The name of the highest volcano on the Kuril Islands. Underwater volcanic group "Paramushirskaya"
Kurile Islands
If you look at the map of Russia, then in fact Far East, between Kamchatka and Japan you can see a chain of islands, which are the Kuril Islands. The archipelago forms two ridges: the Greater Kuril and the Lesser Kuril. The Great Kuril Ridge includes about 30 islands, as well as a large number of small islets and rocks. The Small Kuril ridge runs parallel to the Big one. It includes 6 small islands and many rocks. IN currently all the Kuril Islands are controlled by Russia and are part of its Sakhalin region; some of the islands are the subject of a territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. The Kuril Islands are administratively part of the Sakhalin region. They are divided into three regions: North Kuril, Kuril and South Kuril.
The Kuril Islands are an area of active volcanic activity. Marine terraces of different altitudes play a significant role in the formation of the islands' topography. The coastline is replete with bays and capes, the shores are often rocky and steep, with narrow boulder-pebble, less often sandy beaches. Volcanoes are located almost exclusively on the islands of the Great Kuril Ridge. Most of these islands are active or extinct volcanoes, and only the northernmost and southernmost islands are composed of sedimentary formations. Most of the volcanoes Kuril Islands arose directly from seabed. The Kuril Islands themselves represent the peaks and ridges of a continuous mass hidden under water. mountain range. The Great Kuril Ridge is a wonderful visual example of the formation of a ridge on the earth's surface. There are 21 known active volcanoes on the Kuril Islands. The most active volcanoes of the Kuril ridge include Alaid, Sarychev Peak, Fuss, Snow and Milna. Decaying volcanoes, which are in the solfata stage of activity, are located mainly in the southern half of the Kuril ridge. On the Kuril Islands there are many extinct volcanoes Atsonupuri Aka Roko and others.
The climate of the Kuril Islands is moderately cold, monsoonal. It is determined by their location between two huge bodies of water - the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean. The average temperature in February is from - 5 to - 7 degrees C. The average temperature in August is from 10 degrees C. The features of the monsoon climate are more pronounced in the southern part of the Kuril Islands, which is more influenced by the Asian continent, which cools in winter, from where cold and dry western winds blow winds. Only the climate of the southernmost islands is affected by the warm Soya Current, which is fading here.
Significant amounts of precipitation and a high runoff coefficient favor the development of a dense network of small watercourses on the islands. In total there are more than 900 rivers. The mountainousness of the islands also determines the steep slope of the rivers and the high speed of their flow; There are frequent rapids and waterfalls in river beds. Lowland rivers are a rare exception. The rivers receive their main nutrition from rain; snow nutrition also plays a significant role, especially from snowfields located in the mountains. Only slowly flowing streams within the lowland areas are covered with ice each year. The water of many rivers is unsuitable for drinking due to high mineralization and high sulfur content. There are several dozen lakes of various origins on the islands. Some of them are associated with volcanic activity.
Volcanoes of the Kuril Islands
Volcanic activity is observed exclusively in the Great Kuril Ridge, the islands of which are mainly of volcanic origin and only the northernmost and southernmost are composed of sedimentary rocks of Neogene age. These rocks serve here as the foundation on which volcanic structures arose.
The volcanoes of the Kuril Islands are confined to deep faults in the earth's crust, which are continuations of the faults of Kamchatka. Together with the latter, they form one volcanic and tectonic Kuril-Kamchatka arc, convex to the side Pacific Ocean. On the Kuril Islands there are 25 active volcanoes (of which 4 are underwater), 13 dormant and more than 60 extinct. The volcanoes of the Kuril Islands have been studied very little. Among them, Alaid volcanoes, Sarychev Fuss peak, Snow and Milia volcanoes stand out for their increased activity. Alaid Volcano is located on the first northern island (Atlasov Island) and of all Kuril volcanoes most active. It is the highest (2239 m) and rises beautifully in the form of a regular cone directly from the surface of the sea. At the top of the cone, in a small depression, is the central crater of the volcano. By the nature of its eruptions, the Alaid volcano belongs to the ethno-Vesuvian type. Over the past 180 years, there have been eight known eruptions of this volcano and two eruptions of the side cone Taketomi, which formed during. eruption of Alaid in 1934. Volcanic activity on the Kuril Islands is accompanied by numerous hot springs with temperatures from 36 to 100 C. The springs are varied in form and salt composition and are even less studied than volcanoes.
Paramushirskaya underwater volcanic group
Within this volcanic group, the Grigoriev underwater volcano, an underwater volcano located to the west of the island, has been studied. Paramushir and underwater lava cones near the island. Paramushir.
Underwater volcano Grigoriev. The flat-topped underwater volcano Grigoriev, named after the outstanding Russian geologist, is located 5.5 km northwest of the island. Atlasov (Alaid volcano) (Fig. 17).
It rises from depths of 800-850 m, and its base is fused with the base of the Alaid volcano. Grigoriev Volcano is located on the general line of the north-northwest direction of the location of the side cones of the Alaid volcano.
The dimensions of the base of the volcano along the isobath are 500 m 11.5 8.5 km, and the volume of the building is about 40 km 3. The steepness of the slopes reaches 10°-15°.
The top of the underwater volcano Grigoriev was cut off by abrasion and leveled to a level of 120-140 m (Fig. 18), which practically corresponds to sea level in the late Pleistocene. In the southern part of the peak there are rocky ledges that rise to a depth of 55 m. Apparently, these rocky ledges represent a prepared neck.
Based on continuous seismic profiling records, the volcanic edifice is composed primarily of dense volcanic rocks.
An intense magnetic field anomaly with a range of more than 1000 nT is confined to the Grigoriev underwater volcano (see Fig. 18). All rocky outcroppings noted in the southern part of the flat top are clearly detected in the magnetic field by the presence of local anomalies. The volcanic structure is magnetized in the direction of the modern magnetic field.
When dredging an underwater volcano, basalts were raised, varying in composition from very low-silica to high-silica varieties. The remanent magnetization of these basalts varies in the range of 7.3-28.5 A/m, and the Koenigsberger ratio - in the range of 8.4-26.5.
Data from echo sounding, continuous seismic profiling, hydromagnetic surveys and measurements of the magnetic properties of dredged samples suggest that the entire structure of the Grigoriev underwater volcano is composed of dense basalts.
The presence of a pre-Holocene 120-140 meter terrace and the magnetization of the volcanic structure in the direction of the modern magnetic field allows us to estimate the age of formation of the volcano in the range of 700 - 10 thousand years ago.
An underwater volcano west of the island. Paramushir. In 1989, on cruises 34 and 35 of the R/V Vulcanologist in the rear part of the Kuril Arc, 80 km west of the island. Paramushir was discovered and studied in detail a previously unknown underwater volcano.
This underwater volcano is located at the intersection of the Atlasov trough with the continuation of the transverse structure of the 4th Kuril trough. Just like the underwater volcanoes Belyankin and Edelstein, it is located far in the rear of the Kuril island arc and is 280 km away from the axis of the Kuril-Kamchatka trench.
