Iturup, Volcanic island in Kuril chain, Russia.
Iturup is a long volcanic island in the Kuril chain between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific, with four active volcanoes. The island stretches more than 100 kilometers in a northeast direction and has a rugged coastline with irregular drift ice.
After the end of World War II, the Soviet Union took control of the island, forcing all Japanese residents to leave the area. Sovereignty remains disputed between Russia and Japan to this day.
The name comes from the Ainu language, spoken by people who lived here long before modern settlement and relied on fishing. Their traces remain in place names and some archaeological sites along the coast.
The main settlement Kurilsk offers basic infrastructure and sits centrally along the eastern coast of the island. The warmest months fall in late summer, while winter brings severe frost and frequent snowfall.
Several mineral water springs emerge on the surface, and the Baranskii Volcano is used for electricity generation through geothermal energy. This natural energy source supplies local residents with power and heating.
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