Iturup

Iturup, also known by its Japanese name Etorofu, is the largest island of the Kuril Archipelago in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It lies in the Sea of Okhotsk, between Hokkaido, Japan to the south and the Kamchatka Peninsula to the northeast. The island forms part of Russia’s Sakhalin Oblast and is administratively within Severo-Kurilsky District, with the coastal town of Yuzhno-Kurilsk serving as its administrative center.

Geography and geology

Iturup is a volcanic island characteristic of the Kuril volcanic arc, a segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The terrain is rugged, with high ridges, lava domes, and numerous rivers and bays. The island hosts several volcanoes and features thermal activity in places, reflecting its tectonic setting. The climate is generally maritime, with cool summers, mild winters, and substantial precipitation, especially in coastal areas.

History and sovereignty

The island was historically inhabited by the Ainu. Under the 1875 Treaty of Saint Petersburg, sovereignty over the Kuril Islands was transferred from Russia to Japan in exchange for Russia retaining Sakhalin. After World War II, in 1945, Soviet forces occupied Iturup and the island has since been administered by Russia as part of Sakhalin Oblast. The sovereignty of Iturup, along with other southern Kuril Islands, is disputed by Japan, and the two nations have not signed a peace treaty addressing these territories.

Economy and population

Iturup is sparsely populated, with a few coastal settlements and the administrative center at Yuzhno-Kurilsk. The economy relies mainly on fishing, limited forestry, and regional services, with some agricultural and small-scale tourism activity influenced by the island’s natural landscapes and wildlife.