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Kunashir Island is one of the most disputed island amongst the archipelago of Kuril Islands. The island is governed by Russia but is claimed by Japan. It is located in the southernmost region of the Kuril Ridge. The length of this island is 130 kilometers as it runs from north to south whereas its width is 9 to 30 kilometers.
Kunashir Island of Russia is formed of four volcanic islands which were earlier separate but now they have joined through small lakes. These volcanic islands are Smirnov, Golovnin, Tyatya and Mendeleev. This is why the island consists of crystalline and volcanic rocks.
Around half of the land area of Kunashir Island in Russia is taken over by the Kurilski State Nature Reserve (zapovednik). The reserve covers an area of 65365 hectares along with an additional area of 41475 hectares for buffer zone.
The climate at Kunashir Island is monsoon type. The island consist of a dense vegetation of pine, various types of deciduous trees, spruce, fir and bamboo. The island also consists of numerous marine life. Some of the prominent ones are salmonids which include trout, freshwater char, taimen, anadromous and salmon. Kunashir Island at Russia is inhabited by human beings. Their primary occupation is fishery.
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