Sakhalin



Sakhalin

Name: Alexander Gayvoron

Age: 28

Profession: Teacher

City: Sakhalin Island

How long have you been doing photography? Since 2015.

Website 

Can you give us a short description of your city? Sakhalin Oblast is the only Russian oblast located on an island. Many years ago, the island was a prison for the mainland. Later, southern Sakhalin and the Kuriles was occupied by Japan, which left these lands after Japan's loss in the Second World War.

Sakhalin is rich in natural resources and beautiful, mysterious nature.

Today, the main activities for growth are fishing and oil and gas.

What is something about your area that only locals would know? One of the most significant events on the island was the arrival of A.P. Chekhov.

The weather on the island is extremely volatile. There is a local expression: Summer arrived on Sakhalin today, be sure you don't miss it (на Сахалине наступило лето, не проспите этот день).

Sakhalin's distance from greater Russia, the mainland, has left a significant imprint.

Which places or sites are a must for someone to see if they visit your area? The many objects left behind by the Japanese. Lighthouses. Bays. The ski resort "Gorny Vozdukh" (Mountain Air).



Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955