Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (English) Южно-Сахалинск (Russian)
—  Inhabited locality  —
View over a residential area of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Location of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on the map of Russia
Coordinates: 46°58′N 142°44′E / 46.967°N 142.733°E / 46.967; 142.733Coordinates: 46°58′N 142°44′E / 46.967°N 142.733°E / 46.967; 142.733
Coat of arms
Administrative status
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Sakhalin Oblast
In administrative jurisdiction of	Sakhalin Oblast[citation needed]
Administrative center of	Sakhalin Oblast[citation needed]
Municipal status
Municipal Status	Urban district
Head (mayor)[citation needed]	Andrey Lobkin[citation needed]
Representative body	City Duma[citation needed]
Statistics
Population (2002 Census)	173,600 inhabitants[1]
Founded	1882[citation needed]
Postal code(s)	693000[citation needed]
Dialing code(s)	+7 4242[citation needed]
Official website	http://yuzhno.sakh.ru/

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Russian: Ю́жно-Сахали́нск) is a city on Sakhalin Island, Russia, administrative center of Sakhalin Oblast (which includes the whole island and the Kurils). The city was formerly called Vladimirovka between 1882-1905, then Toyohara (豊原) between 1905-1946. Population: 175,085 (2002 Census); 187,000 (2000 est.).

Central part of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

[edit] History

Early days of Vladimirovka

The city began as a small Russian settlement called Vladimirovka, founded by convicts in 1882. The Treaty of Portsmouth in 1905, which brought an end to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, awarded the southern half of Sakhalin Island to Japan. Vladimirovka was renamed to Toyohara (meaning "Valley of the fecundity"), and was the prefect capital of Japanese Karafuto.

After the end of World War II, the Japanese portion of Sakhalin island was occupied by Soviet troops. Ownership of the city transferred back to Russia (then the RSFSR) and it was renamed Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, meaning Southern Sakhalin City in Russian.

This Japanese D51 steam locomotive stands outside the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Railway Station

[edit] Economy and infrastructure

Due to significant investment from oil companies like ExxonMobil and Shell, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk has experienced substantial economic growth. Although this growth has primarily occurred in the northern part of the island, both companies maintain headquarters and residential complexes in the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk itself. The demand for natural resources by the Japanese, Chinese, and South Koreans has ensured continued prosperity in the foreseeable future for the entire island.

There has been significant criticism, including from PolPred Kamil Iskhakov, that Sakhalin is not caring for its citizens. Despite sizable gas deposits and incoming investments from gas companies, the regional administration does not yet have plans for the installation of gas services on the island. The oblast also continues to have the highest rate of juvenile crime in all of Russia, and more than 40% of its businesses are unprofitable.^[2]

Yuzhno Sakhalinsk museum in Japanese days

Yuzhno Sakhalinsk museum today (2008)

Out of very few remaining Japanese buildings in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, one now functions as the local museum.

[edit] Transportation

It is served by Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport. The city is also the hub for the island's narrow gauge railway network, built under the Japanese administration in the early 20th century.

[edit] Education

Institutes of higher education in the city include Sakhalin State University and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk institute of economics, law and informatics. Also there are some branches of other high schools:

• Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk institute (branch) of Russian State trade-economics university
• Branch of Far East State university of railways
• Branch of Modern Academy of the humanities
• Branch of The Pacific State ecomnomics university
• Branch of Russian economics academy named after G.V. Plekhanov
• Branch of Far East law institute

[edit] Geography and climate

The city is located on the Susuya River (also called the Black River), at 46°58′N 142°44′E / 46.967°N 142.733°E / 46.967; 142.733. It is the largest city on the island of Sakhalin, and the only city with more than 100,000 inhabitants. The straight-line distance to Moscow is 10,417 km.

Due to restrictions, foreigners wishing to leave Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in order to travel to any other part of the Sakhalin Oblast and its internal and territorial waters are required to seek permission from the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Border Guard. Scuba diving and recreating on the seacoast is permitted only in places defined by the Border Guard.^[3]

The climate is humid continental (Köppen Dfb) with mild summers and very cold winters. The annual precipitation is much higher than in interior Russia and summers are distinctly cooler than in Khabarovsk or Irkutsk. There is frequently fog during this season, which serves to reduce the amount of sunshine.

[edit] Demographics

Most residents are ethnic Russians, but there also exists a sizable population of Koreans. Of the 43,000 Sakhalin Koreans, half are estimated to live in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, comprising roughly 12% of the city's population. Also smaller numbers of indigenous minorities, such as Ainu, Nivkhs, and Oroks can be found.

[edit] International relations

[edit] Twin towns — Sister cities

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is twinned with:

• Yanji, China.
• Ansan, South Korea.
• Sokcho, South Korea.
• Asahikawa, Japan.
• Hakodate, Japan.
• Wakkanai, Japan.

[edit] External links

• Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk official website
• History of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk @ Sakhalin Official website
• The Sakhalin Independent (Weekly English-language newspaper published in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk)
• Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Blizzard Photos
• Steam and the Railways of Sakhalin
• Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk travel guide from Wikitravel

[edit] References

v • d • e Cities and towns in Sakhalin Oblast Administrative center: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky · Aniva · Dolinsk · Kholmsk · Korsakov · Kurilsk · Makarov · Nevelsk · Okha · Poronaysk · Severo-Kurilsk · Shakhtyorsk · Tomari · Uglegorsk

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