Sakhalin average annual temperature. Open left menu Sakhalin. Treatment on Sakhalin

Sakhalin is the largest island that is part of and looks like an elongated fish. Every year this place attracts the attention of tourists who want to plunge into the atmosphere of pristine natural landscapes, of which there are a great many on the island. Lovers of ecotourism come to Sakhalin to enjoy the picturesque landscapes and relax away from civilization. Geographically, the island is significantly remote from the rest of Russia, so not every tourist knows where Sakhalin is.

Where is Sakhalin Island

If you carefully study the map of Russia, you will see that the island is located in the eastern part of the Asian coast and is washed by the waters of the Sea of ​​Japan and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Sakhalin's closest neighbor in the southeast is the island of Hokaido, which belongs to. Sakhalin is separated from land by the Tatar Strait, and the natural border between Hokaido is the La Perouse Strait.

Almost half of the island is considered part of the Sakhalin region, which also includes. The southernmost point of Sakhalin is Cape Krillon, the northernmost point is Cape Elizabeth. The island stretches 947 kilometers in length, and its width varies from 27 to 162 kilometers. On an area of ​​76,000 square kilometers there are 11 zones of natural significance that play an important role in shaping the landscape of Sakhalin.

Due to the fact that Sakhalin consists of territories that are diverse in structure, the island’s topography is not harmonious. Thus, in the south of Sakhalin the landscape mainly consists of mountain systems, and in the north there are many hilly plains.

Most of Sakhalin's population is concentrated in the Susunai Lowland area. Large cities such as Aniva and Dolinsk are also located here.

Origin of the island's name

The name of the island is ambiguous, since at different periods of time Sakhalin was also called in the Japanese manner Sakhalia Karafuto, Sakharin or Kabafuto. According to historical data, on one of the old European maps of the 19th century, in the place where the Amur has its mouth, the inscription “Sachalien anga-hata” was recorded, which in Mongolian is pronounced “Sakhalyan-ulla” and translates as “rocks of the black river.” After discovering the island G.I. Nevelsky assigned the name Sakhalin to this territory, which exists to this day.

The Japanese name Karafuto originates in the ancient Ainu dialect, according to the transcription of which “kamuy-kara-puto-ya-mosir” is a phrase translated as “land of the god of the mouth.” Today this name is practically not used in Japan, replacing it with “Saccharin”.

History of Sakhalin

Scientists date the mention of the first people who appeared on Sakhalin to the Early Paleolithic period, which began about 300 thousand years ago. Archaeological excavations on the island give grounds to assert that formed settlements already existed on Sakhalin during the Neolithic period. During the Middle Ages, the island was inhabited by the Ainu, who came from Japanese Hokaido, and the Nivkhs, who previously lived at the mouth of the Amur.

Throughout the 19th century, Sakhalin was officially under the rule of the Chinese emperors, and the island itself was not subject to detailed study. A landmark event for Sakhalin was the expedition in 1849 led by the talented navigator G.I. Nevelsky, who discovered a narrow strait and proved that Sakhalin is an island.

At the end of the 19th century, an agreement was concluded between Russia and Japan defining the territorial affiliation of the island. Japan received the northern coast of the Kuril Islands, and Sakhalin went to Russia. During the Russo-Japanese War, most of Sakhalin began to belong to the Japanese, but in 1945 the situation changed dramatically and Soviet troops managed to defend the island. Today Sakhalin is the most important object in Russia and combines the features of Japanese, Mongolian and Russian cultures.

How to get to Sakhalin

Knowing where the largest island in Russia is located, you can choose your own travel method. The most popular among tourists are: plane; ferry.

As for air travel, there is a direct flight from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk airport, which will take you to your destination in 8 hours. This option is acceptable if it saves time. However, be prepared that the ticket may be expensive. Some airlines offer tourists a flight with a transfer to, after which you will fly about another 7 hours to the capital of the island. Planes also fly to Sakhalin from countries such as Japan and.

As a rule, travelers choose a route that includes a water crossing. To do this, you should first purchase a ticket for any train to, or Komsomolsk-on-Amur, and then get to the village of Vanino. A bus will take you from the Vanino railway station to the place where the ferries depart from.

Ferries run daily in the evening and end their journey in Kholmsk, where you can easily buy a bus ticket to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. This method is quite expensive in terms of time resources, but is economical.