The volcano is located on a gentle slope of the trough, rising above the surrounding bottom of the Sea of Okhotsk by 650-700 m (Fig. 19). Its base is slightly elongated in the northwestern direction and has dimensions of ~ 6.5–7 km. The top of the mountain is complicated by a number of peaks. A negative relief shape encircles the base of the volcano in an almost closed ring.
In the vicinity of the volcano, there are no extended scattering horizons in the sedimentary section. Only at the very base does a short, “acoustically turbid” wedge sometimes stand out, apparently caused by the accumulation of clastic material and slumped sediments. The position in the section of this “acoustically muddy” wedge corresponds to the estimated time of formation of the volcano, which, according to NSP data, is 400-700 thousand years.
The structural features of the sedimentary cover indicate that the breakthrough of magma to the bottom surface here was not accompanied by a large-scale process of accumulation of volcanic-sedimentary material, and, most likely, resulted in the formation of one or a series of volcanic extrusions. Most likely, the entire structure is composed of volcanic rocks.
At a distance of 5-10 km from the volcano, according to NSP data, three small (apparently magmatic) bodies that did not reach the bottom surface were identified. The overlying sediments are folded into anticlinal folds.
The anomalous field (T) a in the area of the underwater volcano is characterized by positive values. Only in the northwestern part of the study area are negative field values with an intensity of up to -200 nT observed. The areas of positive and negative magnetic field values are separated by a linear zone of high gradients, which has a northwest strike. The horizontal field gradient in this zone reaches 80-100 nT/km. A positive magnetic field anomaly with an intensity of up to 400-500 nT is associated directly with the volcanic edifice. Near the summit part of the structure, a local maximum with an intensity of up to 700 nT was noted. The maximum of the anomaly is shifted south of the volcano's summit. The noted magmatic bodies that have not reached the bottom surface are not expressed as independent anomalies in an anomalous magnetic field.
The observed pattern of the anomalous magnetic field indicates direct magnetization of the underwater volcanic structure.
Apparently, the age of formation of the volcano is no older than 700 thousand years, which is in good agreement with the NSP data.
When dredging the top part of the mountain, mainly amphibole andesites were lifted, with a subordinate amount of pyroxene andesite-basalts and plagiobasalts. Fragments of granitoids, andesitic pumice, slag, pebbles of sedimentary rocks, ferromanganese formations and bottom biota are present in small quantities.
Data from echo sounding, geological survey, geological survey and geological sampling suggest that the bulk of the volcanic structure is composed of rocks of andesite-basalt composition.
Underwater lava cones near the island. Paramushir. In a number of cruises of the R/V Vulcanologist and on cruise 11-A of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh, underwater gas-hydrothermal activity was studied on the northwestern slope of the island. Paramushir. On cruise 11-A of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh in the study area, either 11 dives of the Pisis VII and Paisis XI manned submersibles (POVs) or 13 were performed.
The signal for such a close study of this area was a radiogram sent on March 20, 1982 by the captain of the fishing vessel “Pogranichnik Zmeev” to the newspaper “Kamchatskaya Pravda” that near the island. Paramushir “an active underwater volcano was discovered at a depth of 820 m, the extreme eruption height is 290 m...”. In April of the same year, on the 13th voyage of the R/V Vulcanologist, acoustic interference was discovered at the indicated point, clearly visible in the echo sounder recordings. Similar records were repeatedly recorded during studies on board research vessels in the area of active volcanoes and were associated with the action of underwater fumaroles. The shape of the detected interference resembled a torch. Subsequently, when conducting research at this point, acoustic interference in the recordings of various echo sounders installed on board the R/V “Vulcanologist” was noted until 1991, when the last specialized voyage No. 40 of this vessel was carried out within the ROC.
Before the start of research, no signs of volcanic activity were known in the area of the “torch”. To establish the nature of the “torch” of anomalous water, so many studies were carried out. They made it possible to establish that the “torch” was formed by underwater gas-hydrothermal outlets (PGTE), similar to an underwater fumarole, but not directly connected with any volcanic center. Therefore, applying the term “underwater fumarole” to it would be incorrect.
PGTV is located on the west-northwest slope of the island. Paramushir in the rear part of KKOS, approximately in the middle between the Alaid and Antsiferov volcanoes. Its coordinates are 50o30.8"N and 155o18.45"E. It is confined to a weakly manifested transverse volcanic zone, represented by almost completely buried extrusive domes or small volcanic cones, extending from the Chikurachki volcano in a west-northwest direction. In the NSP records, these structures are similar to the secondary cinder cones of the Alaid volcano, which also have a transverse orientation relative to the COD. Most of the buried structures measure 0.5-3 km at the base and 50-400 m in height. Considering that these dimensions are less than the intertack distance, excluding a small area around the PGTV itself, it can be assumed that the number of buried structures in the described area is somewhat larger. It should be noted that buried structures in the KOD area during volcanological expeditions on board the R/V “Vulcanologist” were found only in two places: in the area of the PGTV and at the underwater volcano to the west of the island. Paramushir.
Judging by the GMS data, not all volcanic buried structures have the same structure. Some of them are not expressed in any way in the magnetic field, but are only recorded on NSP tapes, others are associated with distinct positive or negative anomalies of the magnetic field, and they are, apparently, lava domes or cones, frozen mainly in the thickness of sediments. Non-magnetic cone-shaped structures can be composed of cinder cones or acidic rocks.
The largest lava cone is located at the northeastern end of the detailed study area. It is almost entirely located inside the sedimentary sequence, which has a thickness of more than 1500 m. Only its top part rises above the bottom surface, forming a hill 100-120 m high. The recorded depth above the top is 580 m. The dimensions of this structure in its lower part at a depth of 800 -1000 m from the bottom surface reach 5-6 km. The size of the structure along the buried base is 7.5 11 km, area ~ 65 km 2, total height 1600 m. The steepness of the slopes of the building is 5o-8o. A smaller cone with a base size of ~3 km adjoins it from the south-southwest. Both of these structures are magnetic and form an anomaly, within which two extrema with intensities of 370 and 440 nT are noted (Fig. 4). The buildings are magnetized in the direction of the modern magnetic field, and the age of their formation is not older than 700 thousand years.
The performed two-dimensional modeling showed that the effective magnetization of the northern cone is 1.56 A/m, and that of the southern cone is 3.7 A/m. Based on the average values of effective magnetization for submarine volcanoes, it can be assumed that the northern cone is composed of andesites, and the southern one is composed of andesite-basalts.
During POA dives on the northern cone, plagioclase-hornblende andesites and dominant homogeneous basalts were sampled.
A comparison of the results of geomagnetic modeling with geological sampling data suggests that the upper part of this cone is composed of basalts, and the deeper parts are andesites.
Estimates of the age of the northern cone, given in various works, vary within the Neogene-Quaternary.
