Shantar Islands description. Mysterious and harsh Shantar islands

The classic cruise trip, takes place on the water with landings on the islands for excursions, fishing and whale watching from Sup-boards and inflatable boats!
In a group there are 8 people and 4 crew members, captain, sailor, guide and cook! A total of 12 people on board! Accommodation in cabins for 2 persons! There is a hot shower and toilet on board! The chef prepares you breakfast, lunch and dinner and, of course, there are countless snacks, teas to warm up after the sea, etc.
Suitable for those who love the sea, want something unusual, are not afraid of rolling and confined space, love Beautiful places and wants to see a lot of new things in a short time!

Tours from July 3 to September 2, to participate in the tours you need to submit an application, by mail or call. Tour duration - from 7 to 10 days

Dates and duration of the tour:

Dates of the sea part of the tours.

1. July 3 - 12;
2. July 11-19;
3. July 18 - 27;
4. August 24 - September 2.

tour 10 days - 140,000 rubles.

tour for 7 days - 110,000 rubles.

Transfer of Komsomolsk-on-Amur - Nikolay Bay - Komsomolsk-on-Amur is paid separately!
Transfer cost 20 000 rub. (Specify when booking!)

Discount when traveling as a couple of 5%.
Personal offers for large groups.

Tour dates may change due to weather conditions
Start and finish of the sea voyage from Nikolay Bay.

Prices are per person!

What is included in the tour

• Accommodation in a comfortable yacht with hot showers and heating in each cabin (believe me it is important there).
• Meals 3 times a day + uncountable number of snacks.
• The work of the cook, guides and crew.
• Excursions to the whaling factory, Cape Arku, to the meteorological station on Bolshoy Shantar.
• Whale and Killer Whale Tours
• Baths in the places of travel.
• Departure to the rivers on ribs for fishing.
• Boat use, fuel for them
• Using SUPboards.
• Cooking national dishes on the fire during outings.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR

• Diving equipment, waders, fishing rods, wetsuits (specify information on suits when booking) are rented for extra. payment!
• Insurance is paid separately: medical and travel insurance, which includes transport services (about 1500 rubles)
• Transfer is paid separately from Komsomolsk-on-Amur - Nikolay Bay - the place where you are transferred to the yacht and your journey has begun! Transfer cost - there back in the Urals by Autodom, or by Minibus - 20 00 rubles. there is an option to go by jeep, the cost of the flight is 150,000 - 200,000 round-trip, the capacity of the car is 4 people! Advantages of a jeep - shakes less, reduces travel time!

Why such an expensive transfer?

The road is not close and not easy, rocky and off-road, it takes about a day to go, you are accompanied by a very qualified driver who drives a Ural Autodom car! Fuel, satellite communications. You go, almost like at home with air conditioning and 220 sockets, you can lie, you can sit! Everything, if only to get SAFE and as far as those edges allow, comfortably!
Meals on the road are a standard set of camping rations - noodles, cookies, canned food, cheese, sausage, bread, tea, coffee, etc.! On the way, there is one village where you can eat in a cafe on your own! If you are a vegetarian and “don’t go and drink mineral water with gas”, warn us about this!

Approximate travel route.

From Khabarovsk, the group sets off on a fascinating journey to distant islands.
The road to Nikolay Bay is very interesting, the path will pass through almost the entire territory of the Khabarovsk Territory. On the way we will see settlements north of the region, we will cross many rivers, streams over bridges, by ferries and even wade.

1 day
Departure from Komsomolsk-on-Amur at six in the morning. By 15 o'clock we arrive at the ferry crossing the Amgun River, while we are waiting in line, a light lunch. About 18 hours we pass Albazino GOK, at 24 hours we stop for the night.

2nd day
By 7 am we will reach the coast of the Okhotsk Sea. At high tide we change to a boat and drive to the base, on the way we enjoy wild landscapes, curious fur seals, upon arrival, settling in and free time, in the evening a real Russian bath.

Day 3
For lovers of morning fishing,
After breakfast, departure to the seal braid, for acquaintance with sea lions and bearded seals, if we are lucky and meet killer whales, we will definitely watch these beauties. After lunch, we load onto the catamaran and slowly go out to Wrangel Bay, where the bowhead whales live.

