General Information

Sakhalin Region with the total territory of 87,100 sq. km. stretches for more than 1,200 km along the Russian eastern border. It is the only region in Russia that lies on 59 islands, including the famous Kuril Islands.
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the capital of Sakhalin Region with a population of 180,000 people is located on the banks of the Susuya River, in the south part of Sakhalin Island. It is a plesant city, an administrative and cultural center of the region.

City telephone code: +7 4242

History

The history of the city is very interesting. Since 1858 Sakhalin became a place of exile for prisoners from different parts of the country. It was the legal requirement saying that they stay on the island after serving their sentence. This is how the village of Vladimirovka was founded in 1881. By XIX century Vladimirovka became a very prosperous village.
In 1905 the southern part of the island was occupied by Japanese troops. Vladimirovka became the center of Japanese province Karafuto and received the name of Toyohara. From 1905 till 1945 people lived under Japanese rule and the village was called Toyohara. By 1940s Toyohara was quite a big town with a population of 40,000 people, developed industries, railroad, airport, schools, cultural attractions, museum and private residence of Karafuto Governor. In 1945 it became the part of Russia again and was renamed Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in 1946. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk became the official capital of Sakhalin Island.

Climate and Nature

The virgin nature of the Sakhalin region is beautiful and stunning. Volcanoes over the Pacific Ocean, waterfalls, geysers and mineral springs, incredibly rich flora and fauna give travellers exciting experiences.
There are still 190 volcanoes on the Kurils, 50 of them active. Because of high mountains and wet climate there are many rivers and lakes in Sakhalin region. The total length of the rivers is 105,000 km and the total area covered by lakes is 110 sq. km. There is the famous 141-meter Ilya Muromets (Russia’s highest waterfall) on Iturup Island in the Kuril chain.

Sakhalin region is a land of contrasts. Here one might see both the northern taiga and the subtropical forests, green meadows and mountain deserts, cold ocean waters and hot geysers. There is no other place on earth where you can find birch and yew trees, fir tree and acacia, larch tree and wild grape, creeping cedar and giant fern (up to 4 meters high) all growing naturally on one site.

The islands are amazingly rich in wildlife. Underwater fields of Laminaria in shallow bays attract seals that live in big colonies on isolated islands. In July-August and in October-November one can watch the migration of salmon – a fascinating sight!

There is also a beautiful Nature Park with a children’s summer railroad created during Japanese government and the Mountain Air Resort.

Economy

The lands of Sakhalin region are rich in natural resources like coal, oil, gas, gold and sulphur.

Sakhalin Island has become one of the most important regions in Russia for U.S. commercial activity. About 25% of direct investments in the Russian economy are going to Sakhalin, and 75% of them are American.

The attraction of Sakhalin is the development of the largest offshore oil and gas prospects in Russia. Several projects currently under development by multinational companies would total $45 billion in contracts and investment over the next 25 years.

Transportation

The airport of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is the main air gate of the Sakhalin region. Established in 1945 on the basis of the military airdrome, the airport has changed from a small enterprise without its own air terminal into the largest organization in Sakhalin with about 700 employees on the staff.

The airport already services various airlines and attracts more airlines to use the airport in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. There are the flights from the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk airport to practically all large cities of Russia and countries of the Asian-Pacific Region.

Places To See

The Regional Museum. The Regional Museum houses interesting displays dedicated to the region’s geography, volcanoes, earthquakes, natural resources, flora and fauna as well as some rare exhibits of the history and culture of the indigenous peoples of Sakhalin: ains, oroks, nivhs and others. There are special exhibitions on Sakhalin Exile, Chekhov in Sakhalin, Koreans of Sakhalin etc. Address: Kommunistichesky Prospect, 29. Tel: 4242 234603

The Art Museum. The museum has interesting exhibits on Korean and Japanese art and culture. Address: Lenina str., 137. Tel: 4242 722925

Hotels

Sakhalin Sapporo Hotel. The hotel is located close to downtown in the centre of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, in 12 km from the airport. Government offices, shops, banks and tourist attractions surround the hotel. 80 rooms are offered. The hotel was built in 1971 and has recently been renovated. There is a restaurant, bar, night club, laundry and business center. English-speaking staff. Address: Lenina str., 181. Tel. +7 4242 36629.

