built on the site of tin mines. However, there are almost no natural lakes in Phuket; all reservoirs were formed as a result of tin mining.
A family of Chinese immigrants in national clothes in the 20s
The first few tourists began to appear in Phuket at the beginning of the 20th century. John Carrington wrote in 1906 about the island of Phuket: “One of the most beautiful and charming places in the world.” Like most Asian resorts, mass tourism in Phuket was founded by hippies in the 70s. The Sarasin Bridge was built in 1967, linking the island of Phuket with the mainland, and was officially opened in 1976, allowing American soldiers, and then American tourists, to easily reach the island paradise on vacation.
Sarasin Bridge in the 70s
In 1976, the first hotel in Phuket was built - Impiana Resort in Patong. At that time, the most developed beach now looked like a small village with bamboo huts, a dusty road and an absolutely wild beach. The pass from Patong to Karon was quite dangerous due to landslides and the one who carried the clay road during the rains. Over time, asphalt was laid, traffic lights were installed, more hotels were built, shopping centers appeared - Phuket discovered a new source of income.
Bridge connecting Phuket island to the mainland, in the 70s
After Catholic Christmas, on December 26, 2004, a tsunami came to Phuket, killing more than 500 people on the island. As the Thais say, “the sea inhaled and exhaled.” Due to sheer ignorance, lack of warning systems and, unfortunately, the negligence of the Earthquake Authority, no warning was issued. “Such a warning will create negative reviews in the tourism industry if the tsunami does not happen,” the ministry decided. The beaches of Patong and Kamala, where wave heights reached 5 meters, were particularly affected. But the worst was the coast of Phang Nga province and the south of Ranong, where the wave height reached 11.6 meters. This disaster has affected the lives of every Thai resident. The grandson of King Rama IX, who was at that time on a yacht off the coast of Khao Lak, died. But through the efforts of volunteers and the Thai government, which restored the island of Phuket day after day, Phoenix rose from the ashes. At the moment, all beaches have warning signs and warning systems have been established.
Phuket Island Airport
In recent years, the island of Phuket has been experiencing a new round of development in the tourism industry. Hotels, new shopping centers are being built, and new interesting places are opening for guests of the island. The Thai government has some projects planned to improve Phuket. A budget of US$180 million has been allocated for the development of the airport; by March 2015, it will be able to accommodate 12.5 million passengers per year. A new Conference Center will be built in the Mai Khao area, with a capacity of 5,000 people. In 2014, we are all looking forward to the underground tunnel at the intersection, which will ease traffic congestion in Phuket Town. Two one-way tunnels through the mountain to Patong Beach are in the process of being approved by the administration. Phuket is changing for the better.
Patong Beach in the 80s
For the international community, Phuket's successes do not go unnoticed. More and more foreigners prefer to invest money in the development of projects on the island. Among them are millionaires noted by Forbes magazine: New Zealanders Richard and Christopher Chandler, Hong Kong resident Alan Zeman, Finnish Formula 1 star Kimi Raikkonen, British Indian-born Gulu Lalwani, who opened the well-known port Royal Phuket Marina. International magazines around the world are vying to include the island of Phuket and its hotels in the lists of the best holiday destinations in Southeast Asia. In 2011, Phuket was ranked 10th on Condé Nast Traveler's list of the World's Best Destinations, ranking resorts based on 10 criteria, and topped the criteria for "high quality at a reasonable price" and "hospitality". Two Anantara Phuket hotels
In conclusion, I would like to add that the island of Phuket is not just a world-famous resort, but a unique history that has passed through centuries is concentrated here. None of the popular resort destinations can boast such an interesting, brilliant, and sometimes sad experience behind them as the island of Phuket.
A tidal island is a piece of land that is connected to the mainland at low tide, when it can be reached by foot. However, during high tide, it is completely cut off from the mainland and becomes a real island. Tidal islands are sometimes connected to the mainland by an artificial causeway providing easy access for visitors wishing to access the island, but even this can be submerged by the sea. So before you decide to visit the island, check the tide times or be prepared to swim back.
1. Mount St Michael, UK
St Michael's Mount is a tidal island located 366 meters off the coast of Mount's Bay in Cornwall, UK. Connected to the town of Marazion by an artificial causeway made of granite paving stones, the parish is passable between mid tide and low tide. 
