The most interesting sights of Sakhalin. Anton Chekhov's journey to Sakhalin Island. The capital of the Sakhalin region: general information, history and interesting facts Message about Sakhalin interesting facts

Anton, OG2K is currently active from Sakhalin Island, IOTA AS - 018, call sign RA/OG2K.
It operates on the HF bands.
QSL via home call, OQRS.
Address for QSL direct:
Anton Teterin, Vasamankatu 8 B, SAVONLINNA 57200, Finland.

Unusual and mysterious Sakhalin

Sakhalin is located off the eastern coast of Asia. He is part Sakhalin region. This largest island Russia. It is washed by two seas - Okhotsk and Japan. The Strait of Tartary separates the island from mainland Asia, and the La Perouse Strait separates the island from Hokkaido. The area of ​​Sakhalin is 76,600 km. It is home to about 493 million people. The climate of Sakhalin is moderate monsoon. In winter, the thermometer drops to -24C, and in summer it reaches +19C. The main industries are gas and oil production. Here they fish and process fish. The island's transport system is quite developed. There is a good railway network, but asphalt pavement is only present in the southern part of the island. Sakhalin is rich in many Natural resources. There are large reserves hydrocarbons and coal, petroleum, wood, gold, platinum, germanium, chromium, talc and zeolites.

This unusual nature

Deserves special attention vegetable world islands. There are over 40 species of trees, 10 species of vines and over 80 species of shrubs. A very interesting fact is that gigantism of many plants is observed here. Sakhalin can compete with the most exotic countries, because there are so many unusual and interesting things here! Some herbs reach the size of shrubs. They are characterized by intensive growth throughout the summer, forming entire thickets by the end of the season. Sakhalin is especially interesting for breeders who dream of new plant species. The island is home to orange and tiger lilies, fireweed, toadflax, Sakhalin peonies and other flowers. Among the fauna, it is worth highlighting the predominance of reindeer, brown bears, over 130 species of birds and the Sakhalin sable. Toothed and baleen whales enter the waters of the region. The flora and fauna have been preserved in their original form. 303 plant species are listed in the Red Book.

Sakhalin island. Photo by Olga Baturina.

These places cannot be forgotten

There are many attractions in Sakhalin, but they deserve special attention natural objects. Among them is Mount Vaida and its unusual cave with stalactites and stalagmites. The pride of the island is its healing mud and mineral springs, so here you can not only relax, but also improve your health. The most famous source is Sinegorsk. It is ideal for the treatment of radiation sickness and diseases of the hematopoietic organs. There are several thermal springs. They can be called real wonders of nature. They are presented in the form of picturesque reservoirs located against the backdrop of an amazing landscape. The main museums are located in the capital. The Museum of Local Lore deserves special attention, displaying stories about indigenous people, different types plants and animals. Here you can learn about the history of the settlement of the island and the war with Japan. In the center of the city is the Sakhalin Regional Museum, which offers you to enjoy a wide variety of exhibitions and attend cultural events that are held in the building. The Museum of Railway Equipment and the Literary and Art Museum named after A.P. deserve no less attention. Chekhov. The capital of Sakhalin has many parks and a memorial complex with an eternal flame built in honor of fallen soldiers. The city cultural park is complemented by lush flower beds, a children's railway, a tennis court and the Cosmos stadium. Voskresensky is concentrated here Cathedral. Among the others natural monuments It is worth noting the rock arches of Cape Giant, the inaccessible Cape Aniva, the Three Brothers rocks, the Devil's Bridge and Mount Spamberg.

Sakhalin island. Photo by Miriam Elder.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk was founded in the 19th century and was used as a convict settlement, called Vladimirovka. During the Japanese occupation locality received the name Toehara, translated as “fruitful valley”.
On the map, Sakhalin looks like a fish.
Sakhalin was a penal servitude and a place of exile for 40 years.
The island is a combination of two cultures - Russian and Japanese. There are many Japanese-style buildings, monuments and landmarks here.
The best means of transportation around the island is an SUV.
There are no wolves on the island at all.
You can only get to Sakhalin by air or ferry. But a plane ticket costs up to 100,000 rubles.
Residents of Sakhalin remember and honor Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. He wrote a book of the same name. Streets and many cultural institutions are named after him.
Despite the developed fishing industry, caviar and fish are much more expensive than in Moscow. Locals They call the island a mainland, but the mountains call it a hill.