The small cone, located in the southern part of the detailing area, has a base size of ~1.5 km in diameter. It is associated with a negative magnetic field anomaly with an intensity of -200 nT (see Fig. 4). The effective magnetization of this cone is 1.3 A/m, which corresponds to the magnetization of andesitic volcanoes. The negative nature of the magnetic field suggests that the age of formation of this cone is no younger than 700 thousand years.
It should be noted that the PGTV is located in a zone of increased fracturing with big amount minor faults.
POA dives in the PGTV zone showed that the most characteristic forms of relief in the PGTV area are chaotically located sinkholes and pits. The size of the pits varies from 1 to 10 m in diameter and has a depth of up to 3 m. The distance between the pits is 0.5-2 m.
PGTV is associated with deposits of solid gas hydrates.
Employees of the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences believe that the studied outlets are gas and not hydrothermal.
The studies have shown that the PGTVs are located within a weakly expressed volcanic zone of Quaternary (Neogene-Quaternary?) age. They are confined to a zone of increased fracturing and are not directly associated with any volcanic center. The nearest non-magnetic (slag?) cone is located ~ 2 km east-southeast of the point where acoustic interference occurs.
Underwater volcanic group "Makanrushi".
Within this volcanic group, the contrasting underwater volcanoes Belyankina and Smirnov, named after outstanding Russian geologists, were studied. These submarine volcanoes are located in the rear of Onekotan Island (see Fig. 17). The Belyankin underwater volcano is located 23 km northwest of the island. Makanrushi (Fig. 21). Navigation maps, prior to work from the R/V Vulcanologist, showed two distinctive depths in this area, which could be the depths marked above the peaks of this underwater volcano. Our research has clearly shown that the Belyankina underwater volcano has only one peak.
Belyankina Volcano has the shape of an isometric cone and rises above the surrounding bottom to a height of about 1100 m. The sharp peak of the volcano is located at a depth of 508 m. Belyankina Volcano is located not only outside the mountain structure of the Kuril-Kamchatka island arc, but even on the other side of the Kuril Basin - on its northwestern slope. The maximum size of the base of the volcanic structure is 9 7 km with an area of about 50 km 2. The volcano has steep slopes. Their steepness increases in the direction from the base to the top from 15o-20o to 25o-30o. The slopes of the volcano rising above the bottom of the basin are devoid of sedimentary cover. The base of the volcano is overlapped by a thick layer of sediments. On the NSP seismograms they correspond to a seismoacoustic image pattern, which is generally typical for sedimentary strata in this region of the Sea of Okhotsk. The volume of the volcanic structure, taking into account the part covered by sediments, is ~35 km 3 . The thickness of sedimentary deposits near the volcano exceeds 1000 m. With existing estimates of the rate of sedimentation in the Sea of Okhotsk (20-200 m/million years), the formation of this strata would require from 1 to 10 million years.
The Belyankin underwater volcano is clearly visible in the magnetic field. It is associated with a magnetic field anomaly with a range of 650 nT, the extremum of which is shifted to the southeast of the peak (see Fig. 21). The volcanic structure has direct magnetization.
When dredging the Belyankin underwater volcano, homogeneous olivine basalts were raised. Based on the study of dredged rocks, some authors believe that the volcanic eruptions occurred underwater, while others believe that they occurred on land.
Measurements of the magnetic properties of dredged samples showed that their remanent magnetization varies in the range of 10-29 A/m, and the Koenigsberger ratio varies in the range of 5.5-16.
To interpret the GMS data, 2.5-dimensional modeling was performed using the methodology proposed in the work. Materials from echo sounding measurements and NSP were used as a priori information. One of the most realistic models, in which the best agreement between the curves of the anomalous and model magnetic fields is observed, is presented in Fig. 6.
From the modeling results it follows that the anomalous magnetic field in the area of the volcano is mainly due to its construction. The role of the deep roots of the volcano is very insignificant. The rocks that make up the volcanic edifice have direct magnetization and are quite homogeneous in composition, which is in good agreement with geological sampling data. Simulations performed using two other independent methods gave similar results.
Comparing the modeling results with the NSP and echo sounding data, and taking into account the freshness of the dredged material, we can assume that, most likely, the sedimentary strata was intruded during the formation of the volcanic structure. The base of the volcano apparently began to form in the Pliocene, with the bulk of the structure formed in the Pleistocene.
The underwater volcano Smirnov is located 12 km north-northwest of the island. Makanrushi (see Fig. 21). Its base, at a depth of about 1800 m, merges with the base of Makanrushi Island. The slopes of Makanrushi are covered with a thick (up to 0.5 s) cover of “acoustically opaque”, probably volcanogenic and volcanogenic-sedimentary deposits. These same deposits cover the southern part of the base of Smirnov Volcano and seem to “flow around” it from the southwest and southeast. From the north, the foot of the volcano is covered by sedimentary deposits with a thickness of at least 1000 m that are typical for this region of the Sea of Okhotsk. According to available estimates of the rate of sedimentation in the Sea of Okhotsk, the formation of this strata would have required at least 5 million years.
The flat top of the volcano is located at a depth of 950 m and is covered by horizontally layered sediments with a thickness of 100-150 m. The maximum size of the base of the volcano is 8–11 km, with an area of ~70 km2, and the flat top is 2? 3 km. The relative height of the volcanic structure is 850 m, and the volume is about 20 km 3.
The underwater Smirnov volcano is also clearly visible in the magnetic field and is associated with a magnetic field anomaly with an amplitude of 470 nT (see Fig. 21). The volcanic structure has direct magnetization.
During the dredging of Smirnova volcano, various rocks were raised, varying in composition from basalts to dacites.
Dredged andesite-basalts have a remanent magnetization of 1.5-4.1 A/m and a Koenigsberger ratio of 1.5-6.9, and andesites - 3.1-5.6 A/m and 28-33, respectively.
To interpret the GMS data, 2.5-dimensional modeling was performed using the methodology proposed in the work. One of the most realistic models, in which the best agreement between the curves of the anomalous and model magnetic fields is observed, is presented in Fig. 6. The discrepancy at the beginning of the profile of the observed and calculated anomalous magnetic field curves is due to the influence of the nearby Makanrushi Island. From the modeling results it follows that the anomalous magnetic field in the area of the volcano is due to its construction, and not to deep roots. Despite the heterogeneity of the dredged material, the vast majority of the structure is quite homogeneous in the composition of its constituent rocks, which have direct magnetization. Based on the value of effective magnetization, such rocks may be high-potassium amphibole-containing andesites, typical of the rear zone of the Kuril-Kamchatka island arc.
The flat top of the volcano suggests that it once rose to sea level and then experienced significant subsidence. Extensive underwater terraces. Makanrushi are located at depths of about 120-130 m. This practically corresponds to sea level in the late Pleistocene, i.e. There have been no significant subsidences in this area since the late Pleistocene. Therefore, we can assume that the lowering of the flat top of Smirnov volcano to a depth of 950 m occurred before the beginning of the Late Pleistocene. The nature of the relationship between the construction of the Smirnov volcano and sedimentary deposits of the bottom of the Sea of Okhotsk and sediments of the underwater slopes of the island. Makanrushi suggests that this volcano is one of the most ancient parts of the island massif. Makanrushi. Its age is at least Pliocene.