4th day
Anchorage in the bay, whale watching, sledding if the weather is favorable.

Day 5
Anchorage in the bay, whale watching, excursion along the shore, fishing for flounder, cod. In the evening we go out to about. Big Shantar.

6th day

In the morning we will pass Belichy Island, admire the small arch. By lunchtime we will come to the Big Shantar island. We will visit the remains of a whaling factory, visit a meteorological station, a bath in the evening. Bonfire on the shore.

Day 7

In the morning we will visit Cape Raduzhny, where jasper comes to the surface - a semi-precious stone. At lunchtime, we will pass by the Utichiy Island. In the evening we will arrive at the Feklistova island, if you wish, we will go fishing, or go sledding along the bay in the company of fur seals.

Day 8
In the morning we disembark at Cape Arka, a photo session, making wishes in the arch ... Next, our way goes to the island of Maly Shantar, where we will make a short excursion and walk along the coast. In the evening we go back home.

Day 9
Arrival in Nikolay Bay, where we will be taken deep into the bay by boat, there is a high probability of meeting beluga whales on the way! In the evening, at high tide, unloading ashore and loading onto a car, leaving for home.

Day 10
The whole day will be spent on the road, in the evening arrival in the city of Komsomolsk on the Amur.

Our team consists of experienced yachtsmen and hunters. So the captain of the ship first visited the Shantar Islands at the age of 15 and was already a member of the crew and was on watch.

Shantars are a small group of islands on the outskirts of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.
The Shantar archipelago includes 15 large islands, many small islets, rocks and kekurs.
The climate here is even harsher than in the very north of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The local tides are very impressive, reaching a height of 5-8 m at a current speed of up to 8 knots.
The inaccessibility of the Shantar Islands ensured the pristine preservation of their nature. Here, herds of whales feed, seals feed fat, and here killer whales, countless bird colonies, bears wandering in search of food, etc. lie in wait here.

Fishing on the islands will not leave indifferent any real fisherman. In the rivers of the islands, there are abundant char, rudd, sesame, pink salmon, Dolly Varden char, lenok. And it's not even worth talking about the abundance of berries and mushrooms. There are a lot of them here.
The shores of the islands are a kind of geological museum under open air... Everywhere there are rocks painted in the most unimaginable colors: red, green, pink, white, corresponding to the outcrops of jasper, marble, malachite and other rocks.
The pristine landscapes of the islands amaze the imagination with their beauty. In summer, dozens of waterfalls tumble down from steep cliffs. The rivers and lakes are also uniquely beautiful.
Once the Shantars were inhabited - whalers lived here. Today, in addition to the employees of the meteorological station and more recently employees " National park" Nobody's here.

Shantara is a real paradise for photographers. Subjects of the photo: magnificent northern nature and unafraid wild animals that are not at all afraid of humans. Here you can easily photograph the bears at close range.

tel .: +79242277160 (we travel a lot, so write better whatsapp)

tel .: +79141768800

mail. [email protected]

Best regards, Odyssey catamaran team.

Shantar Islands one of the few places that are not subject to human activity.

Shantars consist of 15 islands - Big Shantar, Feklistova, Small Shantar, Belichy, Bear, Avian, Utichy, Sugar Loaf, Kusov, Prokofiev, Sivuchiy Kameni, Sukhotina, Severny, Sredny, Yuzhny and Diomid Stones. The total area of ​​the archipelago is about 2500 sq. km. Mysterious islands Do not like guests, only experienced fishermen and trained travelers decide to visit the lost corner of nature. The coastal waters are frozen for 10 months a year, icebergs slowly float past the shores, the Shantars themselves are constantly shrouded in fog, which adds even more mystery, sometimes they happen violent storms as a reminder that the islands will never belong to humans.

Traveling to the Shantar Islands is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the world wildlife, spend unforgettable vacation far from civilization.