Mysteries of Sakhalin

Sakhalin, or the fish island, always follows the star Sirius. The island was originally inhabited by the Ainu. They considered themselves descendants of the great gods who flew from this star. Today there are very few representatives of the Ainu left on Sakhalin (about 1% of the total population). The tops of the Frog and Altarnaya mountains are always directed towards the two stars of Sirius. In ancient times they were used as a place for ritual ceremonies. At the top of Mount Frog, inexplicable phenomena come to people. Many tourists see the eye approaching. According to researchers, these places are characterized by a large accumulation of energy. Ruins have been preserved near the village of Sokolo ancient observatory the Ainu, who always sought to study the Universe and the star Sirius. The surprising thing is that the Ainu always claimed that Sirius has 2 suns and is a double star. Modern scientists were able to prove this only in the 19th century. The Ainu Observatory has much in common with Egyptian pyramids.

Sakhalin - a nice place which has its own secrets.

Facts and photographs about Sakhalin or why there are three rails in the railway tracks on Sakhalin...

Sakhalin is the most big Island in Russia. When Sakhalin belonged to Japan, the island was called "Karafuto", which was used as the Japanese designation for all of Sakhalin. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk was founded in the 19th century as the convict settlement of Vladimirovka. During the Japanese occupation, the city was called Toyohara, which literally translated from Japanese means “rich, fertile valley.”

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Vladimirovka district private sector. 2008

The length of the island is 948 km. If you look at a map of Russia, you can see fish in the outline of Sakhalin. Moreover, the Sakhalin region is the only island region in Russia.

About 5% of the island's population is Korean. Residents of Korea were brought to Sakhalin by the Japanese during the Karafuto period for forced labor. During the war years, the Koreans prepared the island's infrastructure for war. By the end of the war, 47 thousand people of Korean nationality remained on Sakhalin.

Indigenous people Sakhalin - Nivkhs, Uilta (Oroks), Evenks, Nanais. Their number is about 1% of people.

On Sakhalin, two cultures closely coexist - Russian and Japanese. In Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and in other cities and parts of the island you can see ancient Japanese buildings, monuments and landmarks.

Local Lore Museum of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The Sakhalin Regional Museum of Local Lore was founded in 1896. In 1947, the exhibition moved to the building of the former Japanese governorate of Karafuto, built in 1937 in the Japanese style. The museum introduces the history of Sakhalin and Kuril Islands from ancient times to the present day. The exhibition presents archaeological, ethnographic, historical, paleontological, geological, botanical, zoological collections.

Many buildings and companies in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk majestically begin or include the word House in their name: the House of Trade, the House of Public Service, the House of Government, the House of Culture of Railway Workers and various trading houses.

Sakhalin people call the rest of Russia the mainland, and almost any mountain a hill.

On Sakhalin, the writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is very loved and revered, who visited the island in 1890 Sakhalin and, based on the results of his trip, wrote the book “Sakhalin Island”. Streets and cultural institutions are named in honor of the writer, monuments and sculptures are erected, and various festivals and events are organized.

Also, Sakhalin was considered a peninsula for a long time, although some scientists disagreed.

Captain Nevelskoy was able to prove the fallacy of this opinion by sailing on a ship between the mainland and Sakhalin. Perhaps, initially, such confusion occurred because the strait freezes in winter.

Then, in honor of the captain, the strait separating the island and the mainland was named after him.

Sakhalin is home to about 100 species of animals and plants listed in the federal Red Book.

