Korsakov (town)
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Korsakov (Russian: Корса́ков) is a town in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia. It is the administrative center of Korsakovsky District. Population: 36,652 (2002 Census); 45,096 (1989 Census).The town is located some 42 km south from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, at the southern end of Sakhalin Island, on the coast of the Salmon Cove (bukhta lososei) in the Aniva Bay.
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[edit] History
Before 1905 Korsakov, then known as Murav'evskii fort, was one of the main Russian settlements in Southern Sakhalin. In 1905 it was handed over to Japan after Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905. Korsakov was then temporarily the capital of Karafuto Prefecture between 1905-1907. It was renamed "Otomari." After the Second World War, Otomari was returned to the Soviet Union. The Japanese population was mostly repatriated by 1947, though a few remained, along with a sizeable Korean population. Old Otomari burned down substantially with the entry of the Russian troops. The old Bank, Japanese bank building (Otomari Branch, Hokkaido Takushoku Bank) remains standing today, though efforts to convert it to a museum came to nothing for lack of funds. Other Japanese sites and memorials were all destroyed, including a Shinto shrine and a monument to Prince Hirohito who had visited Otomari on an inspection tour. An interesting sample of Japanese monuments can now be seen near Prigorodnoye - a fallen stella to Japanese soldiers.
[edit] Economy
Up until the 1990s Korsakov was a major base for the Russian Far Eastern fishing fleet. It was the home of the Base for Ocean Shipping - Baza Okeanicheskogo Rybolovstva - which, however, went bankrupt during the post-Soviet recession, perhaps for no better reason than downright looting of state property. The thousands of fishermen employed in the "Bor" continued their work for private fishing companies, which usually operated small fishing boats not far off the coast, often without licenses. The catch (primarily crab) was sold in Japan for hard currency, mainly in Wakkanai. Fishermen purchased Japanese electronics and used cars. This semi-illicit, semi-barter economy had a certain positive economic effect on Korsakov, though it inevitably contributed to organized crime.
Among other large economic units in Korsakov was a factory, which produced carton boxes - Fabrika Gofrirovannoi Tary. The factory operated on run-down equipment, probably left over from the Japanese times, and was visible to anyone in Korsakov, as it featured a tall chimney. Gennadii Zlivko, now a mayor of the town, was once a director of this factory. It has long since gone bankrupt, and its tall chimney, no longer emitting black smoke, is the only thing that reminds one of the earlier years of Korsakov's economy.
Korsakov is also the closest town to the huge LNG plant, constructed within the framework of the Sakhalin-2 project.
[edit] Sightseeing
Amenities include a fairly run-down and expensive hotel ("Alfa") next to the former park. The beach is easily accessible by car (Okhotsk, about 1 hour and Prigorodnoye, about 30 minutes). Formerly well kept beach at Vtoraya Pad has now deteriorated into a messy junkyard.
Winter sights include skating at the city stadium and excellent crosscountry skiing past the former sea weed plant (Na Agarike). No facilities exist for downhill skiing.
The town features a museum with an exhibit describing the local frontier history, and the Japanese possession of the city (1905-1945). Local market on the Sovetskaya Street offers great strawberries in the summer, and nicely prepared Korean delicacies (kimchi and the local hit, the paporotnik, all year around).
[edit] Politics
Korsakov is administered in much the same fashion as other small towns all across Russia. It has its executive (the mayor's office or "municipal administration", and its legislature (city duma). In practice, the duma exercises fairly limited influence over the executive.
The mayor as of 2008 was Gennadii Zlivko. Before Gennadii Zlivko, the town was mayored by Valerii Osadchii.
[edit] Transportation
Korsakov is located about 30 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk airport. Regular bus and minibus services connect Korsakov with the capital city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, though not with the airport. There is passenger ferry service between Korsakov and Wakkanai, Hokkaidō, Japan, across the Aniva Gulf.
There used to be Japan National Rail passenger ferry service from Wakkanai, called "Chihaku-Renrakusen (Chihaku Ferry Service)" in 1923-1945, which was linked from Japan's whole national rail network and to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (then called Toyohara). The old narrow-gauge Japanese railroad still runs along the scenic coastline, with sporadic rail service.
There are several bus lines servicing the urban area and a number of villages in the proximity.
[edit] Various
The town was named for Mikhail Korsakov.[1]
[edit] References
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