Volcano! How much fear and excitement is contained in this word. Everyone knows that Russia is rich in the presence of active and extinct volcanoes on its territory. Most of them are located on the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka, 28 are operational.
5 most famous volcanoes of Kamchatka
1) Undoubtedly Klyuchevskaya Sopka takes first place due to its height of 4750 m and the diameter of the crater about 500 m. This volcano is famous for the regularity of its shape (cone-shaped). Age - approximately 5000 years. Scientists have found that the volcano has erupted more than 50 times over the past 270 years. It is not surprising that he is considered to be the most active. Smoke or flashes of lava above it became a common occurrence for residents.
2) Volcano Tolbachik belongs to the Klyuchevskaya chain of volcanoes. It is a type of Hawaiian volcano. It has two equivalent peaks - Ostry Tolbachik (3600 m) and Plosky Tolbachik (3100 m). As for the type of cone, it belongs to stratovolcanoes. Not so long ago, this place attracted tourists, and many people came here, but on November 27, 2012, an eruption occurred, after which travelers bypassed Tolbachik. Even more interesting information You will find information about this and other volcanoes on the website.
3) In the east of Kamchatka is located Kronotskaya Sopka– an active volcano (although it erupts quite rarely). Its height is 3550 m. The size of the volcano is truly impressive. In order for such a powerful creature of nature to be born, it had to happen powerful eruptions. However, this is how it was in past times. One gets the impression that the volcano is divided into two zones: the top is covered with ice, and the bottom is covered with forest. Near the volcano there is Lake Kronotskoe, as well as the famous Valley of Geysers.
4) Current Avachinskaya Sopka, which is commonly called Avacha, is located near the Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It would seem to be a high and inaccessible volcano (2700 m), but many people enjoy conquering it in the summer. The diameter of the crater is 400 m. In 1991, this volcano erupted for the last time, which caused significant damage to the nearby area.
5) Volcano Sishel is located in the northern part of the Kamchatka ridge and has a height of 2500 m. According to its type, it belongs to the group of shields. The shape resembles an ellipse. The volcano does not show activity, so it is classified as extinct.
6) Karymskaya Sopka, perhaps, one of several volcanoes that can compete with Klyuchevsky in terms of the number of eruptions. Scientists have noted 20 eruptions over the past 50 years. The height of the volcano is 1536 m. It is located in the central part and is young.
The volcanoes of Russia are harsh giants that have repeatedly proven their great power, sweeping away everything in their path. In the eastern part of the country, echoes of recent eruptions can still be heard. Extinct or active volcanoes– they will always attract glances with their majesty and indescribable picturesque landscape.
The mysterious Kuril Islands are a paradise for any romantic traveler. Inaccessibility, uninhabitation, geographical isolation, active volcanoes, a far from “beach climate”, scant information - not only do not deter, but also increase the desire to get to the foggy, fire-breathing islands - former military fortresses of the Japanese army, still hidden deep underground many secrets.
The Kuril arc is a narrow chain of islands, like openwork bridge, connects two worlds - Kamchatka and Japan. The Kuril Islands are part of the Pacific volcanic ring. The islands are the tops of the highest structures of the volcanic ridge, protruding from the water only 1-2 km, and extending into the depths of the ocean for many kilometers.
In total, there are over 150 volcanoes on the islands, of which 39 are active. The highest of them is the Alaid volcano - 2339 m, located on Atlasov Island. Volcanic activity is associated with the presence of numerous thermal springs, some of them are medicinal.
Experts compare the Kuril Islands with a huge Botanical Garden, where representatives of various floras coexist: Japanese-Korean, Manchurian and Okhotsk-Kamchatka. Here grow together - polar birch and thousand-year-old yew, larch with spruce and wild grapes, dwarf cedar and velvet tree, interweaving of woody vines and carpet thickets of lingonberries. Traveling around the islands, you can visit various natural areas, get from the pristine taiga to subtropical thickets, from the moss tundra to the jungle of giant grasses.
The seabed around the islands is covered with dense vegetation, in the thickets of which numerous fish, shellfish, sea animals, and crystal pure water makes it possible for lovers of underwater travel to navigate well in the seaweed jungle, where unique finds also occur - sunken ships and Japanese military equipment- reminders of military events in the history of the Kuril archipelago.
Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Kunashir 
GEOGRAPHY, WHERE THEY ARE, HOW TO GET THERE
The Kuril Islands are a chain of islands between the Kamchatka Peninsula and the island of Hokkaido, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean with a slightly convex arc.
Length - about 1200 km. The total area is 10.5 thousand km². To the south of them lies the state border Russian Federation with Japan.
The islands form two parallel ridges: the Greater Kuril and the Lesser Kuril. Includes 56 islands. They have important military-strategic and economic significance. The Kuril Islands are part of the Sakhalin region of Russia. The southern islands of the archipelago - Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai group - are disputed by Japan, which includes them in Hokkaido Prefecture.
The Kuril Islands belong to the Far North
The climate on the islands is maritime, quite harsh, with cold and long winters, cool summer, high air humidity. The mainland monsoon climate undergoes significant changes here. In the southern part of the Kuril Islands, frosts in winter can reach −25 °C, average temperature February - −8 °C. In the northern part, winter is milder, with frosts down to −16 °C and −7 °C in February.
In winter, the islands are affected by the Aleutian baric minimum, the effect of which weakens by June.
The average August temperature in the southern part of the Kuril Islands is +17 °C, in the northern part - +10 °C.
Iturup Island, White Rocks Kuril Islands 
List of KURIL ISLANDS
List of islands with an area greater than 1 km² in a north-south direction.