Fishing on Sakhalin... Sakhalin is a fisherman's paradise. Huge taimen live in the waters. They include char, pink salmon, masu salmon, coho salmon, kunja and many others. But anyone who has “plunged” into the unique atmosphere of fishing for Sakhalin smelt at least once in their life will be drawn to Sakhalin again and again! It’s probably worth talking about smelt separately. Here it is necessary to explain that the Sakhalin smelt differs, for example, from its “sister” - the Baltic smelt. If in the Baltic it is small, then in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk it is close in size to the Norwegian herring. Some of its specimens reach a length of 35 cm or more. Here it is called catfish smelt. It is good when fried or in fish soup, but when dried its taste exceeds the most sophisticated expectations. Dried smelt is something!

Sakhalin residents spend their weekends in nature, and in winter at the most popular ski resort"Mountain air"

On Sakhalin, railway tracks are currently being transferred from the so-called “Cape” gauge, with a width of 1067 mm, to the Russian gauge adopted throughout ALL of Russia, whose width is 1520 mm. The Cape gauge is used mainly in the Southern and Central Africa. Hence its name. On this island, the Cape gauge railway tracks were left over from Japan, which owned southern part Sakhalin from 1905 to 1945. The track has been changing since 2004. And it will last until 2016-2020. To avoid interrupting work railway, the old rails are left behind, and a three-line track is obtained.

At all times, fish, caviar and seafood were considered true Sakhalin souvenirs. Nothing has changed, if you want to bring a Sakhalin gift from Sakhalin, you can’t imagine a better one.

Also, what the residents of Sakhalin begin to miss when far from their homeland are Korean (have you forgotten about the percentage of Koreans mentioned earlier?) pickled vegetables kimchi (on the island it is often called “chimcha”), various dishes made from fern... You could say Korean cuisine forms the basis of the island's gastronomic culture.

“Well, what can I tell you about Sakhalin? The weather on the island is normal. The surf has salted my vest And I live right at the sunrise”... (C)

Connect Sakhalin with a bridge to Japanese island Hokkaido. The head of state called this idea a project of “absolutely planetary nature.” MIR 24 has collected the most important facts about Sakhalin.

Name

Sakhalin received its name by mistake. The Manchus called the Amur River the word “Sakhalyan-Ulla” (“Rocks of the Black River”). This toponym appeared on one of the maps, and cartographers unfamiliar with local realities attributed it not to the river, but to the island.

In Japan Russian island called Karafuto - from the Ainu “kamuy-kara-puto-ya-mosir”, which means “land of the god of the mouth”. Currently in the Country rising sun It is customary to call the object in Russian – Sakharin (this is the transliteration of the Russian name).

Story

Modern humans entered Sakhalin approximately 20 thousand years ago along one of the land “bridges” between the island and the mainland that arose as a result of glaciation. Throughout the Middle Ages, peoples living in Siberia and on the northernmost Japanese island, Hokkaido, migrated to Sakhalin. For a long time, the island was in the orbit of Chinese influence, until in the mid-19th century it became a stumbling block between Russia and Japan.

At the same time, the real discovery of Sakhalin, which had long been considered an island, took place. They even wanted to deprive Gennady Nevelsky, who made this discovery in 1849, of the captain’s rank, but soon his data was confirmed. The status of the island was soon determined: according to the Treaty of Shimoda (1855), it was declared a joint possession of Japan and Russia. Twenty years later, Sakhalin finally became part of Russian Empire, and Tokyo received the Kuril Islands in return.

Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War led to Russian control of the southern part of the island. In the years civil war Japan occupied northern Sakhalin for five years. After the victory of the USSR and its allies in World War II, the entire island passed to the Soviet Union.

Geography

The area of ​​Sakhalin is 76.4 thousand square meters. km, length - 948 km, from Cape Crillon in the south to Cape Elizabeth in the north. The island's topography is composed of medium-high mountains in the south and plains in the north. Highest point islands Mount Lopatina, its height is 1609 m.

