Moneron Island: History and Water Resources

In an effort to travel around the world, we often forget how beautiful our own country is. Among the sights of Russia, which are worth visiting, Moneron is the island, nicknamed the real pearl of the Far East. The amazing beauty of this place attracts many tourists, but because of its location in the border zone, only a small number of people can realize their desire to visit it.

General information about the island

Moneron is an island located about 40 km from the south-west of Sakhalin. The uniqueness of this place is in a rare combination of beautiful mountains, green meadows and rocky gorges. Fanciful rocks, large pillars of stone, mysterious grottoes - every corner of this amazing place underscores its charm. The sea water here is so transparent that you can easily observe the life of the underwater kingdom.

This small island, the total length of which is 30 square meters. Km, is a plateau. The highest point is Mount Staritskogo, which rises above sea level at 439 m.

History of occurrence

Moneron Island arose on the site of a volcano, which was extinguished relatively recently - two million years ago. In favor of this theory speak forever frozen languages of lava, from which formed bizarre bays. In some cases, they are bordered by the outlets of columnar basalt.

In addition, on the shores of the island, which consists of pebbles, you will find small pieces of jasper and agate. It is believed that they remained from the volcanic rocks destroyed earlier. In some places, you can see small rocks sticking out of the water column-shaped - kekury.

Due to its unique features, Moneron Island is listed as "Seven Wonders of Sakhalin". For local residents, it appears to be a mysterious corner of the earth, only occasionally shown from the sea mist. With Moneroon associated a lot of secrets and legends.

History of the island

Moneron is an island that exists in its present form no more than 2 million years, which is considered a relative youth. It was first mentioned in the 17th century, when the Japanese samurai Murakami Hirononi noted it on his map. It was compiled by him personally and is considered the oldest map of Sakhalin. Also this document is known as the "Map of the country of the Shoho era", dated 1644.

As for the locals, they knew about the existence of the island much earlier, but did not put it in any documents and used the island only as a place of rest on the road. This is evidenced by the most ancient remains of human sites that are found on the island. These are primitive ceramic products, pieces of harpoons and arrows, bones of various fish and animals, and also an anchor, which, undoubtedly, was brought from another place. Despite such evidence of a person staying on the island, no traces of dwellings were found. This indicates that the island has never been inhabited.

In the 18th century, the island was discovered by French navigators, who applied it to the seafaring maps of Europe. The discovery belongs to the famous French navigator Jean-Francois de La Perouse, who, while making a round-the-world trip, explored, including the Sea of Japan. That's why Moneron is an island with a French name, received it in honor of the engineer-officer, who participated in this expedition.

Engineer Paul Moneron attempted to draw an approximate map of the island bearing his name. But for the first time a detailed map of the area appeared only many years later. In 1867, Russian hydrographers already designated Moneron on the map of the Russian Empire. The expedition was led by Lieutenant K.S. Staritsky. In his honor named the highest peak of the island - Mount Staritsky.

Political changes of Moneron

Moneron Island, whose history is not so rich in events, belonged to the Russian Empire for a short time. After the country was defeated in the Russo-Japanese War, he moved on to the winner and was named Kaybato. Moneron was part of Japan until 1945, until after the end of World War II there were no significant changes in the political geography of the world.

Nevertheless, it was during this period that the island finally became inhabited - the Japanese built a fishing village, inhabited by approximately 2,000 people, and also provided infrastructure. So there were roads, a pier, a lighthouse, a weather station and even a telephone line. Rice fields with an irrigation system, orchards were also founded by the Japanese, who conducted the first archaeological and geological studies of the area.

After Moneron again became part of the Sakhalin region of the USSR, a Japanese fishing village was replaced by several Soviet ones. However, over time, living here was considered unprofitable, and it was decided to assign the terrain the status of the border zone, severely restricting the visit.

In the late 1970s, the island of Moneron (Sakhalin) was visited by hydrobiologists, who laid the foundations for the first natural marine park in Russia.

