Kunashir Island, Volcanic island in Kuril Islands, Russia and Japan
Kunashir is a volcanic island in the southernmost part of the Kuril chain, stretching about 76 miles (123 km) between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk. Four merged volcanoes dominate the landscape, with lakes, sulfurous springs, and coniferous forests of spruce and fir filling the spaces between the peaks.
The Soviet Union occupied the island in September 1945 after the end of World War II and expelled the Japanese population. Sovereignty over the island remains unresolved between Russia and Japan, preventing a formal peace treaty between the two countries.
The island's name comes from an Ainu word meaning black island, referring to its dark volcanic slopes visible from the sea. Fishermen from Hokkaido still consider the waters around it part of their traditional fishing grounds, although access remains restricted.
Travelers reach Yuzhno-Kurilsk, the main settlement with around 7,800 residents, by air or ferry from Sakhalin Island. Warm clothing and sturdy footwear are necessary due to the cool climate and muddy trails near the hot springs.
The Mendeleevskaya plant harnesses underground heat from the active volcanoes to generate electricity for nearby settlements. Visitors can see wild bamboo forests growing near the thermal springs, a rare sight at this northern latitude.
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