Features of the flora and fauna of Sakhalin

Thanks to its unique climatic conditions and good ecology, the animal and natural world of Sakhalin is very diverse. Representatives of the fauna such as bear, deer, wolverine, otter, mink, sea lion, raccoon dog, sable, etc. live here. About 379 species of birds nest in the lowlands of the island, on the shores of seas and rivers. Every spring, in local reservoirs you can see schools of salmon rushing to their annual spawning. Excursions are often organized for this amazing spectacle.

Most vacationers on Sakhalin strive to get to Tyuleniy Island, where large concentrations of rare fur seals live. As a rule, the life of animals is observed from afar, since the island is under strict protection of local authorities and approaching it more than 27 miles is strictly prohibited.

The flora of Sakhalin has been studied by scientists for many decades and is represented by the families of orchids, heathers, buckwheats, asteraceae, sedges, ranunculaceae, cruciferous plants, etc. Sakhalin fir, larch, Ayan spruce, myra, yew, alder, birch, Japanese elm and maple grow in forest zones. Two thirds of the list of fauna and flora of Sakhalin are listed in the Red Book, being the natural wealth of Russia.

Natural attractions of Sakhalin

Possessing significant potential in the development of eco-tourism, the island attracts the attention of visitors due to the huge number of places with picturesque landscapes. When arriving in Sakhalin, be sure to visit:

• Salt lake Tunaicha, located 45 kilometers from the capital of Sakhalin. Exciting fishing, tasting dishes prepared according to traditional recipes, exploring the surrounding area, observing the life of birds - all this is offered by travel companies that organize excursions to Tunaichu.
• Capes Piltun, Juno and Krillon, famous for their untouched nature. The list of main entertainments includes: snorkeling, an excursion to the lighthouse, from where you can see gray whales, kayaking, self-cooking national cuisine, fishing, picking wild berries, rafting on catamarans with different levels of difficulty.
• Zhdanko Ridge, which is an ancient mountain formation of volcanic origin. In three days you will be able to explore the amazing waterfalls, climb the ridge accompanied by an experienced instructor and relax away from the bustle of the city.
• Ilya-Muromets and Ptichy waterfalls, which can only be reached as part of an excursion tour on off-road vehicles. Bears often come to the waterfall during salmon spawning, so if you wish, you can take some original photos from a safe distance. Both waterfalls are included in the list of particularly important geological objects of the Russian Federation.
• Volcano Kudryavy, located on the island of Iturup and known throughout the world for its unusual relief, creating mesmerizing pictures. Climbing to the top of the crater, you will find yourself in a world of solidified lava figures, geysers breaking out of the ground, abundant vegetation and basaltic volcanic rocks.
• Vaidinskaya Cave is a unique mountain formation consisting of three tiers separated by vertical stone wells. Inside the cave there is a glacier and vast spaces decorated with stalagmites, stalactites, and corallites of bizarre shapes. A visit to the cave is accompanied by a qualified guide and a group of other tourists.
• Snow-white cliffs on Iturup island, any local tour operator will help you get to them. The rocks have an unusual origin and consist mainly of volcanic glass, which creates a mystical visual effect in certain lighting. A sandy beach stretches along the cliffs for 27 kilometers, where tourists love to stroll in warm weather.
• Also, do not forget to include in your program an excursion to the regional art museum, a hot air balloon flight over the island and a museum where exhibitions of ancient railway equipment are displayed, which have no analogues in the world.

Treatment on Sakhalin

The island's natural resources, enriched with mineral waters and salts, make it possible to actively develop health tourism. Over the course of several decades, many healing springs have been discovered on Sakhalin, the water from which is used for medicinal purposes by local “health resorts”.

The Sakhalin sanatorium is based on springs containing high-arsenic carbonate waters, which help in curing many diseases.

It is worth mentioning the famous resort of Sinegorsk, where tourists from different countries flock every year. Sanatoriums in Sinegorsk have significant experience in the medical field and provide a high level of service.

In the coastal zone of Dagi Bay, specialized institutions have been built that use alkaline water in health programs. Here you can take a course of mud procedures aimed at restoring all body systems. Sapropel, sulfide and peat muds are excellent for treating serious problems in the area of ​​neuralgic disorders and have a beneficial effect on the circulatory system.

In the area of ​​the Mendeleev volcano there are many springs containing sulfur. Taking baths with such water has a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system and helps cure vascular diseases.

The main range of services in Sakhalin sanatoriums includes the prevention of cardiovascular, gynecological, digestive and endocrine diseases. Therefore, when you come to the island, you can not only find the best vacation option, but also improve your health.