Name, Area, km², height, Latitude, Longitude
Great Kuril Ridge
Northern group
Atlasova 150 2339 50°52" 155°34"
Shumshu 388 189 50°45" 156°21"
Paramushir 2053 1816 50°23" 155°41"
Antsiferova 7 747 50°12" 154°59"
Makanrushi 49 1169 49°46" 154°26"
Onekotan 425 1324 49°27" 154°46"
Kharimkotan 68 1157 49°07" 154°32"
Chirinkotan 6 724 48°59" 153°29"
Ekarma 30 1170 48°57" 153°57"
Shiashkotan 122 934 48°49" 154°06"
Middle group
Raikoke 4.6 551 48°17" 153°15"
Matua 52 1446 48°05" 153°13"
Rashua 67 948 47°45" 153°01"
Ushishir Islands 5 388 — —
Ryponkich 1.3 121 47°32" 152°50"
Yankich 3.7 388 47°31" 152°49"
Ketoy 73 1166 47°20" 152°31"
Simushir 353 1539 46°58" 152°00"
Broughton 7 800 46°43" 150°44"
Black Brothers Islands 37,749 — —
Chirpoy 21 691 46°30" 150°55"
Brat-Chirpoev 16 749 46°28" 150°50" Kuril Islands 
Southern group
Urup 1450 1426 45°54" 149°59"
Iturup 3318.8 1634 45°00" 147°53"
Kunashir 1495.24 1819 44°05" 145°59"
Small Kuril ridge
Shikotan 264.13 412 43°48" 146°45"
Polonsky 11.57 16 43°38" 146°19"
Green 58.72 24 43°30" 146°08"
Tanfilyeva 12.92 15 43°26" 145°55"
Yuri 10.32 44 43°25" 146°04"
Anuchina 2.35 33 43°22" 146°00"
Atsonapuri volcano Kuril Islands 
Geological structure
The Kuril Islands are a typical ensimatic island arc on the edge of the Okhotsk plate. It lies above a subduction zone in which the Pacific plate is being absorbed. Most of the islands are mountainous. Highest height 2339 m - Atlasov Island, Alaid Volcano. The Kuril Islands are located in the Pacific volcanic ring of fire in a zone of high seismic activity: out of 68 volcanoes, 36 are active, there are hot mineral springs. Large tsunamis are common. The best known are the tsunami of November 5, 1952 at Paramushir and the Shikotan tsunami of October 5, 1994. The last major tsunami occurred on November 15, 2006 in Simushir.
South Kuril Bay, Kunashir Island 
Earthquakes
In Japan, an average of 1,500 earthquakes are recorded per year, i.e. 4 earthquakes per day. Most of they are associated with movement in the earth's crust (tectonics). Over 15 centuries, 223 destructive earthquakes and 2,000 of medium strength were noted and described: These, however, are far from complete figures, since earthquakes began to be recorded with special instruments in Japan only in 1888. A significant proportion of earthquakes occur in the Kuril Islands region, where they often occur appear in the form of seaquakes. Captain Snow, who hunted here sea beast Over the course of many years, at the end of the last century, I repeatedly observed similar phenomena. For example, on July 12, 1884, 4 miles west of the Sredneva stones, the gusty noise and shaking of the ship lasted about two hours with intervals of 15 minutes and a duration of 30 seconds. No rough seas were noticed at this time. The water temperature was normal, about 2.25°C.
Between 1737 and 1888 16 destructive earthquakes were recorded in the area of the islands in 1915-1916. - 3 catastrophic earthquakes in the middle part of the ridge, in 1929 - 2 similar earthquakes in the north.
Sometimes these phenomena are associated with underwater lava eruptions. The destructive impacts of earthquakes sometimes raise a huge wave (tsunami) in the sea, which is repeated several times. It hits the shores with colossal force, adding to the destruction caused by the shaking of the soil. The height of the wave can be judged, for example, by the case of the ship “Natalia”, sent by Lebedev-Lastochkin and Shelekhov under the command of navigator Petushkov to the 18th island: “On January 8, 1780 there was a severe earthquake; the sea rose so high that the gukor (ship A.S.), standing in the harbor, was carried into the middle of the island...” (Berkh, 1823, pp. 140-141; Pozdneev, p. 11). The wave caused by the earthquake of 1737 reached a height of 50 m and hit the shore with terrible force, breaking rocks. Several new rocks and cliffs rose up in the Second Channel. During the earthquake on the island. Simushir in 1849, all sources of groundwater dried up, and its population was forced to move to other places.
Paramushir island, Ebeko volcano 
Mendeleev volcano, Kunashir island 
Mineral springs
The presence of numerous hot and highly mineralized springs on the islands is associated with volcanic activity. They are found on almost all islands, especially on Kunashir, Iturup, Ushishir, Raikok, Shikotan, and Ekarma. The first of them has quite a few boiling springs. On others, hot keys have a temperature of 35-70°C. They come out in different places and have different flow rates.
On about. The Raikoke spring, with a temperature of 44°C, bubbles up at the base of high cliffs and forms bathtub-like pools in the cracks of solidified lava.
On about. Ushishir is a powerful boiling spring that comes out in the crater of a volcano, etc. The water of many springs is colorless, transparent, and most often contains sulfur, which is sometimes deposited in yellow grains at the edges. The water from most sources is unsuitable for drinking purposes.
Some springs are considered healing and are used for treatment on inhabited islands. Gases released by volcanoes through fissures are often also rich in sulfur fumes.
Devil's finger Kuril Islands 
Natural resources
Industrial reserves of non-ferrous metal ores, mercury, natural gas, and oil have been explored on the islands and in the coastal zone. On the island of Iturup, in the area of the Kudryavy volcano, there is the richest rhenium mineral deposit known in the world. Here, at the beginning of the 20th century, the Japanese mined native sulfur. The total resources of gold on the Kuril Islands are estimated at 1867 tons, silver - 9284 tons, titanium - 39.7 million tons, iron - 273 million tons. Currently, mineral development is not numerous.
Of all the Kuril straits, only the Frieza Strait and the Catherine Strait are non-freezing navigable.
Bird waterfall, Kunashir 
Flora and fauna
Flora
Due to the large extent of the islands from north to south, the flora of the Kuril Islands varies extremely greatly. On northern islands(Paramushir, Shumshu and others) due to the harsh climate, the tree vegetation is quite sparse and is represented mainly by shrub forms (elfin trees): alder (alder), birch, willow, rowan, dwarf cedar (cedar). On the southern islands (Iturup, Kunashir) grow coniferous forests of Sakhalin fir, Ayan spruce and Kuril larch with a large participation of broad-leaved species: curly oak, maples, elms, calopanax seven-lobed with a large number of woody vines: petiolate hydrangea, actinidia, Schisandra chinensis, wild grapes, poisonous toxicodendron orientalis, etc. In the south of Kunashir, the only wild species of magnolia in Russia is found - magnolia obovate. One of the main landscape plants of the Kuril Islands, starting from the middle islands (Ketoi and to the south) is Kuril bamboo, forming impenetrable thickets on the mountain slopes and forest edges. Due to the humid climate, tall grass is common on all islands. Various berries are widely represented: crowberry, lingonberry, blueberry, honeysuckle and others.
There are more than 40 species of endemic plants. For example, Astragalus Kavakamsky, wormwood, Kurilian edelweiss, found on the island of Iturup; Ito and Saussurea kuril, growing on the island of Urup.
The following plants are protected on the island of Iturup: the endangered Asian pommel, flowering plants Aralia mainland, Aralia cormatata, Calopanax seven-lobed, Japanese kandyk, Wright's viburnum, Glen's cardiocrinum, peony obovate, Faury's rhododendron, Sugeroki's holly, Gray's bifolia, pearl marshwort, low wolffoil, mountain peony, lichens Glossodium japonica and naked stereocaulon, gymnosperms Sargent's juniper and pointed yew, moss-like Bryoxyphium savatier and Atractycarpus alpine, growing near the Baransky volcano. On the island of Urup, Viburnum Wright, Aralia cordata and Plagiotsium obtuseum are protected.
