- Where is Sakhalin Island
- The origin of the island's name
- Sakhalin history
- How to get to Sakhalin
- Features of the flora and fauna of Sakhalin
- Natural sights of Sakhalin
- Treatment on Sakhalin
Sakhalin is the largest island that is part of Russia 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. Fans of ecological tourism come to Sakhalin to enjoy the picturesque landscapes and relax away from civilization. Geographically, the island is significantly removed 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 can 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 Okhotsk. Sakhalin's closest neighbor in the southeast is Hokaido Island, which belongs to Japan. The Tatar Strait separates Sakhalin from land Asia, and the La Perouse Strait serves as the natural border between Hokaido.
Almost half of the island is considered part of the Sakhalin Region, which also includes the Kuril Islands. The extreme southern point of Sakhalin is Cape Krilyon, the northern one is Cape Elizabeth. The island is 947 kilometers long and varies in width from 27 to 162 kilometers. On an area of 76,000 square kilometers, there are 11 zones of natural importance that play an important role in shaping the landscape of Sakhalin.
Due to the fact that Sakhalin consists of territories of various structures, the relief of the island is not harmonious. So, in the south of Sakhalin, the landscape mainly consists of mountain systems, and in the north there are many hilly plains.
Most of the Sakhalin population is concentrated in the area of the Susunai Lowland. There are also such large cities as Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Aniva, Dolinsk.
The origin of the island's name
The name of the island has an ambiguous nature, 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 an estuary, the inscription “Sachalien anga-hata” was recorded, which is pronounced in Mongolian as “Sakhalyan-ulla” and is translated “rocks of the black river”. After the discovery of the island, G. I. Nevelskoy for this territory was assigned the name Sakhalin, which exists to the present day.
The Japanese name Karafuto originates in the ancient Ainu dialect, in accordance with the transcription of which "kamui-kara-puto-ya-mosir" is a phrase translated as "the land of the god of the mouth." Today this name is practically not used in Japan, replacing it with Sakhalin.
Sakhalin history
Sakhalin Regional Museum
Scientists attribute the mention of the first people who appeared on Sakhalin to the early Paleolithic period, which came 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 the Japanese Hokaido and the Nivkhs who previously lived at the mouth of the Amur.
During the 19th century, Sakhalin was officially ruled by the Chinese emperors, and the island itself was not subjected to detailed study. An important event for Sakhalin was the expedition in 1849 led by the talented navigator G. I. Nevelskoy, 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, which determined 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 of Russia and combines the features of Japanese, Mongolian and Russian cultures.
How to get to Sakhalin
Knowing where the largest Russian island is located, you can independently choose the way of travel. The most popular among tourists are: airplane; ferry.
As for air traffic, there is a direct flight from Moscow to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk airport, which will take you to your destination in 8 hours. This option is acceptable if you save time. However, be aware that the ticket can be expensive. Some airlines offer tourists a flight with a transfer in Novosibirsk, after which you will fly another 7 hours to the island's capital. Also, planes fly to Sakhalin from countries such as China, Japan and South Korea.
Typically, travelers take a route that includes a water crossing. To do this, you should first purchase a ticket for any train to Khabarovsk, Vladivostok or Komsomolsk-on-Amur, and then drive to the village of Vanino. A bus will take you from Vanino train station to the place where ferries depart.
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 costly in terms of time resources, but it is economical.
Features of the flora and fauna of Sakhalin
Due to its unique climatic conditions and good ecology, the animal and natural world of Sakhalin is very diverse. It is inhabited by such representatives of the fauna as bear, deer, wolverine, otter, mink, sea lion, raccoon dog, sable, etc. About 379 species of birds nest in the lowlands of the island, on the shores of seas and rivers. Every spring in the local waters you can see schools of salmon, which rush to their annual spawning. For this amazing sight, excursions are often organized.
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 watched from afar, since the island is under the strict protection of local authorities and it is strictly forbidden to approach it more than 27 miles.
The flora of Sakhalin has been studied by scientists for many decades and is represented by the families of orchid, heather, buckwheat, asteraceae, sedge, buttercup, cruciferous, etc. Sakhalin fir, larch, ayan spruce, mayra, yew, alder, birch, Japanese elm and maple grow in forest zones. Two thirds of the fauna and flora of Sakhalin are included in the "Red Book", being the natural wealth of Russia.
Natural sights of Sakhalin
Possessing significant potential in the development of ecological tourism, the island attracts the attention of visitors due to the huge number of places with picturesque landscapes. Arriving on Sakhalin, be sure to visit:
- Salt Lake Tunaicha, located 45 kilometers from the capital of Sakhalin. Fascinating fishing, tasting dishes prepared according to traditional recipes, exploring the surroundings, observing the life of birds - all this is offered by travel companies organizing excursions to Tunaichu.
- The Piltun, Juno and Crillon Capes are renowned for their unspoilt nature. The list of main entertainments includes: snorkeling, excursion to the lighthouse where you can see gray whales, kayaking, self-cooking of 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 can see amazing waterfalls, climb the ridge accompanied by an experienced instructor and relax away from the bustle of the city.
- Ilya-Muromets and Ptichiy waterfalls, which can only be reached as part of an off-road excursion tour. Bears often come to the waterfall during salmon spawning, so if you wish, you can take some original pictures from a safe distance. Both waterfalls are included in the list of especially important geological objects of the Russian Federation.
- Kudryavy Volcano, located on the Iturup Island and known all over the world for its unusual relief, which creates mesmerizing pictures. Climbing to the top of the crater, you will find yourself in a world of figures from solidified lava, geysers making their way out of the ground, abundant vegetation and basalt 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 bizarre corallites. The visit to the cave is accompanied by a qualified guide with a group of other tourists.
- White cliffs on Iturup Island, which can be reached by any local tour operator. The rocks are of an unusual origin and consist mainly of volcanic glass, which creates a mystical visual effect under certain lighting. A sandy beach stretches along the rocks for 27 kilometers, where tourists like to walk 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, which displays expositions of ancient railway equipment that have no analogues in the world.
Treatment on Sakhalin
The natural resources of the island, enriched with mineral waters and salts, make it possible to actively develop health tourism. For several decades, many healing springs have been discovered on Sakhalin, the water from which is used for medicinal purposes by local "health resorts".
Sanatorium "Sakhalin" is based on sources containing carbonic high arsenic waters, which help in the treatment of many diseases.
It is worth mentioning the famous resort of Sinegorsk, where tourists from different countries flock every year. Sinegorsk sanatoriums have significant experience in the medical field and provide a high level of service.
In the coastal area of the Dagi Bay, specialized institutions have been built that use alkaline water in health programs. Here you can also take a course of mud treatments aimed at restoring all body systems. Sapropelic, sulphide and peat muds perfectly help with serious problems in the field of neuralgic disorders and have a beneficial effect on the circulatory organs.
In the area of Mendeleev volcano, there are many sources containing sulfur. Taking baths with such water has a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system and helps to heal vascular diseases.
The main range of services provided by Sakhalin health resorts includes the prevention of cardiovascular, gynecological, digestive and endocrine diseases. Therefore, having arrived on the island, you can not only find the best option for rest, but also improve your health.