Island Natural Park

For all of its existence, the island has no land connection with its closest neighbors - Japan and Sakhalin. It is thanks to this isolation that the amazing nature of Moneron is preserved in its original form.

The most important wealth of this place is its vegetation and marine fauna. The level of water transparency reaches 30-40 m, and the beneficial effect of the Tsushima Current, which contributes to rising the temperature of coastal waters to 20 ° C, creates unique underwater landscapes. This explains the existence here of the rare representatives of the marine fauna.

Such unique features served as an excuse for creating a natural park on the territory of the island.

The organization of tourism is under the department of the "Natural Park" "Island of Moneron". Here you will be offered sea walks, underwater tourism, fishing for lovers, fascinating and exotic excursions around the island and much more. Existing since 1995, the natural park (Moneron Island) has won many loyal fans who come here every year to enjoy the amazing beauty of the place.

Nature Park Activities

Here is a highly developed hiking tourism, which is divided into two types. The first of them is along the coast, and the second is the roundabout - tourism on a scientifically based network. All routes are available and in the absence of a specific physical form. You only need the availability of suitable clothing, because the local weather is unpredictable.

However, if you prefer extreme rest, you will be picked up by a route for which certain skills of mountaineering are necessary.

An indispensable element of this tourism is a visit to the pedestrian bridge, which was built by the Japanese during the period of ownership of the island. Its length is 30 m, width - 1.5. The bridge crosses the deepest gorge and is the only one in the Sakhalin region, intended solely for pedestrian walks.

Most popular routes

"On the west coast" - a route that originates in the bay of Kologuras. You will walk very close to the scenic rock Way of Death, which is a geological monument of nature. On the rocks you will see a bird market, as well as rookeries of Steller sea lions.

Another route, called "Telephonist's Lodge", starts on the old Japanese rock and also leads to Kologers. Your path will lie across the beach along the coastline, where once there was a Japanese village. Also you will pass the rock of the thumb.

The park (Moneron Island) offers you swimming with fins and tubes. This can be done near the northern cape, which is located in the Bay of Chuprova. You can thus catch sea urchins, which you will later get to know.

There, on the Japanese path, the third route, "Mayak", also originates. It goes along the slopes that cross the coastal slope of the cliff, and ends with a sheer descent, from which it is necessary to descend from a height of 20 m on a rope. Your path will pass through another picturesque bridge erected by the Japanese, which carries the poetic name "Bridge to Nowhere". Then you will go up to the lighthouse, near which there is a well with the cleanest water, rich in minerals. The route will end near the bay of Izo, located opposite the Eastern Islands. Here you can relax with a bath in the purest emerald water.

As for the ring route, it originates in the "ladle", where it ends. This is the name of the Chuprova Bay, which runs through the highest point of Staritsky Mountain. Along the entire length of the route there are about nine information-specific points. This route is remarkable for its extraordinary natural landscapes. At the highest point of the mountain you can see an amazing circular panorama of the ocean. The survey will be approximately 50 km. The whole route will take from 6 to 8 hours on average.

Lovers of exotics can make a sea voyage in the direction of the grotto with multi-colored walls. Through the crystal transparency of the sea water you can enjoy a whole bouquet of bottom paints.

Moneron Island in the Tatar Strait offers entertainment for active recreation lovers. They will be able to rent water transport, managing which they have the opportunity to plan their own route.

Moneron Island: water resources

Despite the fact that Moneron is an island, he has no shortage of fresh water. The largest watercourses are the Usova River 2.5 km long and the Moneron River, stretching for 1.5 km. The first of them flows towards the north, the other - to the south.

The surplus of fresh water is due to the fact that in addition to these large rivers, along the coasts there are many small streams that are V-shaped. The mouths of the streams are narrow and hanging, and the beds have very steep rapids. The freeze-up period here starts in December and lasts until early April. Also on the island there are many waterfalls.

