1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. UPSC

Kuril Islands


Why is it in the news?

  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake recently struck Japan’s Kuril Islands.

About Kuril Islands

  • Set of four islands located between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, near the north of Japan’s northernmost prefecture, Hokkaido.
  • Volcanic archipelago part of Sakhalin Oblast in the Russian Far East.
  • Consists of 56 islands and numerous minor rocks.
  • Form part of the Ring of Fire, a zone of tectonic instability encircling the Pacific Ocean.
  • Frequent seismic activity, including earthquakes, due to the tectonic nature of the region.
  • Strategic and economic importance due to fisheries and mineral deposits; Rich in resources such as pyrite, sulphur, and various polymetallic ores.
  • Both Russia and Japan claim sovereignty over the Kuril Islands; Under Russian control since the end of World War II, a source of historical tension between the two countries.

Get free UPSC Updates straight to your inbox!

Get Updates on New Notification about APPSC, TSPSC and UPSC

Get Current Affairs Updates Directly into your Inbox

Discover more from AMIGOS IAS

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

WhatsApp Us

Exit mobile version