The name of Sakhalin Island appeared as a result of an error on the map and the original name of the island was “Sakhalyan-ulla”, which meant “Black River”. The Japanese gave the island the name "Karafuto", that is, "Birch Island". And the indigenous Orok population named their native land “Nuchi-na”, which means “Little Land”.

The origin of the names of cities and rivers, villages and straits on the island is extremely diverse. French and Japanese names exist alongside Soviet abbreviations and indigenous names. La Perouse Strait (French navigator) and the city of Tomari (formerly Tomarioru), the village of Ulva (Nivish language - “village at the top” and Pogibi, Urkt Bay (River Boat Transport Administration) and the very simple and more familiar names Trudovoye and Vostochnoye.

In the 18th century, maps published in Western Europe, off the coast of the Pacific Ocean, north of China, depicted the huge country of Tataria. The French navigator La Perouse was also convinced of the existence of this mysterious Tataria.

Having reached the strait separating Sakhalin from the mainland on his ships, La Perouse, without hesitation for long, named it Tatar. As a result of this misunderstanding, the strait still bears a random and unfounded name. The Tatar Strait is the name given to the entire body of water separating the island from the mainland.

Cape Krillon is the southernmost point of the Krillon Peninsula and the entire Sakhalin Island. The name was given in honor of the French military leader Louis-Balbes de Crillon by the great French navigator Jean-François de La Perouse.

The population on the island is just as diverse: Russians and Koreans, Ukrainians and Tatars, even about a hundred Japanese. The latter were born and raised in the Japanese southern Sakhalin. They can obtain Japanese citizenship at any time, but they have all already started families and consider themselves Russians. However, the most real and loyal inhabitants of Sakhalin are the indigenous peoples of the island: the Oroks and Nivkhs.

At the moment, many Nivkhs and Oroks (ulta) continue to maintain a traditional way of life, open their own family farms, and try to do business. Fishing, reindeer herding, and collecting wild plants are often the main sources of food and income for many representatives of the indigenous peoples of the North of Sakhalin. In the life of the Nivkhs, dog breeding plays an important role as a method of transportation when hunting.

The living conditions of these peoples have hardly changed. True, recently the majority have moved from small dwellings to houses with gas heating and water. But the national cuisine remained the same: stroganina (freshly frozen meat) from fish and deer, yukola - fish meat, dried in the wind, smoked over a fire, and some completely unusual dishes for non-aboriginals - pudding made from nerp (seal) fat with fish skin whipped into foam and sprinkled with redberry berries (klopovka) on top.

Traditions have also remained virtually unchanged. “Feeding the spirit of water” is an ancient ritual of feeding the spirit master of the sea. This is a traditional holiday, which is held on the eve of the main salmon poutine of the year. The elders treat the sea spirit with branches of fireweed, dried lingonberries, pieces of pie and crackers, throwing food into the coastal wave.

Kalni is an ancient musical instrument of the Nivkhs. This is a long tube made from the dried stem of a plant called "bear's pipe", reaching a height of two meters. The technique of playing this instrument is special - the Nivkhs seem to sing their melodies in kalni.

Unfortunately, the development of oil and gas resources on Sakhalin disfigures and kills nature, and with it the habitats and hunting grounds of the Nivkhs and Oroks, the preservation of whose identity directly depends on the abundance of animals in the taiga, on the fullness of the rivers and the sea. Residents are being displaced from their traditional habitats. Also, the hunting of seals, sea lions, dolphins or beluga whales, ingrained in the life of peoples, is now strictly regulated.

But no matter what, the Nivkhs and Oroks (ults) continue to honor their traditions. In the village of Nogliki, the original habitat of the island's indigenous peoples, there is a one-of-a-kind national school for Aboriginal children.

Vladimir Sangi is the founder and classic of Nivkh literature. His novels and stories are firmly included in the “golden fund” of literature. He created the Nivkh alphabet and primer, wrote many children's books, journalistic and scientific articles. Sangi is also a supporter of the revival of Nivkh dog breeding.

The first primer of the Uilta language. Today the number of people speaking the Uilta language does not exceed several dozen. This primer became proof that all languages, regardless of the number of people speaking them, are capable of serving as a full-fledged means of communication.

By the way, an interesting story happened during the population census in Ukraine. According to the processed data, 959 Oroks lived in the country, of which only 12 called the Orok language their native language, 179 people (19%) considered Ukrainian their native language, 710 people. (74%) - Russian. At the same time, according to the 1989 USSR population census, there were only 2 Oroks in the Ukrainian SSR. Obviously, this unprecedented “growth” of the small Far Eastern people was caused by the mass recording of Ukrainian Tolkienists as orcs, which gave rise to confusion when processing the results - fantasy characters were recorded as consonant with the orcs, as well as the orcs, the number of which in Ukraine also increased hundreds of times compared to Soviet times.

