I've been very interested about this place and hopefully one day would visit this mysterious looking place. Anyway, for those who don't know, The Kurils are a chain of volcanic islands that lie north of Hokkaido, Japan and south of Kamchatka, Russia. These islands are within Russian territory but it is said that Japan also claims the southernmost Kurils. The islands are actually disputed between the two countries.

One thing that's fascinating about The Kurils is that, these are hundreds of volcanic islands, most of them active. Some of these islands will have two active volanoes. Earthquakes is also often here since the island is close to major techtonic plates. It is often foggy in these areas which give the place a very mysterious feel.

Anyway, would you want to visit The Kurils?

http://www.worldsat.ca/image_gallery/ngs/images/ngs_kuril_islands.jpg

http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/current_volcs/ebeko/ebeko2.jpg

http://www.htb.co.jp/vision/kuril/mainphoto.jpg

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Results/reports/Img/1997/antsif.jpg

http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/feelnikon/gallery/200302fukuda_toshiji/img/work02s_i.jpg

http://www.csum.edu/archives/vctsgb04/cruise2004/05152004/images/Volcano%20cropped%20web.jpg

It looks nice and all, but it's not to be found on my list... but maybe later in life..

Wow beautiful! But it's such an unknown far away place. I hope to come everywhere, but its impossible, so I have to make some hard decisions.

Hehe looks pretty interesting. But if I ever go to Eastern Asia I'm afraid I'll have other priorities.

Wow beautiful! But it's such an unknown far away place. I hope to come everywhere, but its impossible, so I have to make some hard decisions.

The majority of those who visit The Kurils are ecologists, volcanologists or biologists.

They usually start in Kamchatka, visit the major islands and end their tour in Japan.

I'd like to visit a place where new earth is born every day.

The earth under Brisbane was born 220 million years ago - its a bit old now:)

More images of The Kurils

Southern Kurils (Russia, partly claimed by Japan)

Habomai Islands

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Zeli/3126-001.jpg

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Shik/1121-006.JPG

Shitokan Islands

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Shik/1121-048.JPG

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Shik/1121-072.JPG

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Shik/1121-091.JPG

Kunashir (Kunashiri in Japanese)

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Kunash/1111-026.JPG

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Kunash/1111-029.JPG

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Kunash/1111-034.JPG

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Kunash/1211-032.jpg

Iturup (Iturupu)

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Itur/1208-034.jpg

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Itur/1308-114.JPG

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Itur/IT-637.JPG

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Itur/IT-691.JPG

Urup

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Urup/1124-003.JPG

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Urup/1124-041.jpg

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Urup/1124-037.jpg

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/Urup/1124-020.jpg

Brat Chrpoev

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/BrChirp/1203-001.jpg

http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/okhotskia/ikip/Gallery/Map/South/BrChirp/1203-005.jpg

Is that another planet or what?

But it;s a nice place to visit though. I'll go there when there's a decent accomodation.

I'd like to know, but the problem is the language. I don't know to speak japanese or russian.

Absolutely!!!

Is that another planet or what?

But it;s a nice place to visit though. I'll go there when there's a decent accomodation.

I doubt you'll have a decent accomodation. The only descent accmodation you'll ever find is a luxury cruiseliner if they ever travel to these parts.

Most of the islands are uninhabited because of the rough terrain and volcanic activities. There are a few who live in the islands, both Russian and Ainu.

Precisely the Kuril Islands should be called as the Chishima Islands. Until 1945, the whole islands had belonged to Japan only, and only Japanese and the native Ainu had lived there. (By the Treaty of Saint Petersburg in 1875, Russia formally abandoned all the claims of the ownership of the whole islands.) But after Japan's surrender and disarmament in August 1945, Russia took them all in a sneak attack.

Of course, it's very remote and my Google Earth War homebase is on Uruppu Island.

Now I understand why Japan claims this territory

It looks so unreal. In a beautiful way I mean...

I can speak the local language there so visiting would be no problem.

Absolutely!

ow, this is amazing. I`d like to visit those islands. I know russian but not enough money. But its really looks awsome :)

thoose r cool i would visit those someday

Wow! Of course I've heard of these islands because of the dispute of ownership, but I've never seen pictures. It looks really beautiful, I would love to go there, and I know the language, so that won't be a problem. Maybe when I go to Japan, I can make a detour. :colgate:

visit kuril!? why not!
Kuril was featured by National Geographic Mag a couple of years ago, i read it and i jus love to go there. the landscape is stunning, nice history too.

The Kurils look mysterious and undiscovered yet. A trip there would be nice despite the distance and the language.

Yes! But guess they will not be very accessible... :(