Alaid volcano, Atlasov island 
Fauna
The brown bear lives on Kunashir, Iturup and Paramushir; the bear was also encountered on Shumshu, but during a long-term stay on the island military base, due to its relatively small size, the bears on Shumshu were mostly driven out. Shumshu is a connecting island between Paramushir and Kamchatka, and individual bears are now found there. The islands are inhabited by foxes and small rodents. A large number of birds: plovers, gulls, ducks, cormorants, petrels, albatrosses, passerines, owls, falcons and others. Lots of bird colonies.
Coastal undersea world, unlike the islands, is not only numerous, but also very diverse. The coastal waters are inhabited by seals, sea otters, killer whales, and sea lions. Of great commercial importance are: fish, crabs, shellfish, squid, crustaceans, sea cucumbers, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, seaweed, whales. The seas washing the shores of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands are among the most productive areas of the World Ocean.
On Iturup Island there are also endemic animals (molluscs): Lacustrina Iturupian, Sharovka Iturupian (Lake Reidovo), Kuril pearl mussel; on Lake Dobroe there are Kunashiriya sinanodontoides and Shutter Iturupian.
On February 10, 1984, the State nature reserve"Kurilsky". Its territory is home to 84 species included in the Red Book of Russia.
Kunashir Island, Pervukhina Bay
History of the islands
17th-18th century
The honor of discovery, exploration and initial development of the Kuril Islands belongs to Russian expeditions and colonists.
The first visit to the islands is attributed to the Dutchman Gerrits Fries, who visited Fr. in 1643. Uruppu. Having called this land “Company Land” - Companys lant (Reclus, 1885, p. 565), Frieze, however, did not assume that it was part of the Kuril ridge.
The remaining islands north of Uruppu to Kamchatka were discovered and described by Russian “explorers” and navigators. And the Russians discovered Uruppa a second time at the beginning of the 18th century. Japan at this time knew only o. Kunashiri and the Malaya Kurilskaya ridge, but they were not part of the Japanese Empire. The extreme northern colony of Japan was about. Hokkaido.
The server islands of the Kuril ridge were first reported by the clerk of the Anadyr fort, Pentecostal Vl. Atlasov, who discovered Kamchatka. In 1697 he walked along west bank Kamchatka south to the mouth of the river. Golygina and from here “I saw as if there were islands on the sea.”
Not knowing that trade with foreigners had been prohibited in Japan since 1639, Peter I in 1702 gave the order to establish good-neighborly trade relations with Japan. From that time on, Russian expeditions persistently made their way south from Kamchatka in search of trade route to Japan. In 1706, the Cossack M. Nasedkin clearly saw land in the south from Cape Lopatka. By order of the Yakut voivode to “visit” this land, the Cossack ataman D. Antsiferov and captain Ivan Kozyrevsky in 1711 went to the island. Syumushu (Shumshu) and Paramusir (Paramushir), and upon their return they compiled a “blueprint” of all the islands. To map the southern islands, they used the stories of Japanese fishermen who were thrown into Kamchatka by a storm and saw the southern islands.
During the campaign of 1713, Captain Ivan Kozyrevsky again “visited” the islands beyond the “crossings” (straits) and drew up a new “drawing”. Surveyors Evreinov and Luzhin surveyed the map in 1720 from Kamchatka to the Sixth Island (Simushiru). Ten years later, the brave leader of the “explorers” V. Shestakov with 25 service people visited five northern islands. Following him, thorough work “for the sake of observation and exploration of the route to Japan” was carried out by Captain Shpanberg, Bering’s assistant on his second expedition.
During 1738-1739 Shpanberg mapped and described almost all the islands. Based on his materials, 40 islands under Russian names were shown on the “General Map of the Russian Empire” in the Academic Atlas of 1745, for example, the islands of Anfinogen, Krasnogorsk, Stolbovoy, Krivoy, Osypnoy, Kozel, Brother, Sister, Olkhovy, Zeleny, etc. As a result of Spanberg's work, the composition of the entire island ridge was revealed and mapped for the first time. The previously known extreme southern islands (“Company Land”, Island of “States”) were identified as components of the Kuril ridge.
For a long time before this, there was an idea of a certain large “Land of Gama” to the east of Asia. The legend of the hypothetical Land of Gama was forever dispelled.
During these same years, the Russians became acquainted with the small indigenous population of the islands - the Ainu. According to the largest Russian geographer of that time, S. Krasheninnikov, on the island. Syumusyu by the 40s of the 18th century. there were only 44 souls.
In 1750 he sailed to about. Shimusiru is the sergeant major of the First Nick Island. Storozhev. After 16 years (in 1766), foremen Nikita Chikin, Chuprov and centurion Iv. Black again tried to find out the number of all the islands and the population on them.
After the death of Chikin on the island. Simusiru I. Cherny spent the winter on this island. In 1767 he reached Fr. Etorof, and then settled on about. Uruppu. Returning to Kamchatka in the fall of 1769, Cherny reported that on 19 islands (including Etorofa) 83 “hairy” (Ainu) accepted Russian citizenship.
In their actions, Chikin and Cherny were obliged to be guided by the instructions of the Bolsheretsk Chancellery: “When following distant islands and vice versa... describe... their size, the width of the straits that are on the islands, animals, also rivers, lakes and fish in them... Inquire about gold and silver ore and pearls... insults, taxes, robbery. .. and do not engage in other acts contrary to the decrees and rudeness and lustful violence, expecting the highest mercy and reward for jealousy.” After some time, the Tyumen merchant Yak. Nikonov, as well as sailors from the Protodyakonov trading company and other “explorers” brought more accurate news about the islands.
In order to firmly and finally secure the islands and develop them, the chief commander of Kamchatka, Bem, proposed building on the island. Uruppu fortification, create there Russian settlement and develop the economy. To implement this proposal and develop trade with Japan, the Yakut merchant Lebedev-Lastochkin equipped an expedition in 1775 under the command of the Siberian nobleman Antipin. The expedition vessel "Nikolai" suffered an accident near the island. Uruppu. Two years later, to Antipin on the island. Uruppu was sent from Okhotsk by the ship "Natalia" under the command of navigator M. Petushkov.
After wintering on Uruppu, “Natalia” sailed to Akkesi Bay on the island. Hokkaido and met a Japanese ship here. By agreement with the Japanese, Antipin and the translator, the Irkutsk townsman Shabalin, appeared in 1779 with Lebedev-Lastochkin’s goods on the island. Hokkaido to Akkesi Bay. Strictly remembering the instructions Antipin received that “... having met the Japanese, act courteously, kindly, decently... find out what Russian goods they need and what kind of things they can get from them in return, set prices and whether they would like for mutual bargaining, to make an agreement on some island that would guide the future... to establish peaceful relations with the Japanese,” the merchants counted on trade that would be beneficial for both sides. But their hopes were not justified. In Akkesi they were given a ban on the Japanese not only from trading on the island. Hokkaido (Matsmai), but also sail to Etorofu and Kunashiri.
