Korsakov (Sakhalin Island Russia)

Korsakov is a port city on Aniva Gulf (Sakhalin Island's southern end) in Far East Russia. This large island is located between Tatar Strait and Okhotsk Sea, north of Hokkaido island (Japan). The town was established in 1853 as a fortified post - the island's first Russian military post. It became a seaport in 1909.

In the period 1905-1945 (WW2's end), the town was ruled by Japan and named Otomar. In 1946, the town became a city and received its present name.

Sakhalin Island has length 948 km (589 mi, north-south) and max-width 160 km (100 mi). Most of the land is mountainous, with highest elevation point (Mount Lopatin) 1609 m / 5280 ft. Fishing, oil, natural gas, coal mining, and lumbering are among the main industries. Most of the population (around 35,000) is Russian. The major town is Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, located to the north of Korsakov. The isle is subject to earthquakes.

The major amenities in Korsakov include a fairly run-down but expensive hotel named "Alfa", located next to the former park of the town. The beach is accessible by car (Okhotsk, nearly 1 hour and Prigorodnoye, 30 minutes). The formerly well-maintained beach at Vtoraya Pad has deteriorated into a junkyard. Winter sights in Korsakov include skating at the stadium and cross-country skiing past Na Agarike (former seaweed plant). No downhill skiing facilities exist.

The city of Korsakov has a museum with an exhibit that describes the local frontier history, as well as the Japanese possession between 1905-45. The local market on Sovetskaya Street boasts delicious strawberries in the summer months, and Korean delicacies all year round.

Foreign tourists can visit Korsakov without a visa for 72 hours.

Most cruise ships to Sakhalin Island dock/anchor at Port Korsakov (locode RUKOR) located on the southern coast (to the east of mainland Asia). This is an anchorage port, and passengers are transported to the shore is via the ship's tender boats. Some (smaller-sized) ships dock at the fishing port.

Since 2021, Korsakov is the registry port and the homeport for the Russian newbuild ferries with icebreaking capacities - the sisterships Admiral Nevelskoy and Pavel Leonov. Both vessels provide regularly scheduled crossings linking Sakhalin with the Kuril Islands - Iturup (Kurilsk), Kunashir (Yuzhnokurilsk) and Shikotan (Malokurilskoye).