The first Russian settlements appeared as a result of the emergence of the largest penal servitude in Russia at that time, very difficult and the most powerless. Very little remains of the once-expanded penal servitude on the island. A couple of dozen shackles in local museums, photographs and books, including A.P. Chekhov about his journey to the penal island. By the way, the fact that Chekhov visited Sakhalin and wrote a book about it makes the local population proud. On September 22, 1968, in the city of Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinsky, in the “house from the time of the Sakhalin hard labor, built in 1886 by the exiled settler K.H. Landsberg,” the historical and literary museum “A.P. Chekhov and Sakhalin” was opened.

The only woman “worthy” to wear shackles was Sofia Bluvshtein or Sonya Zolotaya Ruchka. She tried numerous times to escape from the island, which is why she was put in shackles. But thanks to this adventurous person, the first drama theater was organized on Sakhalin.

The tunnel at Cape Jonquiere is the little that remains of the convict past. Cape Jonquière with its entire mass fell onto the coastal sandbank, and passage along it would have been completely impossible if a tunnel had not been dug. They dug it without consulting an engineer, without any fuss, and as a result it turned out dark, crooked and dirty.

At the very foot of the cliff there is a tunnel on the shore.

By 1905, the economy consisted of limited coal mining by convicts, seasonal fishing, and weak agriculture, labor-intensive in Sakhalin conditions. After the transfer of Southern Sakhalin to the Japanese Empire in 1905, as a result of the defeat of Russia in the Russo-Japanese War, a different life began on the island. A huge number of enterprises, about 700 km of railways, ports and lighthouses, all this Japanese heritage is still used by the residents of Sakhalin.

Until 1905, there was no railway on Sakhalin, nor any ordinary roads. Road construction was one of the main tasks on the island. The railway had a narrow gauge (1067 mm). This road, along with its rolling stock, remained after Japan took possession of the island.

"Devil's Bridge" is a railway bridge located near the Nikolaychuk station in the Kholmsky district. A unique structure built by the Japanese in the 1920s. The train passed along this road through two tunnels, drove out almost to the very top of the hill and passed over a bridge at an altitude of 38 m, from where a beautiful panorama opens up. Currently the bridge is not functioning.

Some bridges are still used by motorists and trains.

Ruins of a bridge on the Ulyanovka River.

Lighthouses are an integral part of the island. Many of the lighthouses currently standing and operating were built during the Japanese Empire on the island. Aniva lighthouse was built in 1939. This unique structure was installed on a small rock called Sivuchya. Now it works in autonomous mode, it is deteriorating, but continues to provide good light to all sailors, although they are increasingly checking their course using satellites.

The spiritual life of the inhabitants of the new lands worried the empire, as did the improvement of the island. There were many Japanese temples on Sakhalin - more than 200. The buildings themselves were wooden, naturally, they were all dismantled long ago. Now only some concrete or granite elements of the temple complexes remain. For example, in Uglegorsk (formerly Esutoru) 1 of 2 surviving large temple complexes is located. It was built in 1940 in honor of the 2600th anniversary of the Empire. Only the torii of the Esutoro Jinja Temple have survived.

Torii is one of the most recognizable signs of the Land of the Rising Sun. They serve as ritual gates, installed in front of Shinto shrines or shrines. Torii of the Higashi Shiraura Jinja Temple in the village of Vzmorye:

Stele "Senso kinenhi" of Tomarioro Jinja Temple. War monument at the entrance to the temple. The stella is made in a manner typical for military monuments, when the image of an artillery shell is used as a commemorative object.

Remains of the torii of the Tomarioru Jinza Temple in the city of Tomari:

Bowl of the Merei Hachiman Jinja Temple in the port of Prigorodnoye. Before visiting the temple and turning to the deity, it was necessary to perform the rite of harai or misogi - purification, which consisted of washing the mouth and hands with water.

The abandoned and forgotten Japanese city of Ambetsu. This attraction is especially interesting because the Russians settled all the former Japanese cities after 1945, gradually destroying everything Japanese there, and for unknown reasons they forgot about Ambetsu, located almost at the 50th parallel - the border of the two states. The road to the former city is overgrown and impassable, and it can only be approached along the sea.