From that time on, the Japanese government began to oppose the Russians in every possible way in the southern islands. In 1786, it commissioned the official Mogami Tokunai to inspect the islands. Having discovered three Russians on Etorofu and interrogated them, Tokunai handed them the order: “Entering Japanese borders by foreign nationals is strictly prohibited. Therefore, I order you to return to your state as soon as possible.” The movement of Russian trading people to the south for peaceful purposes was interpreted by the Japanese in a completely different way.
Severo-Kurilsk city 
19th century
Representative of the Russian-American Company Nikolai Rezanov, who arrived in Nagasaki as the first Russian envoy, tried to resume negotiations on trade with Japan in 1805. But he too failed. However, Japanese officials, who were not satisfied with the despotic policy of the supreme power, hinted to him that it would be nice to carry out a forceful action in these lands, which could push the situation into dead center. This was carried out on behalf of Rezanov in 1806-1807 by an expedition of two ships led by Lieutenant Khvostov and Midshipman Davydov. Ships were looted, a number of trading posts were destroyed, and a Japanese village on Iturup was burned. They were later tried, but the attack led to a serious deterioration in Russian-Japanese relations for some time. In particular, this was the reason for the arrest of Vasily Golovnin’s expedition.
The first delimitation of the possessions of Russia and Japan in the Kuril Islands was made in the Treaty of Shimoda in 1855.
In exchange for ownership of southern Sakhalin, Russia transferred all of the Kuril Islands to Japan in 1875.
XX century
After defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Russia transferred the southern part of Sakhalin to Japan.
In February 1945, the Soviet Union promised the United States and Great Britain to start a war with Japan, subject to the return of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.
February 2, 1946. Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the formation of the South Sakhalin region in the territory of South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands Khabarovsk Territory RSFSR.
November 5, 1952. A powerful tsunami hit the entire coast of the Kuril Islands, Paramushir was hit the hardest. A giant wave washed away the city of Severo-Kurilsk (formerly Kashiwabara). It was forbidden to mention this disaster in the press.
In 1956, the Soviet Union and Japan adopted the Joint Treaty, officially ending the war between the two countries and handing over Habomai and Shikotan to Japan. However, it was not possible to sign the agreement, because according to it it turned out that Japan was renouncing the rights to Iturup and Kunashir, which is why the United States threatened not to give Japan the island of Okinawa.
Church of the Holy Trinity, Yuzhno-Kurilsk 
The problem of belonging
At the end of World War II in February 1945, at the Yalta Conference of the heads of power of the countries participating in the anti-Hitler coalition, an agreement was reached on the unconditional return of the southern part of Sakhalin and the transfer of the Kuril Islands Soviet Union after the victory over Japan.
On July 26, 1945, as part of the Potsdam Conference, the Potsdam Declaration was adopted, limiting the sovereignty of Japan to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. On August 8, the USSR joined the Potsdam Declaration. On August 14, Japan accepted the terms of the Declaration and on September 2, 1945, signed the Instrument of Surrender, confirming these terms. But these documents did not directly talk about the transfer of the Kuril Islands to the USSR.
From August 18 to September 1, 1945, Soviet troops carried out the Kuril landing operation and occupied, among other things, the southern Kuril Islands - Urup, Iturup, Kunashir and the Lesser Kuril Ridge.
In accordance with the Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces of February 2, 1946, in these territories, after their exclusion from Japan by Memorandum No. 677 of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces of January 29, 1946, the Yuzhno-Sakhalin Region was formed as part of the Khabarovsk Territory of the RSFSR, which on January 2 In 1947 it became part of the newly formed Sakhalin region as part of the RSFSR.
On September 8, 1951, Japan signed the San Francisco Peace Treaty, according to which it renounced “all rights, title and claims to the Kuril Islands and to that part of Sakhalin Island and adjacent islands, sovereignty over which Japan acquired under the Treaty of Portsmouth of September 5, 1905 G." When discussing the San Francisco Treaty in the US Senate, a resolution was adopted containing the following clause: It is provided that the terms of the Treaty will not mean recognition for the USSR of any rights or claims to territories belonging to Japan on December 7, 1941, which caused would be detrimental to Japan's rights and title to these territories, nor would any provisions in favor of the USSR in relation to Japan contained in the Yalta Agreement be recognized. Due to serious claims to the draft treaty, representatives of the USSR, Poland and Czechoslovakia refused to sign it. The treaty was also not signed by Burma, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, India, the DPRK, the PRC and the MPR, which were not represented at the conference.
Japan presents territorial claims to the southern Kuril Islands Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai with a total area of 5175 km². These islands are called the Northern Territories in Japan. Japan justifies its claims with the following arguments:
According to Article 2 of the Shimoda Treaty of 1855, these islands were included in Japan and they are the original possession of Japan.
This group of islands, according to the official position of Japan, is not part of the Kuril chain (Chishima Islands) and, having signed the act of surrender and the Treaty of San Francisco, Japan did not abandon them.
The USSR did not sign the San Francisco Treaty.
However, the Shimoda Treaty is considered annulled due to the Russo-Japanese War (1905).
In 1956, the Moscow Declaration was signed, which ended the state of war and established diplomatic and consular relations between the USSR and Japan. Article 9 of the Declaration states, in particular:
The USSR, meeting the wishes of Japan and taking into account the interests of the Japanese state, agrees to the transfer of the Habomai Islands and the Shikotan Islands to Japan, however, that the actual transfer of these islands to Japan will take place after the conclusion of the Peace Treaty.
On November 14, 2004, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Japan, stated that Russia, as a successor state of the USSR, recognizes the 1956 Declaration as existing and is ready to conduct territorial negotiations with Japan on its basis.
It is noteworthy that on November 1, 2010, Russian President D. A. Medvedev became the first Russian leader to visit the Kuril Islands. President Dmitry Medvedev emphasized then that “all islands of the Kuril chain are the territory of the Russian Federation. This is our land, and we must develop the Kuril Islands.” The Japanese side remained irreconcilable and called this visit regrettable, which in turn caused a response from the Russian Foreign Ministry, according to which there could be no changes in the ownership status of the Kuril Islands.
Some Russian official experts, in search of a solution that could satisfy both Japan and Russia, offer very unique options. Thus, Academician K.E. Chervenko in April 2012, in an article on the possibility of a final settlement of the territorial dispute between the Russian Federation and Japan, voiced an approach in which the countries participating in the San Francisco Treaty (states that have the right to determine the international legal status Southern Sakhalin with the adjacent islands and all the Kuril Islands) recognize the Kuril Islands as de facto territory of the Russian Federation, leaving Japan the right to consider them de jure (under the terms of the above-mentioned treaty) not included in Russia.