Flora of the island

The number of rare and endangered plant species on the island reaches 37. At the same time, 9 of them are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. 26 species are found in the Red Data Book of the Sakhalin Region, and another 32 are recommended for protection in the entire Far East.

Most of the forests were cut down by the Japanese during their rule on the island, and the Soviet authorities continued this matter. Thus, many valuable tree species have disappeared, and the coverage by forest is only 20%. Despite this, the plant world of Moneron has certain characteristics. So, on the island the most ancient tree is preserved - the Ayan spruce.

Fauna of the island

The most important feature of Moneron is an unusually rich underwater world. This place is the only one in the country where there is a galiotis. The Tsushima Current, on the path of which this island lies, provides a water temperature of up to 20 ° C, and the amazing transparency of the water makes it possible to see the smallest inhabitants of the seabed. One of the areas of underwater tourism are shooting. Having visited the island of Moneron, the photos you make are simply magnificent. They will become the most unusual in your collection. Sea urchins and stars, trepangs, giant mussels, scallops and many kinds of fish provide an exciting underwater observation. A riot of algae colors, which form an abstract drawing, will enchant every tourist.

Such a wealth of the underwater kingdom provides an opportunity for all to do fishing. The main objects of fishing are flounder, perch and ruff.

The fact that the island rarely becomes an object for visiting, contributes to the fact that the marine fauna here is represented in large numbers. This enables fishermen to get a good catch at any time of their stay here. In addition, local inhabitants of the underwater world are not afraid of man and boldly swim to the shore, which makes it possible to have good observation of them. It also promotes rich biting and good shooting.

Moneron Island: the climate

Despite the fact that this corner is located on one parallel with the Krasnodar resorts, the climate here is completely different from them. There are strong winds throughout the whole year. They are especially strong in the winter and summer. Nevertheless, thanks to the Tsushima Current, the water here does not freeze all year round. Also for the island is a good moisturizing.

The warmest month is August, although summer, on the whole, is rather cloudy. The winter period is characterized by moderate softness. Strong frosts on the island are rare. The snow cover is formed in December, but it reaches its maximum thickness in March.

Secrets of the island

The difficult accessibility of this place gives rise to many different legends about the island. And the presence of mysterious places makes you come up with really fantastic explanations.

One of the main mysteries of the island of Moneron - several nameless graves. They are in the forest, on them instead of earthen mounds there are hillocks of stones. Most notably, primitive monuments with a red star are installed on the graves. Until now, it remains a mystery who lies in these graves, what caused the death, and most importantly, who and why buried them here, considering the uninhabited island.

Another mystery of the island is the ship that disappeared off its shores. On September 1, 1983, a liner with passengers, numbering at least 300, dropped in the water near the island. Eyewitnesses tell how the plane was flaming, falling into the water, but nothing was found at the accident site. There is not a trace of the plane, and not a single body of the dead. An unsolved mystery remains where the falling plane disappeared, and what actually fell into the water near the island.

There are also many legends associated with the construction of a fishing village on the island during the reign of Japan. The creation of powerful and complex structures on an island that is unsuitable for life seems strange. This gave rise to a lot of rumors about the secret purpose of Moneron. Among them:

• Legends about small Japanese boats hidden in underground caves;
• About the existence of a school here, training combat swimmers - saboteurs;
• On the establishment on the island of leprosarium isolating the sick with leprosy.

None of these legends were refuted either by the Japanese side or the Russian side. Such silence contributed to the consolidation of the glory of Moneron's mysterious and mysterious place.

How to get to the island

This place is located in the border zone of Russia. That's why it's important to know how to get there. The island of Moneron is not accessible to everyone, since it is under the direct protection of the FSB. To visit this place, you need to obtain an official permit from the border services, which in itself is not easy enough. But even if there is an appropriate document, stay on the island is strictly regulated and does not exceed two days.

However, despite all the difficulties that creates the visit to the island of Moneron, rest here will be one of the best memories for each visitor. The amazing nature of this place, as well as the beauty of the underwater world, will not leave any tourist indifferent.