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Capital of Sakhalin (Island) - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Russian: Ю́жно-Сахали́нск) is a city on Sakhalin Island, Russia, administrative center of Sakhalin Oblast (which includes whole island and the Kurils). In Japanese, it was known as Toyohara (豊原).

The city is on the Susuya River (also called the Black River). Population: 175,085 (2002 Census); 187,000 (2000 est.). Location: 46°58′N, 142°44′E. It is served by Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport.

Early days of Vladimirovka

The city went from being the small Russian settlement founded by convicts in 1882 as Vladimirovka, to being Toyohara (meaning "Valley of the fecundity"), the prefect capital of Japanese Karafuto after the signing of the 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth. After the end of World War II it transferred back to Russia as Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The Treaty of Portsmouth of September 1905, brought an end to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905. Japan was awarded the southern half of Sakhalin Island, and leased the Liaodong Peninsula, and its Russian rail system in southern Manchuria.

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

Today things are looking up for Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, ExxonMobil and Shell have been investing heavily in the area, although most of this has been on the northern half of Sakhalin. The demand for natural resources by the Japanese, Chinese, and South Koreans are giving the entire island an opportunity for continued prosperity. There has been significant criticism, including from PolPred Kamil Iskhakov, that Sakhalin is not caring for its citizens. Despite being awash in gas deposits and gas companies, the regional administration does not yet have plans for installation of gas service 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.^[1]

Yuzhno Sakhalinsk museum in the Japanese days

One of very few remaining Japanese buildings in Yuzhno Sakhalinsk is one of the most impressive ones as well; it is a museum now.

Institutes of higher education in the city include Sakhalin State University.

Most residents are Russians, but there is also a sizable population of Koreans as well. Of 43,000 Sakhalin Koreans, half are estimated to live in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, making them roughly 12% of the town's population. Smaller numbers of indigeneous minorities, such as Ainu, Nivkhs, and Oroks can also be found.

• History of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk @ Sakhalin Official website
• The Sakhalin Times (Weekly English Language newspaper published in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk)
• Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Blizzard Photos
• Steam and the Railways of Sakhalin

1. ^ Vostokmedia.ru - PolPred Iskhakov visits Sakhalin Oblast

	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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