Furugelm Island

Furugelm Island (Ostrov Furugelma) is the southernmost island of Russia, in the southwestern part of Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan, inside Posyet Bay. It belongs to the Khasansky municipal district of Primorsky Krai, lying about 110 km southwest of Vladivostok and a few kilometers from the village of Posyet. The island is about 2.5 km long and 1.5 km wide, with rocky, steep shores.

History

The island was described on May 10, 1854, and named after I. V. Furugelm, captain of the transport ship Knyaz Menshikov. In the past it held fishing grounds and a fur farm that raised blue minks. In August 1945, during the war with Japan, artillery fire was directed from the island; traces of that military presence remain to this day, including a Soviet-era grave. According to stories told by reserve wardens, a ghost is said to appear among the ruins of the former military post on the island.

Nature

Since March 24, 1978, the island has been part of the Far Eastern Marine Biosphere Reserve. Large seabird colonies nest here: more than 300 bird species have been recorded, including a black-tailed gull colony of over 50,000 birds. Red Data Book species found on the island include the red-crowned and white-naped cranes, the cinereous vulture, the white-tailed eagle, the golden eagle and the peregrine falcon, along with a yellow-billed heron and a little spoonbill. Colonies of scallops live on the sandy bottoms of the coastal bays. Spotted seals haul out on coastal rocks, such as the Mikhelson rocks, while fur seals and sea lions can be seen nearby.

Getting there

The island has no permanent population. It can be reached as part of an organized tour group by boat from the village of Posyet. Since the island is part of a nature reserve and lies within a border zone, visiting requires a special permit, usually arranged by a tour guide or travel agency.