Lesser Kuril Chain
Lesser Kuril Chain (Russian: Малая Курильская гряда) is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean and part of the Kuril Islands.[1] It includes Shikotan, Habomai Islands and several small islands lying close to the Shikotan.
The Lesser Kuril Chain of islands is near the south western end of the Greater Kuril Chain from which it is separated by the South Kuril Strait. Its maximum height is 412 m (Shikotan), and its length is 100 km. The total area is 360.85 km². The chain includes 6 large and several smaller islands. The islands of the chain, along with neighbouring Kunashir, have been recognised as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) by BirdLife International because they support populations of various threatened bird species, including many waterbirds, seabirds and waders.[2]
Lesser Kuril Chain is part of Yuzhno-Kurilsky District of Sakhalin Oblast of Russia. Claimed by Japan.
| Name | Area, km² |
Maximum height, m | Latitude | Longitude | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesser Kuril Chain | |||||
| Shikotan | 264,13 | 412 | 43°48' | 146°45' | |
| Polonsky Island | 11,57 | 16 | 43°38' | 146°19' | |
| Oskolki | 0,2 | 38 | 43°35' | 146°25' | |
| Zeleny Island | 58,72 | 24 | 43°30' | 146°08' | |
| Tanfilyev Island | 12,92 | 15 | 43°26' | 145°55' | |
| Yuri | 10,32 | 44 | 43°25' | 146°04' | |
| Dyomin Islands | 0,7 | 34 | 43°25' | 146°10' | |
| Anuchin Island | 2,35 | 33 | 43°22' | 146°00' | |
References
- "GSE Kurile Islands Sand Lake (Kunashir Island) Fish processing base (Shikotan island) Kurilskie Ostrova". slovari.yandex.ru. Archived from the original on 2013-04-24. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
- "Lesser Kuril Ridge and Kunashir Island". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.