Onekotan, Shiashkotan, Skaly Lovushki Islands, Russia

Onekotan is an island located near the northern end of the Onekotan. It is a volcanic island, part of the "Ring of Fire" that encircles the Pacific Ocean. It is unique because it has a water-filled caldera at both the northern and the southern ends of the island. The more prominent caldera at the southern end of the island has "an island within the island" and is known as the Tao-Rusyr Caldera.

The highest elevation on Onekotan Island is Krenitsyn which is 1325 meters above sea level, the island that lies within the caldera. More recent secondary volcanic cones have formed in both calderas; the northern caldera has almost been filled by the subsidiary cone, Nemo Peak.

On Onekotan Island you can enjoy a walk to Black Lake. This lake lies in the in the lee of Volcano Nemo. Beautiful wildflowers carpet the meadows surrounding the lake. Among the birds here it is possible to see the red throated pipit, greenshank, buff bellied pipit and rough legged buzzard.

Things to See and Do

* Black Lake
* Nemo Volcano
* Wildflowers
* Birdwatching

Cruise Season - March - Nov
Currency - Ruble (RUB)
Language - Russian
Land Area - 315 sq km
Population - 0
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT plus two hours to plus eleven hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 7

Travel Links - The regions largest city, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, is the arrival point for international flights from major Russian cities as well as Seoul, Sapporo and Hakodate; most foreign tourists wishing to visit these islands begin here. There are also charter flights booked by oil companies, available to their employees or those visiting these companies. It may also be possible to book independantly on the charter flights operated by Vladivostok Air, as there appear to be local people unconnected to the energy industry using this flight too.
There are also ferry services between Kholmsk and the Russian mainland at Vanino, Primorsky Krai and between Korsakov and Wakkanai, Japan.