Not many survive in the harsh climate, so only bears, foxes and northern birds live on the islands, for which there is a real fish paradise in these parts, because there is a huge amount of fish in water bodies and rivers. Some of the shores are favored by seals, who arrange their rookeries there, whales and killer whales are often found near the coast. Local animals are not particularly afraid of people, and they are not inclined to attack, because they are always fed. Some foxes willingly come up to humans and let themselves be hand-fed. More than 200 bird species nest on the islands, a large concentration of which is observed on the shores.

Despite the harsh climate, the beauty of the Shantar Islands is a huge delight. Stunning landscapes, sea giants floating off the coast, bears walking freely, bizarre rocks, fast rivers and serene lakes, numerous waterfalls will remain in memory for a lifetime.
Of no small interest are the rocks, attracting attention with their unusual color. Due to the emergence of marble, jasper and other rocks, the rocks acquire a pink, red, green color.

There are no settlements on the islands, people do not live here, with the exception of a few workers of the meteorological station. The harsh climate has forced people to move to areas with more favorable conditions for life. The inaccessibility of the islands had no small influence on people, and to get to them you will have to travel a long way.

The best option is to purchase a tour, the route of which may vary. Many travel companies provide tours to the Shantar Islands, so purchasing a tour is not particularly difficult. The main problem may be a large number of Money... The journey is still quite dangerous, given the changeable weather, wild bears, difficulties with transportation, independent travel risky. The tour program is designed in such a way that the traveler can see as many interesting places as possible and enjoy the rest to the fullest. Therefore, guides who know interesting places and huntsmen, scaring away bears, will be able to ensure the safety of the rest.

Most of the expeditions to the Shantar Islands are carried out for the purpose of fishing, because an abundance of fish is the dream of any fisherman. The local rivers are home to pink salmon, rudd, Dolly Varden char, salmon, char, mykizha and other types of fish. Sometimes you can catch fish with your bare hands. Fishing is carried out according to the "Catch and release" principle, because the catch can be so large that the fish will have nowhere to go. A huge number of berries and mushrooms grow in the local forests, so choosing the right time to travel, no traveler will go hungry.

The cost of the tours is high, reaching 750,000 rubles (for a group of 7 people), the cost of the tours usually includes transportation to the islands and back, rental of trays for fishing and moving from one island to another, camp equipment, insurance, first aid kit, meals, accompaniment of instructors.

The tour program includes fishing, whale and killer whale watching, visiting islands where numerous birds nest, hiking to seal rookeries, observing the life of wild bears.

The overnight stay is organized on the shore, in tents. You need to take only warm clothes, a sleeping bag, a raincoat and rubber boots, necessary medicines, personal hygiene products, a camera and a video camera.

It is better to plan a trip to the Shantar Islands for the period from the second half of July to mid-September, it is during this period that more or less clear and sunny weather sets in. But even in August the weather is unpredictable, the sun can be replaced by rains.

How to get there

Russia, Khabarovsk Territory, Shantar Islands.

To get to the Shantar Islands, you first need to get to Khabarovsk, from there by bus to the village of Briakan, from the village you need to take a helicopter flight to the islands.

Some travelers choose a longer and more difficult path, which starts from Khabarovsk, from where by bus you need to get to Komsomolsk-on-Amur, from there to river transport to Nikolaevsk-on-Amur. From Nikolaevsk-on-Amur you need to get to shuttle bus to the village of Mnogovershinny, then by truck to the coast, Reineke Bay and from there by catamaran or boat (brought with you) to the Shantar Islands. The beauty of this route lies in the absence of a normal overnight stay and the need to negotiate with local residents about transport and transportation of the necessary equipment and equipment.

Basically, travelers purchase various tours to the islands, within the framework of which delivery to Shantary is provided. This is the easiest and safest way to travel.

Day 1 Khabarovsk - Briakan

The group will meet at 16:00. After that, you will have an evening and night transfer to the village of Briakan (12-14 hours on the way). You will travel on a comfortable tourist bus - a bus with 45 seats is provided for a group of 15-16 people.

The path will pass through the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Next, a gravel road will begin, which runs along the famous Baikal-Amur Mainline.