Anta Resort Hotel. The hotel is located some 14 km to the airport and in 10-minute drive from downtown. It is quite new – it was built in 1993. There are 2 bars and a fitness center, the Pearl Restaurant (Japanese cuisine) and the Rubin Restaurant (continental cuisine) in the hotel. The staff speaks English.

Eurasia Hotel. The hotel is located downtown, close to the railway station and the main square, 8 km from the airport. The hotel was built in 1977 and renovated in 1998. There is Eurasia Restaurant (Continental, Japanese and Korean cuisine), bar, coffee shop. Address: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Vokzalnaya st., 54. Tel: +7 42422 2 26 57. Fax: +7 42422 2 10 03.

Natalya Hotel. The hotel built in 1993 is located close to downtown, 12 km to the airport. There is bar, souvenir kiosk, sauna and laundry. Address: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Anton Buyukly st., 38. Tel: +7 42422 32586 or 36683.

Lada Hotel. The hotel is located on the outskirts, 12 km to the airport. Built in 1989. There is the Lada Restaurant (Continental and Korean cuisine), bar, casino, beauty shop. Address: Komsomolskaya, 154. Tel. +7 4242 38094

Restaurants

There are several restaurants in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, some of them are listed below.

Alyje Parusa - European and Oriental Cuisine. Address: 37, Chekhov Str. Tel: +7 42422 3-31-90
ASKA - Japanese Cuisine. Address: 21, Dzerzhinsky Str. Tel: +7 42422 3-76-36
Black Cat - Russian and European Cuisine. Address: 34A, Chekhov Str. Tel: +7 4242 42-02-63
Jantar - European Cuisine. Address: 28, Pogranichnaya Str. Tel: +7 42422 3-89-11, 3-78-26
Kurosio - Oriental Cuisine. Address: 40A, Popovich Str. Tel: +7 42422 3-35-04
Master & Margarita - European Cuisine. Address: 171, Lenin Str. Tel: +7 4242 72-21-91, 71-46-79
Pacific Cafe - European and American Cuisine. Address: 32, Kommunistichesky Av. Tel: +7 4242 72-70-08, 72-70-20
Saigon - European and Oriental Cuisine. Address: 23, Karl Marx Str. Tel: +7 4242 72-40-23
Seoul - Oriental Cuisine. Address: 245, Mira Av. Tel: +7 4242 55-13-42, 55-12-56, 42-77-87
Slavianka – Russian and Ukranian Cuisine. Address: 45, Sakhalinskaya Str. Tel: +7 42422 3-56-67
Toyohara - Japanese Cuisine. Address: 246A, Lenin Str. Tel: +7 4242 74-14-86
Vecher - European Cuisine. Address: 21, Dzerzhinsky Str. Tel: +7 4242 42-05-39
777 - European & Oriental Cuisine. Address: 71, Chekhov Str. Tel: +7 42422 3-54-62, 3-02-09

Entertainment

Bowling Center. Address: 157, Sakhalinskaya Str. Tel: +7 4242 77-23-12
Continental Casino. Address: 58A, Mira Av. Tel: +7 4242 72-76-20; 72-76-07
Corona Casino. Address: 59, Sakhalinskaya Str. Tel: +7 4242 77-10-17; 42-03-79
Gagarin Disco. Address: 133, Komsomolskaya Str. Tel: +7 4242 72-50-91
Jamp Disco. Address: 56A, Mira Avenue. Tel: +7 4242 72-77-36
Holiday Entertainment Palace. Address: 21, Dzerzhinsky Str. Tel.: +7 4242 42-05-39
Relax Billiard Club. Address: 21, Kommunistichesky Av. Tel: +7 4242 74-15-34
Royal Casino. Address: 156, Lenin Str. Tel: +7 4242 72-33-79
Santa Grand Prix Casino. Address: 3, Venskaya Str. Tel: +7 42422 3-63-30
777 Disco. Address: 71, Chekhov Str. Tel: +7 42422 3-54-62

Evgeniya Stroganova