Along the entire shore, beautiful, smoothed fragments of painted pottery have been thrown up by the sea. When the Japanese moved out, they buried their property in the ground: then no one believed that they were leaving these lands forever, and streams still carry these relics into the ocean.

As a result of military operations in 1945, the Soviet Union again annexed South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. At the end of World War II, there were about 350 thousand Japanese on the island. The Soviet government decided that not a single Japanese and everything that was built by the occupiers should remain on the island. It’s good that they came to their senses in time, because almost all the roads and railways of Southern Sakhalin were built by the Japanese.

Brick factory built by the Japanese.

The Japanese were unanimously evicted from the island and sent to their historical homeland. But the Koreans, whom the Japanese brought to the island as inexpensive labor, could not boast of freedom. They had no choice - they were not needed in Japan, and in their impoverished, war-torn native Korea too. Until a certain point, they did not have all the rights of Soviet citizens and could hardly leave the island. Now Koreans are equal citizens of the Russian Federation. Few of them know Korean, most of them only old people. Absolutely cut off from their homeland, but nevertheless retaining their everyday and culinary habits. Kimchi cabbage, dry pollock, spices, pickled fern and burdock on the tables of Sakhalin residents - this is all their influence.

Dry pollock:

There are a lot of monuments on the island from the times of Japan and the Soviet Union, but many of them are lost, overgrown with local bamboo, destroyed and completely forgotten.

Estate near the city of Kholmsk. There used to be a Japanese hospital here.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the island began to decline. The once rich and developing island began to quietly die, for this process continues to this day. People left their cities and villages as a huge number of enterprises closed. Nobody needed paper and brick factories, fish farms abandoned all their ships and boats, nets and other equipment and simply became overgrown with grass and “died.” Coal mines and fur farms, timber processing and ship repair enterprises, ports and fish and crab processing plants perished and fell into disrepair.

A crab vat near an abandoned fish processing plant.

Abandoned boats of a fishing collective farm in the village of Nekrasovka.

Ruins of a paper mill in the city of Kholmsk.

At the moment, the main industries are oil and natural gas production, fishing and fish processing. But the majority of the population continues to live in poverty, as the closure of almost most enterprises has made its presence felt. Life is supported in those places where oil and gas production takes place and in the capital of the region, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. People are trying to move to the south of the island, where there is more life besides oil and gas.

70% of Alaska's revenue comes from the oil industry. In the budget of the Sakhalin region, “oil” money makes up only 26%, but this is the contribution of Sakhalinmorneftegaz. Russia and the region receive little from the Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 projects. Production sharing agreements between foreign companies were thought out extremely well. At one time, Standard Oil (the future Exxon, Chevron and others) at the beginning of the 20th century planned to negotiate with Japan on the development of oil fields, but, alas, nothing came of it.

Odoptu-Sea is an oil and gas field located on the continental shelf of Sakhalin Island.

It is extremely expensive to live in such a fish and oil region. On an island with spawning rivers, buying fish is an extremely expensive pleasure. Fish, caviar, crabs and shellfish cost the same, both in Moscow or Almaty, and in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk itself. This contributes to the flourishing of poaching in all corners of Sakhalin. People have to survive. True, most often poachers who work on a large scale destroy fish only for caviar. The fish are thrown away, they don’t need the fish. Because this is not survival, this is business.

Gasoline A 92 costs 30 rubles (150 tenge) per liter. A loaf of white bread costs 33 rubles (165 tenge). Living on Sakhalin is an expensive pleasure. Unlimited Internet speed up to 1500 kbps. costs 20,250t. Asphalt roads are only in the south of the island, which are also repaired every six months.

There is a huge outflow of population and the state is not even trying to create more or less normal living conditions on the island. The only thing when the Sakhalin region receives the attention of both the capital and local authorities is the claims and desires of Japan towards this region.

For Japan, South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands are extremely important: they are sea routes and fisheries. After all, almost all the fish that swim to spawn in the Sakhalin and other rivers pass through the Southern Kuril Islands.

Meanwhile, the nature of Sakhalin is being disfigured and destroyed due to the development of oil fields. Local residents are neither hot nor cold from oil and gas production; they just have to live, and some survive on an increasingly polluted island.

One day, indigenous peoples wrote an interesting letter to the local administration. It said that Sakhalin is the land only of the island’s aborigines. That neither the Nivkhs nor the Oroks gave their land to Japan or Russia. True, it ended not so patriotically. People asked for more money from all manipulations with the island: for oil, gas and fish. Because their habitat is being destroyed and they are being driven out. Now Sakhalin Energy pays 300 thousand dollars for 3.5 thousand representatives of the indigenous peoples of Sakhalin, or 90 dollars a year for each. Incredible generosity...