Day 2 Helicopter transfer to the Ongachan base

You will have breakfast in Briacan. In good weather, take a helicopter to Ongachan Bay (1.5 hours). Check in at the base and have lunch.

In case of unfavorable weather in the Ongachan Bay, flights to alternative sites are possible. There, speedboats will meet you and take you to the base.

Ongachan Bay is located on the Tugur Peninsula. Waiting for you big lake with a flowing river, into which a red fish enters for spawning. And also a bay where whales and killer whales are.

If you have enough time, you will go on a short excursion to the southern Okhotsk Sea. Walk along the coast or climb observation deck from where you can watch whales. And also meet the first sunset - they are especially beautiful here.

Day 3 Small Shantar Island and Abrek Bay

On this day, you will go to the Abrek bay, which is located on the island of Small Shantar. Hundreds of seals live here, which hide in the bay from carnivorous killer whales. The low water level does not allow them to hunt animals, and the seals feel completely safe.

Today you will spend the night at the Ongachan base.

Day 4 Big Shantar Island

Today you will visit the Big Shantar island. It is the largest and longest island in the archipelago. The only marine weather station is located here - only 4 people work and live on it all year round.

You will enter the mouth of the island's river and visit the remains of a 19th century whaling base. Learn how American whalers caught whales, made fat from their lard, and used whalebone.

You will also visit Cape Raduzhny - one of the most striking geological objects of the archipelago. There are huge rocks made of jasper. Their color changes from bright red to green.

By the end of the day, you will come to Feklistova Island, where you will set up a field camp. Dine in a large tent and spend the night in tents.

Day 5 Island of Feklistova and Utichiy

On this day, you will see salmon rise up the Medvezhya River for spawning.

After lunch, you will turn off the camp and start moving towards the Ongachan base. On the way, visit the natural monument - Arku Island.

Approaching Utichiy Island, you will see thousands of birds that nest here. They are not at all afraid of a person. Also, admire the kekuras - sea rocks of a bizarre shape.

The day will end at the base in Ongachan Bay. You will have dinner, rest and relax in a hot heated bath.

Day 6 Wrangel Bay

Today you will transfer by boat to Wrangel Bay (2 hours). On the way you will see Belichy, Middle and South islands. See bird colonies and small waterfalls

Upon arrival, you will be accommodated at the base in cozy bay... For beauty and pure sand beach tourists nicknamed it "Magic Bay". It is here that you will see rare bowhead whales.

Day 7 Whale watching

On this day you will watch bowhead whales.

They live in the cold waters of the Northern Hemisphere, the most “southern” herd of this cetacean species is found in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. These are the only representatives of baleen whales that spend their entire life in polar waters. Due to the harsh habitat, bowhead whale watching is usually difficult or impossible. But on Shantars you will see them very close. And even swim up to them on rowing boats or SUP boards.

Also today you can arrange sea fishing, walk along the coast and get acquainted with the bizarre geology of Cape Wrangel.

Day 8 Return to Ongachan base

You will watch whales before lunch and then sail to Ongachan Bay. On the way, you may see killer whales. On the high seas, you will see dozens of birds huddling in flocks and preparing to fly.

Part route will pass along the Strait of Lindholm. It is named after one of the pioneers of the Russian whaling industry in Far East.

In good weather, watch the sunset ashore. A warm blanket and a mug of local herbal tea will make the evening even more enjoyable. A little later, you will sit by the fire and listen to stories about the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and stories about pioneers.

Day 9 Reserve Day or Dragon Rocks

This day is provided in case of bad weather during the program.

If the weather is good and there is no need to make any changes to the program, you will go to the Dragon Rocks. Moving along the sea along the southern coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, you will reach the northern tip of the Tugur Peninsula. Here, dozens of small waterfalls plunge right into the sea, and from the shore a view of bizarre kekuras opens up. Legends say that dragons used to live here.

In the evening, a festive dinner with freshly caught fish and seafood specialties awaits you.

Day 10 Departure from the Ongachan base

Today you will go by helicopter to the village of Briakan, from where you will leave for Khabarovsk.