The climate of Sakhalin is moderate monsoon. In winter there can be severe frosts (−24° C in the north), and in summer the weather is relatively warm (up to +19 in August). In summer, the contrast between western and east coasts islands. This is due to the warm Tsushima Current Sea of ​​Japan and the cold East Sakhalin Current of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The dominance of two currents determines the weather, which is unusual by the standards of the European part of Russia: the snow here remains until the end of May, while the flower beds in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk can bloom until the beginning of November.

The island is constantly threatened by hurricanes. The most powerful of them, Typhoon Phyllis, hit Sakhalin in 1981. From August 4 to 7, 322 mm of precipitation fell in the south of Sakhalin (about three monthly norms). The flood caused casualties (their exact number is unknown); more than two thousand families were left homeless.

Natural resources

Sakhalin and its surroundings are especially rich in minerals. In terms of gas condensate reserves, the Sakhalin region ranks 4th in Russia, gas - 7th, coal - 12th, oil - 13th. In addition, timber, gold, mercury, platinum, germanium, chromium, talc, zeolites, etc. are mined in the region.

Population

Sakhalin is the largest island in Russia by population. Now 510.9 thousand people live there, more than 37% of them live in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. About 84% of the population is Russian, the largest ethnic minorities are Koreans (5.6%), Ukrainians (4.0%), Tatars (1.2%). The indigenous population of the region - Nivkhs and Oroks - constitute a minority (0.5% 0.06% respectively). About 30% of the population are pensioners.

Economics and transport

Most of the population of Sakhalin are engaged in oil and natural gas production (see Sakhalin shelf projects) and fishing. Other traditional industries - woodworking, coal mining, ship repair - are not experiencing better times. Yes, for last years 11 pulp and paper mills were closed.

You can get to the island either by ferry or by plane. Projects for the construction of a tunnel that would connect Sakhalin with the mainland have been developed since the 1950s, but remained unrealized. The project of a railway bridge across the Nevelskoy Strait also remains on paper. The idea of ​​connecting Sakhalin with the Japanese island of Hokkaido, which Putin voiced today, appeared back in the 2000s. At one time, she was criticized by the head of Russian Railways, Vladimir Yakunin. According to him, the implementation of the project is hampered by “unresolved issues between the Russian Federation and Japan.”

Sakhalin is the largest Russian island. The Japanese covetously call this island Karafuto, which means “land of the God of the mouth.”

The island was discovered in 1643 by the Dutchman de Vries. And for a long time Sakhalin was considered a peninsula. Probably because the strait separating the island from the mainland freezes in winter.

Sakhalin is washed by the Sea of ​​Japan and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, separated from the continent by the Strait of Tartary, and from Japan by the Strait of La Perouse. The total area of ​​Sakhalin is just over 76 thousand sq. km. And in shape it resembles a fish, predatorily stretched along the coast of Asia. In the south of the island, mountains predominate, closer to the north they give way to lowlands, and only on the Schmidt Peninsula, the extreme northern tip of Sakhalin, are they again visible Mountain peaks. Such a complex topography, as well as the proximity of the ocean and seas, determined the uniqueness of the flora and fauna.

Flora of Sakhalin

Most of the island is shrouded in taiga. Local forests are unique, since the Sakhalin taiga is the richest in Russia in terms of species diversity. Judge for yourself - about 200 species of trees and shrubs grow on the island.

The main tree of Sakhalin is the Gmelin larch. Other types of trees are slightly less common: thin-leaved larches, Ayan spruces, Sakhalin firs. Deciduous trees include white and holm birches, aspens, sweet poplars, dew willows, Japanese elms, yellow maples, and alders.

But main feature Sakhalin can be called an amazing neighborhood of southern plants and northern representatives of the flora kingdom. Thus, in the south it is quite possible to see tropical vines, larch feels quite well surrounded by polar birches, and lemongrass and rhododendrons often bloom next to spruce trees. Cedars get along well next to cork trees, and firs are often decorated with blooming hydrangeas. Rose hips, honeysuckle and aralia are often hidden in tall thickets of ferns. And the trunks of hornbeams, cherries, elderberries and rowan trees are buried in tall herbs.

