Travel Guide Kuril'Skis Ostrova (Курильские Острова)

The 56 Kouriles Islands (pronounced Kourilskiye ostrova) form an umbilical cord linking the Kamtchatka peninsula to Japan. Volcanic islands of rare beauty, the Kouriles seem to summarize the splendor of the landscapes of Kamchatka and that of the ocean that come to bend against steep cliffs. Seismic activity is intense and frequent eruptions occur. The Kuriles are served by daily flights from Youjno-Sakhalinsk.The south islands - Kounachir, Chikotan, Itouroup - shelter a very rich flora. The climbing plants hold the surprising colors. The region abounds in beautiful mountain lakes and stunt cascades called Barbe de Antiquard, Livelure de la Belle or Ilia Mouromets (high of 141 m). Tuleni Island, a tiny piece of Sakhalin land, is worn on all maps of the world to be a unique gathering place of sea bears, or sea otters, which are only found in Russia and the United States. The area is protected and it is forbidden for large ships to approach it within 30 nautical miles, and planes to fly. The main activity centers in the region are located on Paramouchir Island, with the city of Severo-Kourilsk; the island of Itouroup, with the city of Kourilsk; and, above all, Kounachir Island, with the town of Youjno-Kourilsk.HistoryIn 1855, the islands had been divided between Japan and Russia. In 1875, a new treaty attributed most of the islands to Japan until, in the Second World War, Russia made them all under its guardianship. Since then, the archipelago has become a constant tension between Japan and Russia. The Russian Kuriles cover an area of 15,600 km 2. They include 53 islands - 30 large and 25 small - and many deserted rocky islands. The archipelago consists of two mountain chains: Upper Kourilskaya and Lower Kourilskaya, separated by the Strait of Kouriles.According to natural and climatic conditions, one can distinguish the northern Kouriles (Paramouchir Islands, Onekotan, Kharimkotan, Chikotan, etc.) and the southern Kouriles (Ouroup, Itouroup, Kounachir, Chikotan, etc.). The coasts, in most cases, have steep relief and terraces; on the isthms they are low, sandy; There are few deep bays. Most islands are mountainous, with summits ranging from 500 to 1,000 m (the highest is Aland, at 2,339 m). About 160 volcanoes recorded in the archipelago are in operation, approximately 40. The climate, tempered, is under the influence of monsoon. The average temperature of February is -7 ° C; in August, it varies between - 10 ° C (north) and + 17 ° C (south). Annual precipitation reaches 600 mm on the North Kouriles and 1,000 mm on the southern Kouriles. The region has many lakes - some of which are lakes of craters - lagoons and hot springs. On the island of Kounachir, a state reserve of 65,300 ha was created to protect and study this exceptional natural environment. The territory of the reserve guards monuments of the cultures Aiskaia and Okhotskaya of the Neolithic period.If you want to visit the Kouriles Islands, consult the agencies of Youjno-Sakhalinsk or Petropavlovsk-Kamtchatski.