Chapel of St. Michael's is a 15th-century building with a battle tower, in one of the corners of which there is a small turret, which served as a guide for ships. According to some reports, any rise in sea levels, as well as natural erosion, could threaten some of Cornwall's coastlines, including St Michael's Mount.
2. Modo, South Korea
Modo Island is a small islet in Jindo, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, located near the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula. It is located southeast of Chindo Island and covers a distance of 1.1 km in length and 300 meters in width. 
Changes in sea level associated with the tide lead to a local phenomenon (the "Miracle of Moses"), when a piece of land 2.9 km long and 10-40 meters wide opens for an hour between the islands of Modo and Chindo. This event occurs about twice a year, around April-June. The event has long been celebrated at the local Sea Way Jindo festival, but was unknown to the world until 1975, when French Ambassador Pierre Randi described the phenomenon in a French newspaper. Currently, about half a million foreign and local tourists visit this festival every year.
3. Newquay Island, UK
The island of Newquay, located in Cornwall, is connected to the mainland by a suspension bridge. In fact, the huge 21-meter rocky outcrop appears to be an island only at high tide, but can be easily reached at low tide. The bridge, wide enough for a person to cross, was built in 1900. Although it is not intended for people with acrophobia, this bridge is quite safe and is checked for damage every year. 
There is only one house on the tiny island, which operates as an expensive hotel, offering bed and breakfast. The house is surrounded by a beautiful garden, which in turn is surrounded by either the sands of Newquay Beach or the sea - depending on the time of day.
4. Mont Saint Michel, France
Mont Saint-Michel is a rocky tidal island and commune in Normandy, France. It is located about a kilometer from the northwestern coast of the country, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near the city of Avranches. As of 2009, the island's population is 44 people. Since ancient times, the island has had strategic fortifications, and since the 8th century AD, this island has been home to a monastery, from which it takes its name. Mont Saint-Michel and the adjacent bay are included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. More than 3 million people visit it every year. 
Mont Saint-Michel was previously connected to the mainland through a tidal causeway, that is, through a path hidden at high tide and open at low tide. However, today, this island is connected to the mainland by a light suspension bridge that was built over the past few years.
5. Haji Ali Mosque, India
The Haji Ali Mosque is a mosque and shrine located on an islet off the coast of Worli in southern Mumbai. Located near the heart of the city, the mosque is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Mumbai. 
Access to the mosque depends on the tides. Since the dam is not secured by railings, it becomes inaccessible during high tides. Thus, the mosque can only be accessed at low tide. This walk along the causeway, with the sea on both sides, is one of the highlights of the trip to the shrine.
6. Bumpy Island, UK
Bumpy Island is a tidal island between the Rough Firth and the Solway Firth, in Scotland. At its highest point, the height of the island is 24 meters. 
Since 1937, the island has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The island is a bird sanctuary accessible at low tide via Kippford Dam, but is closed during May and June due to the nesting season of Oystercatchers and Ringed Plover.
7. Eilean Donan Castle, UK
Eilean Donan is a small island in Loch Duich in the western mountains of Scotland. It is connected to the mainland by a footbridge and lies about half a mile from the village of Dornie. 
According to legend, Donnán founded a church here, although at the moment there is no trace of it left. On the island there is a picturesque castle, which is familiar to the world from many photographs. The castle was founded in the thirteenth century, but was destroyed in the eighteenth century. The present building is the result of a twentieth-century renovation. 
Eilean Donan Castle is one of 40 sites in the Kintail National Park in Scotland. As of 2001, only 1 person lived on the island.
8. Mannø, Denmark
Mannø is one of the Danish Wadden Sea islands. It is located on the southwestern coast of the Jutland Peninsula, Denmark in the Wadden Sea, which is part of the North Sea. The island covers an area of 7.63 square kilometers and has 62 inhabitants. It is located approximately 12 km southwest of the ancient city of Ribe. 
Mannyo is difficult to reach during high tide, only if you walk along the unpaved surface of the causeway, which is about four kilometers long and connects the island to the mainland. The island is surrounded by extensive mudflats and tidal marshes, which provide a fertile environment for nesting birds and breeding other species. In past centuries, a large earthen dam was built around the entire perimeter of the island, although significantly removed from the coastline. This ploy made it possible to engage in conventional agriculture in the form of growing grain and herding sheep.
9. Lindisfarne, UK
Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and is a parish in Northumberland. Most of the island, and all adjacent tidal areas, are protected as part of Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve to help protect populations of internationally important wintering birds. 