Sakhalin is also rich in fruits and berries. Cherries, currants, blueberries, raspberries, blueberries, redberries and cranberries grow here. And in the south of the island you can observe the most unique natural combination: a coniferous forest surrounded by thickets of Sakhalin bamboo. You will not see such a union anywhere else in the world. Bamboo, of course, is not tall here, but its thickets are, in fact, the most difficult to pass, since the elastic trunks are intertwined in the most amazing way, and the sharp leaves, like knives, can easily cut the skin.

In spring and summer, Sakhalin shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow: these are flowers blooming. For example, thickets of fire create incredibly beautiful fiery red glades. There are many poppies, irises, peonies, lilies, the island of fireweed is colored in soft lilac tones, and snow-white fields of daisies are pleasing to the eye.

But in the north, the climate is harsher, the terrain is smoother, and therefore the area is very swampy. But there are a lot of mosses, lichens and moss. These places are often surrounded by meadows, where sedge and various grasses predominate. And in the very north of the island the forests begin again - taiga, coniferous, with rich reserves of cedars, blueberries and wild rosemary.

Fauna of Sakhalin

Unfortunately, over the past 250 years, the fauna of Sakhalin has become significantly impoverished. Once upon a time, sika deer jumped around the island and filled the surrounding forests with their cries. wild boars. Neither one nor the other is left. Later, elk and wapiti were exterminated. By the middle of the last century, due to increased deforestation, sable and raccoon dogs disappeared. Mountain sheep and river otters left the island forever.

Typical representatives of the Sakhalin forests are animals typical of the mainland taiga: these are numerous weasels and stoats. Siberian weasel is found in the south of the island. These animals were brought from Japan, but so far their numbers are small.

The most popular and formidable predator of Sakhalin - Brown bear. The height of these giants reaches two meters, and their weight is up to 500 kg. There are many foxes in the forests - red, gray and silver-black. Mountain hare can be seen, and river otters can be seen in the floodplains.

But the majority of reindeer on Sakhalin are domesticated. Wild ones are found only in the northern part of the island. Musk deer also migrate serenely around the island. It is listed in the Red Book.

But the bird kingdom on Sakhalin is much richer. Up to 700 species of birds are known to live here, many nest, and many visit during the wintering period. The largest number of birds is on Tyuleniy Island, where up to 600 thousand guillemots, flocks of puffins, puffins, and gulls live. There is a lot of waterfowl: geese, mallards, ducks, goldeneyes, whelks, pintails, long-tailed ducks. But swans are found only in the most remote corners of the island.

Some scarcity of the land fauna of Sakhalin is fully compensated by the richness of the ichthyofauna. The island is home to one of the world's largest rookery fur seals. There are sea lions, sea otters, and several species of seals. Sperm whales, killer whales, and beluga whales often swim to the coast; near the island you can see siwals, humpbacks, and blue whales.

Interestingly, it was on the island that the Sakhalin Husky was bred - a breed of dog that is distinguished by high intelligence and boundless devotion to its owner.

Climate on Sakhalin

The climate of the island is usually classified as moderate monsoon. But the weather at any time of the year differs significantly in the north and south.

Summer is humid, warm, with heavy rains. In summer there is a very noticeable difference between eastern and west coast Sakhalin. It is warmer in the west, as the coast is washed by the warm Tsushima Current.

Winter on Sakhalin is very cold and snowy. Most of the island is influenced by the Siberian anticyclone, which brings snowfall and frost. But in the south of the island, the influence of the Southern Cyclone is also noticeable, which bestows the island with powerful snowstorms and hurricane winds.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk, washing the island from the north, works like a huge thermal accumulator. It readily retains heat and does not let go of the cold for a very long time. Therefore, spring on Sakhalin is long and cool, but autumn is very warm and welcoming. For example, many flowers on Sakhalin bloom until mid-November.

In general, all seasons on the island begin 3-4 weeks late. The hottest month is August, and the coldest month is February.

(which gave rise to the most amusing thread “today you are ashamed, and tomorrow you will give the Kuril Islands to the enemy!”) seriously amused the local residents - many Japanese observations turned out to be quite superficial and not particularly true.

