Geography

The Kuril Islands are a volcanic archipelago stretching approximately 810

miles northeast from Hokkaido to the southern tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula.
There are fifty-six identifiable islands in the chain, as well as a number of islets and
rocks. Currently the entire chain is under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation,
administered by Sakhalin Oblast. Japan disputes this and has claimed that the
islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai rocks are part of its territory,
though it maintains no administrative control over the disputed area. The islands
represent an area of high volcanic and seismic activity.