Shantar Islands National Park, Protected archipelago in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia
Shantar Islands National Park comprises fifteen islands with steep cliffs and dense forests that spread across a large area in the Sea of Okhotsk. The landscape combines marine zones and forest regions in a wild, untamed natural space.
A Russian explorer documented these islands in 1640 while returning from an expedition to the Amur River mouth. The islands later came under Russian control and have since been part of the region's ongoing exploration and management.
The islands carry a name rooted in the Nivkh language, a people who inhabited this region for centuries before the 18th century. Visitors can explore places where this heritage remains woven into the land and local traditions.
The area remains difficult to reach for much of the year due to ice conditions, with only a few months of open water. Visitors should time their visit during the brief season when waters are navigable and come prepared for harsh conditions.
The protected area is home to the sole population of a particular trout species found in Russia's Far East outside the Kamchatka region. This isolated population shows how distinct the wildlife here differs from other areas.
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