Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Administrative center in Kunashir Island, Russia
Yuzhno-Kurilsk sits on the eastern coast of Kunashir Island on elevated terrain and houses several thousand residents. The town spreads across rolling ground with buildings arranged to fit the changing slopes.
The settlement started in 1946 when Soviet authorities took control of the former Japanese territory. After a major tsunami in 1953, the town was rebuilt further inland away from the coast.
The local museum displays objects and documents that tell the story of life on these islands and their changing ownership over time. Visitors can see how exterior events shaped daily routines and what people kept from different periods.
Flights to the mainland leave several times each week, and ferries run regularly to connect with larger islands. Travel during warmer months when weather and access are more reliable.
The original site sat right at the coast, but the entire settlement moved 30 meters inland after the 1953 tsunami. Traces of the earlier location can still be spotted in certain areas today.
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