Lindisfarne is a popular tourist destination. Being on a tidal island, tourists can experience it in a state of tranquility as most day trippers leave before high tide. At low tide you can walk across the sands along an ancient route known as the Pilgrims' Way. This path is marked with posts and provides shelter cabins for those who decide to leave the island too late.
10. Burgh Island, UK
Burgh Island is a small tidal island off the coast of South Devon in England, close to the small seaside village of Bigbury-on-Sea. There are several buildings on the island, the largest of which is the Art Deco Burgh Island Hotel. Other buildings include three private houses and the Pilchard Inn, a public house operated by the hotel. 
The island lies approximately 250m from the mainland at Bigbury-on-Sea and can be reached on foot at low tide. During high tide, a sea tractor owned by the hotel transports passengers back and forth. 
The first marine tractor was built in 1930, and the current tractor, the third generation, was made in 1969. The tractor moves along the sandy bottom of the beach using wheels submerged in the water, and its driver and passengers sit on a high platform. Power from the Fordson tractor engine is transmitted to the wheels using hydraulic motors.
11. Cramond Island, UK
Cramond Island is one of several islands that lie in the Firth of Forth in eastern Scotland, near Edinburgh. Situated approximately 1 mile out to sea, the tidal island of Cramond is only connected to the mainland at low tide. 
At low tide there is a paved passage providing easy access to the island. On one side this causeway lies at the foot of a series of cement pillars that were built as a defense against submarines during the Second World War and which are one of the most striking landmarks in the area. 
At high tide, the path is blocked by several feet of sea water, which cuts off the island from the mainland. At low tide it is safe to walk to the island along the raised causeway, but visitors should ensure they have enough time to return to the mainland before the water rises.
12. Bar Island, USA
Bar Island is a tidal island located opposite Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, Maine, United States. The uninhabited island is covered in pine and birch forest and is part of Acadia National Park. There are paths on the island. 
The sand and gravel bar opens only for a couple of hours at low tide, connecting Bar Island to Bridge Street in Bar Harbor. At low tide, visitors often walk or park on the exposed sandbar. However, from the island side, the locked gate reveals only a small area bordered by thick sea rose bushes, high enough to provide safe parking. There have been many cases where visitors have returned from a trip to find their cars submerged under water, thus stranding them on the island until the next low tide.
13. Fort Lavoie, France
Fort Lavoie is a coastal fort built on a cliff between the islands of Oleron and Marenne. It was built in 1691 - 1694. according to plans drawn up by Vauban, a famous military engineer who served under Louis XIV. 
With a horseshoe-shaped outer wall and a central tower protected by a drawbridge and moat, this fortress resembles a medieval castle. 
Fort Lavoie was designed to defend the southern approaches to the mouth of the Charente, catching enemy ships in a gunfight from the citadel on Oleron. This prevented the enemy from sailing up the river to attack the naval dockyard at Rochefort. During low tide, the fort is connected to the mainland by a 400-meter causeway.
14. Hilbra, UK
Hilbre Island is the largest of a group of three islands at the mouth of the River Dee, which forms part of the estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest. Since 2012, there are no permanent residents on the island. 
During low tide, this tidal island can be reached by foot from the mainland. During the summer months, this walk is one of the main attractions for tourists. The route from Red Rock to Hoylake was open until the late 1970s, but has now been closed due to high tide risks and visitors are advised to travel from West Kirby. The neighboring islands of Little Eye and Middle Eye are uninhabited, but Hilbre Island has a number of houses, some of which are privately owned. 
The Sarasin Bridge is the link between the island and the mainland. It was built in the late 60s of the last century, and since then it has helped a large flow of tourists freely cross the border between the sea and a real tropical paradise called Phuket.
The length of the bridge is about 500 meters, and in the old days the island was a cape under the already familiar name Jungceylon. Nowadays, in memory of the past, the famous shopping center in Patong is named this way.
After water conquered the thin edge of land, and this was approximately in the 2nd-3rd centuries. AD, local residents and guests of the island faced the problem of transportation. Communication with Phuket was carried out through the use of watercraft. The favorable geographical location and the strong interest of seafaring merchants greatly influenced the development of the island. And over the centuries, tin mining began in Phuket, which was found here in huge quantities in the 16th century. Over time, the tin deposits began to dwindle, and then the people began to have a new monetary interest in the island—tourist interest. So it was decided to build a bridge. The first tourists to set foot on Sarasin were the American military. Over the course of three to four decades, Phuket has developed into a modern tourism center that receives several hundred tourists from all over the world per year.
