Kuril Islands

Chain of about 50 small islands belonging to Russia, stretching from the northeast of Hokkaido, Japan, to the south of Kamchatka, Russia, area 14,765 sq km/5,700 sq mi; population (1990 est) 25,000. The islands include many volcanoes, 35 of which are still active; there are also many hot springs. Offshore is the Kuril Trench, one of the deepest ocean areas in the world, which reaches a depth of 10.5 km/6.5 mi. Two of the Kurils (Etorofu and Kunashiri) are claimed by Japan for historical reasons; they are of strategic importance and have mineral deposits. The surrounding waters are rich in salmon and cod.

The Kurils were discovered in 1634 by a Russian navigator and were settled by Russians. Japan seized them in 1875 and held them until they were taken by Soviet forces in August 1945. Japan still claims that the southernmost two (Etorofu and Kunashiri) and the nearby small islands of Habomai and Shikotan do not properly constitute part of the Kuril group. The question of the south Kurils prevents the signature of a Japan-Russia peace treaty to formally end World War II. The Japanese view is that the islands are illegally occupied by Russia.