Yuzhno - Sakhalinsk
Sakhalin (Karafuto in Japanese) is a very long (c.a. 1000 km) but narrow (200 km in its largest extent) island located between Japan and Russian Maritime Territory. It is separated from Asian continent by a narrow strait of 6 km width and for that reason, first, Westerners thought it should be a peninsula. With Kuril Islands, Sakhalin is one of the territories disputed between Japan and Russia and its belonging has not yet been definitely settled.
Tensions still exist between Japan and Russia over the Island, especially in light of the new oil and gas boom in the area. Today things are looking up for Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, ExxonMobil and Shell have been investing heavily in the area, although most of this has been on the northern half of Sakhalin. The demand for natural resources by the Japanese, Chinese, and South Korean's are giving the entire island a opportunity for continued prosperity.
Sakhalin also has a mild climate but can be very rainy in Spring and Fall. Winter comes early with much snow. Summers can be hot and as everywhere in Eastern Russia, August and September are the best months to visit.
The largest island of the Sakhalin Oblast is Sakhalin. It occupies a territory of 78,000 square km and stretches from north to south for 948 km.
Links
www.traveleastrussia.com
www.answers.com
www.sakhalintimes.ru
www.atlas.pagina.nl
www.ori-and-ricki.net
www.wereldexpat.nl
www.weather.yahoo.com/
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