Over time, Sarasin became overgrown with legends and shrouded in a mystical aura. The Thais are a superstitious people and prone to attributing magical powers to everything and everyone; this fate did not spare the bridge. A legend that still circulates among the people says that Sarasin is a favorite place for suicides, and it all started when a couple of lovers jumped off it holding hands several decades ago. And it was like that. A guy from the common people fell in love with a girl from a rich society, and she reciprocated his feelings. Soon her parents found out about the lovers’ secret affair and locked the young lady at home. The unfortunate groom stole her and offered to be together in heaven, if this was impossible on earth. Afterwards, the unfortunates tied each other with a rope and threw themselves into the whirlpool. According to legend, they were buried tied together. But people also have a more optimistic name for the bridge - “Gateway to Heaven”.
These days, the Sarasin Bridge allows easy access to the neighboring provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi, which are replete with national parks and deserted beaches. The bridge also has excellent routes to many other regions of Thailand.
Recently, another bridge was built parallel to Sarasin. He bears the name Thao Тhep Krasatry. which denotes the title attributed to the heroine sisters who liberated Phuket from Burmese enemies.
When crossing the bridge, according to tradition, you need to hold your breath and make a wish. If you hold out from the beginning of the bridge to the end, then it will definitely come true. Thais don’t like to bother themselves with anything, so given that the bridge is about half a kilometer long, you won’t have to hold your breath for very long. So go ahead and make your wishes come true on the Sarasin Bridge in Phuket!
This proximity has long been tantalizing the imagination of enterprising people who put forward a seemingly crazy idea - to connect the mainland with Sakhalin. And in the future, it is possible to connect the island by rail with the mainland and Japan. And if the second part of this idea is still being passed through the science fiction department, the first part is already on the agenda.
Today, Russia on the Pacific coast is locked in by the limited capabilities of several ports in Primorye and the Khabarovsk Territory. Three large transport hubs - Vladivostok, Nakhodka and Vaninsky - have direct access to the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Baikal-Amur Mainline. This opens up wide opportunities for the transit of goods from the countries of the Asia-Pacific region to Europe and back.
The remaining ports are either small or frozen, so at least several months of the year are idle. However, it is not yet possible to fully exploit the potential of the large transport catches of the Far East. Currently, their common problem is insufficient carrying capacity. Modernization of ports, port communications and railways alone will not solve this problem.
The capacity of transport hubs in the Far East will always lag behind the rapidly growing needs of both Russia and its neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region, who need the shortest route to Europe.
Thus, the conclusion suggests itself - the problem can be solved radically by creating a new gateway for Russia in the Far East. Where should they be? The answer is clear - on Sakhalin.
In the south of the island today there are two large ice-free ports - Kholmsk and Korsakov. They are connected to the railway. At the same time, the capabilities of these ports are not used to their full potential. In order to use them one hundred percent in the interests of Russia and its partners in the Asia-Pacific region, it is necessary to implement a project that has been in the air for more than a hundred years.
The idea of connecting Sakhalin with the mainland was expressed back in the 19th century by the explorer of the Far East Gennady Nevelsky. At the beginning of the 20th century, a specific proposal already appeared for the construction of a dam, locks and a seaport in the strait named after him. But historical circumstances did not allow us to begin a specific consideration of this project. At this time, the supply of Sakhalin and the reception of return cargo went through the ports of the Primorsky Territory, where the Trans-Siberian Railway ended. During the Great Patriotic War, the railway was built to the coast of the Tatar Strait, where the Vanino sea trade port began to be built and expanded. The transport system connecting the mainland and the island territory has improved markedly.
The most realistic attempt to connect the island with the mainland by a railway tunnel was made in the middle of the last century. In May 1953, the USSR Council of Ministers adopted a resolution to begin construction of a railway line between Komsomolsk-on-Amur and Pobedino station on Sakhalin. The mainland Cape Lazarev on the shore of the Nevelskoy Strait was supposed to be connected by an underwater tunnel with the island Cape Pogibi.