Knowing that the first liquefied natural gas plant in Russia has already been opened on Sakhalin, what mistakes foreign companies make in developing the shelf and what damage all this brings to the island, one’s hands are itching to give the island to the indigenous population. Let them live for themselves, catch fish and seals, but the island will preserve its unique nature and beauty.

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 Island is a place of extraordinary beauty, vibrant nature and unique climate. Snow remains until the end of April, but the warmth of spring appears already in February. Summer unfolds at the end of June and delights throughout September. Soft, colorful autumn bewitches, and winter drives you crazy with countless winds and huge levels of snow.

Sakhalin is washed by the Seas of Okhotsk and Japan, it is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Tatar, 17 large rivers run through the island, and there are more than 16 thousand lakes. The huge number of mushrooms, plants and animals found on the island are rare and protected. The island's topography is composed of medium-high mountains, low mountains and low-lying plains. According to the tradition of the Far East, mountains are called hills, the beauty of which is unforgettable all year round, especially in the numerous passes.

Sakhalin Island: photos

Sakhalin Island: where is it located?

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

Sakhalin Island on the world map

Sakhalin Island: how to get there

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

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

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

By water you can get from Vanino (Khabarovsk Territory) to Kholmsk (Sakhalin Region). These ferries operate daily and all year round. They operate without a clear schedule, and the price rises every year, significantly outpacing inflation, plus it varies depending on the season (more expensive in summer, cheaper in winter).

Sakhalin Island: video

Flight over Sakhalin

Picture of Sakhalin - a sunny island on Earth

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

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

Nivkhi. Photo by IK Stardust

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

Sakhalin Ainu

Many may be surprised to learn that several geographical names of the Sakhalin region are of French origin. For this we must thank the great navigator Jean-François La Perouse, who, during a trip around the world in 1787, put the strait between Sakhalin and Hokkaido on the world map. Nowadays this 101-kilometer-long body of water bears the name of its discoverer. It was sung about him in a soulful Soviet song: “And I throw pebbles from the steep bank of the wide La Perouse Strait.”

Strait of La Perouse

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

Dinosaurs of Cape Crillon. Photo by Olga Kulikova

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

The ramparts of the Siranusi fortress and the lighthouse at Cape Crillon

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

Tourist complex on Moneron Island

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

Sea lions on Moneron Island. Photo by Vyacheslav Kozlov

On Moneron. Photo by Vyacheslav Kozlov

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

Lighthouse on Cape Aniva. Photo by Anvar

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

The famous thief Sonya Zolotaya Ruchka in Sakhalin penal servitude

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

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Monument at the birthplace of Vladimirovka

In 1882, the settlement of Vladimirovka was founded for convicts who had served their time on Sakhalin. From 1905 to 1945, when Southern Sakhalin was Japanese territory, Vladimirovka was the center of Karafuto Prefecture and bore the name Toyohara.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Photo by Sir Fisher

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

Museum of Local Lore. Photo Illusionist

Museum of Local Lore. Photo by Irina V.

Perhaps one of the most striking attractions of the island can be called the Sakhalin Regional Museum of Local Lore. It is located in the building of the former Japanese governorate of Karafuto, built in 1937; this is almost the only monument of Japanese architecture in Russia. The museum's collections cover the period from ancient history to the present day.

Model 1867 eleven-inch gun. The cannon was manufactured in 1875 in St. Petersburg, and during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. took part in the defense of Port Arthur

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

Near the station there is a museum of railway equipment, where samples of Japanese equipment that worked on Sakhalin are collected, including the Japanese snowplow "Wajima" and the head section of the Japanese passenger diesel train ("Ki-Ha") shown in the photograph.

Resurrection Cathedral in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Photo by Igor Smirnov

Skiing is one of the most popular entertainments among Sakhalin residents. The most beautiful place within the boundaries of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is the Mountain Air camp site. At night, it can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.

View of the Mountain Air route from Victory Square

Sakhalin apocalypse

Damn bridge. Photo by Father Fedor

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

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

Danger Stone Island

Lighthouse on the Danger Stone

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

Flora and fauna

Sakhalin crab. Raido Photos

Fish day is a common thing for Sakhalin residents. Fish, fish caviar, crustaceans, shellfish, algae - all this variety makes incredibly tasty dishes rich in protein.

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

Sakhalin fox. Photo by Andrey Shpatak

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