A comrade under the nickname Apostate, who is familiar with life on the island first-hand, decided to dot the T’s by commenting on the Japanese “facts.”

It turned out to be extremely interesting.

So, let's give him the floor:

1. No one speaks English (or perhaps no one understands Japanese English)

This is wrong. This is fundamentally wrong. None of the Russians - yes. None of the Caucasians and citizens of countries Central Asia(we even came here in large numbers) - yes. None of the Chinese and Koreans - yes. But “just no one” is fundamentally wrong. I understand that they were not there, but nevertheless... The fact is that on the right side (if you go from the airport to the city) next to Yuzhny (the affectionate name for the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Toyohara, if in Japanese) there is 2 districts - “Pear Orchard” and “Strawberry Hills". But locals consider them one district (for a reason...) and popularly call them “American village”: for more than 10 years, typical American one-story cottages have been built in this place And the Americans live there (what have they forgotten here? Well, most likely, because of oil and gas... in short, see the Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 projects), surrounded by a fence and guards. Another thing is that They speak English, but they don’t plow a damn thing in Russian, so anyone who wanders there is guaranteed a fun day.

2. Prices are unexpectedly high (just like in Japan)

Well, Sakhalin is the end of the earth after all. Delivery from the center here is indeed not cheap, but it also has its advantages. Example: Yoka yogurt, which is produced in the Dominican Islands. And this is not the only such artifact...

(Plus, it’s impossible not to notice that salaries on Sakhalin are quite serious - on average about a thousand dollars, which is much higher than in peripheral Russia and at the level of the salary of Japanese animators - ed. ed.)

3. Even the most shabby high-rise buildings have a very serious security system

If they are talking about steel entrance doors with a lock that can be opened by pressing a code (locks are often mechanical and there are steel buttons, not keys), then fine, but otherwise it’s not entirely clear what they mean. The fact that men from one entrance at a time gather to attack the bad “aliens” - well, there is such a thing. But if they are talking about this, then I wonder how they could have angered our people...

4. Crime isn’t that rampant, but it’s better for girls not to leave the house in the evenings.

There are a few, although in the center everything is much worse. I know for sure that the border guards there are harsh, so much so that for several months the Japanese, Chinese and Koreans (neighbors, in short) were forced to shit themselves.

In general, our neighbors love to steal our seafood. And one day such a story happened. A smuggling ship with cargo was spotted by a patrol boat of our border guards. Our people ordered them to slow down and surrender. The answer is complete ignore. Finally, our people said that they would fire a warning shot, followed by lethal fire. Ignore again. The commander ordered the ship's weapons to be prepared for a warning shot. The command for a “warning shot” was sounded. There was a problem: the sailor preparing the gun did not have time (seemingly...) to raise the barrel higher. As a result of a warning shot, the captain's bridge of the smuggling ship was shot through, and the captain of the ship was shot in the head. The smugglers immediately slowed down, stopped and surrendered. And then all the neighbors wondered: if this is a warning shot, then what the hell does the command “open fire to kill!” mean to these mad Russians?

7. But the kombu seaweed turned out to be simply excellent. Even better than in Hokkaido itself, where they are actually grown.

In fact, the food on Sakhalin, as they would say in the center, is environmentally friendly. Not really, but she really is wonderful. It is especially painful after it to eat what is sold in the central region. Well, and our own seafood, of course... especially crab and chilims (Sakhalin shrimp).

And there is a story that happens all the time. To the south of Yuzhny there is a military reconnaissance unit on the mountain. At the foot of the mountain is the sea. And these shrimps are found there. And sometimes a patrol passes along the shore. But catching... not even catching, you can collect it with a bucket during low tide. There, as many as four elevations of the underwater shore go several tens of meters from the “beach”, so much so that the water, in the worst case, is knee-deep. So, sometimes you can see the following picture: the head of a military man carefully sticks out from behind a bush, and if there is no patrol, then several warriors run out of the bush and play their roles: a couple is fishing or collecting shrimp, and a couple is on the hunt. The only difference is that at night they are soldiers, and during the day they are officers. Well, a beer in the kiosk is not a problem.