120 kilometers of railway track were laid on the mainland; it stretched along the right bank of the Amur from Selikhino station to Black Cape station. At Cape Lazarev, where the tunnel to Sakhalin was supposed to begin, a mine shaft was dug, and an artificial island was poured into the strait. However, after Stalin's death, work on the project was stopped.
Of course, Sakhalin was not left without communication with the mainland. The rapid development of the economy of both the Far East and Sakhalin required solving the transport problem. The answer to this challenge of the time was the creation of a ferry crossing on the Vanino – Kholmsk line. But today no one doubts that the ferry complex has exhausted its capabilities and cannot provide stable communication between the island and the mainland. Moreover, it becomes clear that modernizing the ferry crossing at very high costs for 10–20 years will reduce the severity of the transport problem only for Sakhalin, but will not help solve the much more important problem of integrating the Russian economy into the Asia-Pacific region.
A fundamental solution to the problem will be the construction of a 582-kilometer railway line from the Selikino station in the Khabarovsk Territory to the Nysh station on Sakhalin. With the construction of a railway crossing across the Nevelskoy Strait.
According to specialists and experts, only this “option” will ensure a stable transport connection between Sakhalin and the mainland. This is an important socio-economic and geopolitical task. Its relevance is determined by three main reasons.
This, as already said, is the practical exhaustion of the technical capabilities of the Vanino-Kholmsk ferry crossing. The Institute of Railway Transport Design "GIPROTRANS-TEI" - a branch of OJSC "Russian Railways" - has already developed a "Feasibility study for investments in the construction of the mainland - island railway line." Sakhalin with a tunnel (bridge) crossing through the Nevelskoy Strait and the development (modernization) of the railway network of the island. Sakhalin". The implementation of this project is provided for in the strategies for the socio-economic development of the Far East and the Baikal region for the period until 2025 and the development of railway transport in the Russian Federation until 2030. The subprogram “Railway Transport” of the Federal Target Program “Development of the Transport System of the Russian Federation (2010–2015)” provides for the start of financing of design work in 2015. The project implementation period is from 2015 to 2030.
True, according to many analysts dealing with this issue, such deadlines do not correspond to the existing need. According to forecasts, by 2015 the need for cargo transportation between Sakhalin and the mainland will increase to 6.8 million tons, and by 2025 - to 9.2 million tons. It is assumed that the largest volumes of cargo will go to the mainland - 4.5 and 6.2 million tons, respectively. The projected increase in cargo traffic is mainly associated with an increase in the production and sale of coal mined in the Uglegorsk region of the Sakhalin region, and the need to deliver cargo to the island for the construction of new large power generation and processing industry facilities.
The second significant factor is the acceleration of the socio-economic development of the island and high investment activity in the Sakhalin region, which is quickly becoming the largest oil and gas producing region in Russia and North-East Asia, where leading foreign corporations have entered with their capital and technologies.
And the third important point, which is of enormous importance for Russia and all countries of the Asia-Pacific region that need fast and cheap transport links with Europe: the creation of a transport link between Sakhalin and the mainland opens up enormous opportunities for transcontinental transit.
For the Japanese side, this project opens up special prospects. Connecting Sakhalin with the mainland takes the project of a bridge between the Land of the Rising Sun and the Russian island out of the realm of science fiction. 43 kilometers between Sakhalin and Hokkaido is quite a bit. Especially when you consider that back in 1988, Hokkaido was connected by the world’s longest 54-kilometer underwater tunnel, Seikan, with the main Japanese island of Honshu. So it will be a matter of little things - to connect the Land of the Rising Sun with Russia. In this case, Japan, one of the largest economies in the world, will have direct access to the railway transport infrastructure of Eurasia.
Recently, answering questions from representatives of Russian and foreign media at a press conference held in the Moscow office of RIA Novosti, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District, the Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East, Viktor Ishaev, once again stated the need to build a railway and a bridge , which will connect Sakhalin with the mainland. “We definitely need to build a bridge to Sakhalin. This is a wonderful project,” he said.
“If the project is implemented, it will not just be a “thread” that connects Sakhalin and the mainland, but a real “rope.” Freight flows in both directions will increase significantly, and prices on Sakhalin will decrease significantly,” says the governor of the Sakhalin region, Alexander Khoroshavin.
“The idea of building a bridge between Sakhalin and the mainland has a right to exist. “It would change life on Sakhalin in the most significant way,” Chairman of the Russian Government Dmitry Medvedev also said during his visit to Sakhalin, which took place in July of this year.