The Lesser Kuril Chain ( Russian : Малая Курильская гряда , Japanese : しょうクリルれっとう or 小千島列島), is an island chain in the northwestern Pacific Ocean . The islands are administered as part of Yuzhno-Kurilsky District of Sakhalin Oblast , Russia , and many sources consider the chain to be geographically part of the Kuril Islands . However, the Japanese government claims that these islands are not part of the Kuril Islands and are instead minor islands of Hokkaido Prefecture .
5-917: The Lesser Kuril Chain lies northeast of the Nemuro Peninsula in Hokkaido , near the southwestern end of the Greater Kuril Chain , from which it is separated by the South Kuril Strait. It consists of Shikotan , the Habomai Islands and several small islands lying close to the Shikotan . The chain parallels, but is much shorter than, the Greater Kuril Chain, from which the Lesser Kurils lie to
10-400: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Nemuro Peninsula The Nemuro Peninsula (根室半島 Nemuro-hantō ) is a peninsula which extends from the east coast of Hokkaidō , Japan . It is some 30 kilometres (19 mi) long and 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) wide, and forms part of Nemuro City . Cape Nosappu at its tip is the easternmost point of Hokkaidō. The northern coastline
15-655: Is on Nemuro Bay , while the south faces the Pacific Ocean . Islands of the Habomai (Khabomai) Archipelago, administered by Russia but claimed by Japan, extend eastward from the peninsula. Most of the Nemuro Peninsula has a humid continental climate ( Köppen climate classification Dfb ). However, due to the influence of the Seasonal lag , the midsummer season is often scheduled from the end of August to
20-743: The beginning of September. For example, spring in Cape Nosappu often doesn't arrive until the end of May, and in some years winter doesn't even end until the end of June. In 1983, due to the continuous cold wave, the winter in the area did not end until the end of July, and in August it immediately entered the summer; at the same time, the maximum temperature in June 1983 did not exceed 12 °C (54 °F). 43°23′07″N 145°49′00″E / 43.385339°N 145.816727°E / 43.385339; 145.816727 This Hokkaidō location article
25-803: The south-east. The length of the Lesser Kuril island chain is about 100 km (62 mi), and the total land area is 360.85 km (139.32 sq mi). The islands' highest point is a mountain summit on Shikotan , 412 m (1,352 ft) above sea level. The islands of the chain, along with neighbouring Kunashir , have been recognised as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) by BirdLife International because they support populations of various threatened bird species, including many waterbirds , seabirds and waders . 43°37′N 146°23′E / 43.617°N 146.383°E / 43.617; 146.383 This Sakhalin Oblast location article
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