8. No Japanese were seen in the area

What did you want? All the narrow-eyed ones are Chinese and Koreans. Although there are still Japanese. But there are few of them.

9. Almost everyone smokes, and without any reflection they throw cigarette butts anywhere

So... a second... a second... let me catch my breath from laughing. Phew.

2 points:

1) they were not in the toilets of Sakhalin schools, where schoolchildren smoke during breaks, and men with the positions of deputies and teachers (of labor, first of all) smoke during lessons;

2) not in terms of cigarette butts, but in terms of garbage we are almost the same. Only they hide everything, but we are not shy.

10. There really are plenty of beautiful girls

What's true is true. This is where you need to look for a bride.

11. Cars are mostly very dirty. Perhaps there is not a single car wash in Sakhalin?

Reread point #2. So everything is washed in some rivers and dirty puddles called lakes. But it’s free... if the good uncle doesn’t burn the cop down.

12. Cops smoke in their cars

If not all cops (policemen, that is), then Sakhalin traffic cops are the best traffic cops in Russia. If you exceeded the speed by no more than 10 km/h (i.e. up to 70 km/h), then most often you will hear from them: “Okay, I forgive you for the first time” - after which they let you go. This can be done several times a day, if there are different posts. But you shouldn’t get carried away either.

But the Moscow people will strangle themselves for 1 ruble, even if they only thought there was a violation that did not exist, petty corrupt creatures.

13. There is not a single historical Japanese name left on the island.

I won’t say anything here.

14. A bus ride costs about twenty cents.

15. After the trip, you need to pay directly to the driver

Well, this is Russia, but I would like to say something about transport. If we talk about passenger buses, then in contrast to the central region, where old LiAZs and used Citroens are in use, in Yuzhny everything is transported on relatively new NENAZs (the buses of this company are manufactured on the basis of the chassis of KAMAZ brand buses). But if we’re talking about minibuses, then the gazelles got here too, so that they would be empty. True, only in the second half of the 2000s. Apart from them, at best, there are old Mercedes minibuses, but, more often than not, these are some kind of TOPIC (Asia TOPIC)

And also, about transport and Sakhalin women. Sakhalin women are harsh. Personal experience. Route No. 23 (Khristoforovka – railway station). The conductor is a woman. A sheet of A4 format is glued to one of the seats, on which is written: “Do not take the conductor’s seat!” And on the window next to which this place is, there is an A4 sheet of paper glued to it, on which it is written: “Do not look through the conductor’s window.”

16. There are practically no artifacts left from the time of the Japanese occupation of Sakhalin

What did you want? Winter has passed, summer has passed - thanks to Stalin for that! You can find somewhere the remains of a temple (gates and stones - that’s all that remains), stone barriers from the war... And so, only a museum remains.

17. The car can be transported directly from Hokkaido. Price: from 28 thousand yen one way

It's possible to go back. You can also go to the mainland. In a “five-tonner” - a steel container with a weight of 5 tons.

18. Cars stop all the time for no apparent reason.

If they were driving a Russian car or minibus, then everything is logical. Otherwise, I just don’t understand what we’re talking about. The cars, although mostly used, were created for people. I have not encountered frequent breakdowns (or even rare ones!). In addition, the drivers are careful, and people don’t run across randomly (and anyone who runs when a red light runs the risk of getting the “there’s a black sheep in the family” look from others). There are generally good people there...

20. Many motorists prefer Toyota

As if the southerners have nothing better to do than import Chinese buckets of nails. Only South Korea and Japan, even if they are supported (and they are the majority).

21. Under no circumstances should you drink tap water.

Drinking tap water is like playing Russian roulette: if you're unlucky, you'll get cholera. Water is purified only in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

22. Nobody wants to speak English

We're just shy.

23. There are sandstorms in the city center that are simply terrible.

24. One Japanese tourist who visited Sakhalin told us: “I could never stay here - the environment is not conducive to this.”