Cape Stolbchaty, Kunashir Island 
Population
The Kuril Islands are populated extremely unevenly. The population lives permanently only in Paramushir, Iturup, Kunashir and Shikotan. The other islands have no permanent population. At the beginning of 2010, there were 19 settlements: two cities (Severo-Kurilsk, Kurilsk), an urban-type settlement (Yuzhno-Kurilsk) and 16 villages.
The maximum population value was noted in 1989 and amounted to 29.5 thousand people. During Soviet times, the population of the islands was significantly higher due to high subsidies and large quantity military personnel. Thanks to the military, the islands of Shumshu, Onekotan, Simushir and others were populated.
As of 2010, the population of the islands is 18.7 thousand people, including 6.1 thousand people in the Kuril urban district (on the only inhabited island of Iturup, also includes Urup, Simushir, etc.); in the South Kuril urban district - 10.3 thousand people. (Kunashir, Shikotan and other islands of the Lesser Kuril Ridge (Habomai)); in the North Kuril urban district - 2.4 thousand people (on the only inhabited island of Paramushir, also includes Shumshu, Onekotan, etc.).
Onekotan Island 
Economics and development
On August 3, 2006, at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation, the Federal Program for the Development of Islands from 2007 to 2015 was approved, including 4 blocks: development transport infrastructure, fish processing industry, social infrastructure and solving energy problems. The program provides:
The allocation of funds for this program is almost 18 billion rubles, that is, 2 billion rubles per year, which is equivalent to approximately 300 thousand rubles for each resident of the islands, which will increase the population from 19 to 30 thousand people.
Development of the fishing industry - currently there are only two fish factories on the islands, and both are state-owned. The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation proposes to create 20 more new fish hatcheries to replenish biological resources. The federal program provides for the creation of the same number of private fish hatcheries and the reconstruction of one fish processing plant.
It is planned to build new kindergartens, schools, hospitals on the islands, develop a transport network, including the construction of a modern all-weather airport.
The problem of electricity shortage, which is four times more expensive in the Kuril Islands than in Sakhalin, is planned to be solved through the construction of power plants operating on geothermal sources, using the experience of Kamchatka and Japan.
In addition, in May 2011, the Russian authorities announced their intention to allocate an additional 16 billion rubles, thereby doubling the funding for the development program of the Kuril Islands.
In February 2011, it became known about plans to strengthen the defense of the Kuril Islands with an air defense brigade, as well as a mobile coastal missile system with Yakhont anti-ship missiles.
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SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND PHOTO:
Team Nomads.
Photo: Tatiana Selena, Victor Morozov, Andrey Kapustin, Artem Demin
The Russian Academy of Sciences. Institute of Geography RAS. Pacific Institute of Geography FEB RAS; Editorial Board: V. M. Kotlyakov (chairman), P. Ya. Baklanov, N. N. Komedchikov (chief editor), etc.; Rep. editor-cartographer E. Ya. Fedorova. Atlas of the Kuril Islands. - M.; Vladivostok: IPC "DIK", 2009. - 516 p.
Control natural resources and security environment Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia for the Sakhalin region. Report “On the state and protection of the environment of the Sakhalin region in 2002” (2003). Retrieved June 21, 2010. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011.
Sakhalin region. Official website of the governor and government of the Sakhalin region. Retrieved June 21, 2010. Archived from the original on October 7, 2006.
Makeev B. “The Kuril problem: the military aspect.” World Economy and International Relations, 1993, No. 1, p. 54.
Wikipedia website.
Solovyov A.I. Kuril Islands / Glavsevmorput. — Ed. 2nd. - M.: Glavsevmorput Publishing House, 1947. - 308 p.
Atlas of the Kuril Islands / Russian Academy of Sciences. Institute of Geography RAS. Pacific Institute of Geography FEB RAS; Editorial Board: V. M. Kotlyakov (chairman), P. Ya. Baklanov, N. N. Komedchikov (chief editor), etc.; Rep. editor-cartographer E. Ya. Fedorova - M.; Vladivostok: IPC "DIK", 2009. - 516 p. — 300 copies. — ISBN 978-5-89658-034-8.
http://www.kurilstour.ru/islands.shtml
There are about 100 more underwater volcanoes in the waters of the Kuril Islands. Volcanoes that have erupted within human memory are classified as active; volcanoes that are currently showing signs of activity are classified as potentially active.
Active and potentially active volcanoes of the Kuril Islands
| Name | Height, m | Location, island |
Last thing eruption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaid | 2339 | Atlasova | 1986 |
| Ebeko | 1156 | Paramushir | 2009 |
| Chikurachki | 1816 | Paramushir | 2008 |
| Tatarinova | 1530 | Paramushir | - |
| Fussa | 1772 | Paramushir | 1854 |
| Karpinsky | 1345 | Paramushir | 1952 |
| Nemo | 1019 | Onekotan | 1906 |
| Krenitsyn | 1324 | Onekotan | 1952 |
| Severgina | 1157 | Harimkotan | 1933 |
| Chirinkotan | 724 | Chirinkotan | 2004 |
| Ekarma | 1170 | Ekarma | 1980 |
| Sinarka | 934 | Shiashkotan | 1878 |
| Kuntomintar | 828 | Shiashkotan | 1927 |
| Raikoke | 551 | Raikoke | 1924 |
| Sarycheva | 1446 | Matua | 2009 |
| Rasshua | 948 | Rasshua | 1846 |
| Ushishir | 388 | Yankich | - |
| Pallas | 990 | Ketoy | 1960 |
| Prevost | 1360 | Simushir | 1st half XIX century |
| Zavaritsky | 625 | Simushir | 1957 |
| Burning Hill | 873 | Simushir | 1883 |
| Black | 624 | Chirpoy | 1857 |
| Snow | 395 | Chirpoy | 1982 |
| Berg | 980 | Urup | 2005 |
| Curly | 986 | Iturup | 1999 |
| Little Brother | 562 | Iturup | - |
| Chirip | 1589 | Iturup | - |
| Bohdan Khmelnytsky | 1585 | Iturup | 1860 |
| Baransky | 1134 | Iturup | 1951 |
| Ivan groznyj | 1159 | Iturup | 1989 |
| Stockup | 1634 | Iturup | - |
| Atsonupuri | 1205 | Iturup | 1932 |
| Berutarube | 1223 | Iturup | - |
| Ruruy | 1485 | Kunashir | - |
| Tyatya | 1819 | Kunashir | 1973 |
| Mendeleev | 886 | Kunashir | - |
| Golovnina | 541 | Kunashir | - |
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Notes
Literature
- Atlas of the Kuril Islands / Russian Academy of Sciences. Institute of Geography RAS. Pacific Institute of Geography FEB RAS; Editorial Board: V. M. Kotlyakov (chairman), P. Ya. Baklanov, N. N. Komedchikov (chief editor), etc.; Rep. editor-cartographer E. Ya. Fedorova - M.; Vladivostok: IPC “DIK”, 2009. - 516 p. - 300 copies. - ISBN 978-5-89658-034-8.
Links
- SVERT-
- Global Volcanism Program - (English)
- KVERT-
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