If we talk about the city itself, then for a foreigner, yes, it’s a bit dirty. But relative to Russian cities, especially large ones, it’s very clean. There are no parks here, but they are not needed, because trees grow along the streets and are looked after.

But if they are talking about nature, then they are absolutely wrong, although there are several BUTs. Sakhalin with its nature is one of the most beautiful corners of the world. It's worth visiting. It's very beautiful there...

And yet the same BUT. In the middle of the forest you can stumble upon the crumbling buildings of disbanded military units (greetings from grandfather Gorbachev). You can stumble upon a lake with an asphalt road leading into it, and understand that here the guys from the tank unit washed (and wash), in fact, tanks. You can find the ruins of some Japanese building from the time of the war and before it... But this is rare, so that you will be lucky if you find this.

26. You can still find Shinto shrines on the island. Unfortunately, their condition is quite deplorable.

Well, I already mentioned the ruins. Glory to communism!

27. Amusement parks are so... Soviet

I would say post-Soviet. And to be honest, I didn’t recognize the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk amusement park in these photographs (I haven’t visited the island for a long time). This park is not bad at all - one of the best in the world. Far East actually.

28. Fast food restaurants are almost impossible to find.

This is true. But a huge number kebab shops Moreover, most of them are good: you can see what kind of meat the kebab maker took and he cooks in front of you. The open ones are especially good: they’re not even kebab shops, just a few tables in nature and a man with a kebab maker. Damn, my mouth is watering from pleasant memories...

30. Lots local cars- supported import from Japan

Yes it is. That’s why we “love” Toyota. But due to the increase in duties by 3 times, this is no longer the pleasure it used to be. A ’95 car could be bought in 2000 in exchange for a mobile phone: Japan is very close, so transportation was relatively cheap (it was), but the acceptable price for a mobile phone back then was “a few bucks.”

31. They also love monuments and statues here!

This is the street of glory. I am preparing an article for one date. Expect it at the end of August - very beginning of September.

32. The capital city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is distinguished by an inhuman concentration of all kinds of kiosks

This is true. No other comments are needed here.

33. Donabe (Japanese clay pots for cooking over an open fire) are sold here.

And not only. Household items and souvenirs. Moreover, they are Japanese, but you can also find ones made in China - you don’t have to go far.

35. You can buy counterfeit Paul Smith polos for next to nothing

What do you want? China is also nearby.

But there was (it seems that there still is) a so-called Chinese market. It was a cheerful sight: rows of tents selling almost everything, but most often clothes (and people trying on clothes behind some kind of rope in 30 degree frost). And with it there were rows of steel containers, to which they ran if something was missing. And when what you needed was on the second or third floor (these containers were also placed on top of each other), and you had to delve inside it... I’ll leave the rest to your imagination. True, this was back when Chinese things were of good quality, and a can of Pringles chips at the station cost 33 rubles...

36. Japanese trains are gathering dust idle

The photo was taken in the railway museum, located next to the railway worker’s house of culture.

From the speech of M. Zadornov: the whole fate of Russia lies in the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. There is a bus route whose final stops are “psycho. the hospital is a cemetery."

I would like to add that there are also the following final stops for minibuses: Train Station- railway hospital (and this hospital is a few kilometers from the station, which also hints)

In general, on Sakhalin for a long time the Japanese railway gauge has been used, which is slightly narrower than the standard Russian one. So the silver trains of the Land of the Rising Sun were imported and are still in use (sort of...).

37. Without any doubt, order the soup - it’s delicious here

And again, the food is generally very tasty on the island. There they even bake bread from Altai grain, and not from Kuban or Stavropol, so the taste is different... and, believe me, very pleasant.

40. On the outskirts of the island, the remains of two Hokkaido Takushoku banks are rotting

In general, I want to prepare one article here. The only problem with the images is that they contain photographs of Japanese buildings that were demolished. In other words, what could the center of the South look like today?

42. Police officers expose themselves while on duty