The Shantar Islands are a bear paradise, where the clubfoot lives at ease, because it is forbidden to hunt them here. But it is also a paradise for a geologist: on the shores of the islands, in a picturesque disorder, there are rocks painted in the most unexpected colors: pink, red, green, white ... This is not a joke of nature, but the layers of jasper, marble and other rocks coming out to the surface.
The word "shantar" in translation from the language of the Nivkh people means "island", and it is this word that lies in the name coined by the discoverers of the archipelago.
The Shantar archipelago consists of fifteen islands of various sizes, clustered near the mainland in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The islands are located right at the entrance to the Udskaya Bay, Tugursky Bay and Akademiya Bay and are separated from the mainland by the Lindholm Strait and the Shantar Sea.
The relief of the islands is very uneven and mountainous. Valleys of small rivers lay between the mountains, and swamps stretch along the river banks in the lowlands: the water simply has nowhere to seep, under a small layer of soil - hard rocks, granite.
The shores of the islands are high and rocky, abruptly dropping into the sea. The sea around the islands is full of huge pitfalls that pose a great danger to ships. It is as if nature deliberately took care of making the islands as inaccessible as possible: there are no convenient harbors here, with the exception of Yakshin Bay on Bolshoi Shantar and Swan Bay on Fekpistov Island.
Sailing in the area of ​​the Shantar archipelago is dangerous; it is not recommended to sail here for ships that do not have radars. The speed of currents in these parts can reach eight knots, that is, about 15 km / h.
From October to June, the Udskaya Bay is frozen by ice, the water around the Shantarek Islands freezes, and they practically merge with the mainland for most of the year.
The islands of Maly Shantar and Belichy are separated by a narrow strait, navigation here is risky, for which the strait was named Dangerous.
The first to explore the islands were the indigenous people of the Nivkh. Since there are relatively few islands in this place off the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, the Nivkhs named them "shantar", which means simply "island" in their language.
In 1639, the Cossacks Ivan Moskvitin, Vasily Poyarkov and Ivan Nagiba reached the islands.
They used a word from the Nivkh language, calling them Shantar, that is, "island islands". However, for the first time the name Shantar appeared on geographic map drawn up in 1710 Since the islands have not only commercial value, but also border value, Emperor Peter II ordered in 1728: “To release Russian and foreign hunters to the Shantar Islands for fishing, so that they can be reliably notified of the peoples of those islands. live. "
Names geographic sites on the islands were given by local hunters and fishermen and reflect the appearance of the object: on the island of Feklistova - Capes Rogaty, Pokaty, Bely, Perceptible Skala, Krasny, on the island of Maly Shantar - Cape Gorbaty. And Sugar Loaf Island got its name for its obvious similarity to the mentioned product. Rich animal world of the archipelago is captured in the names of the islands Belichiy, Bear, Bird, Utichiy and Sivuchiy Kamen.
The islands have never had a permanent population: even a hermit is difficult to survive here. Since olden times, hunters and fishermen have come to the islands from the mainland - and they returned back with their catch and game. True, in 1830-1831. the Americans created a company that settled on Bolshoi Shantar, but soon the settlement was abandoned and people returned to the mainland: the income from the trades was negligible compared to the cost of maintaining the winter hut.
The Shantar Islands are an archipelago of 15 islands in the western part of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The most large islands- Big Shantar, Feklistova, Small Shantar and Belichy. The Shantar Islands are officially part of the Far North regions (part of the territory of Russia, located mainly north of the Arctic Circle), but are located at the same latitude as Moscow.
There are a lot of birds on the Shantar Islands; there is an incessant noise from bird colonies. In 2013, a nature reserve was established here to protect the island fauna.
The nature of the Shantar Islands is not much different from that on the mainland, across the strait: the same dark coniferous forests of fir and Siberian spruce, the same Gmelin larch on the mountain slopes, and on the tops there are thickets of dwarf cedar.
The region of the Shantar Islands is a difficult place for survival: there are constant typhoons and fogs, and there are searing frosts for most of the year.
Fogs constantly hang in the area of ​​the Shantar Islands, which do not dissipate even with strong winds due to cold water. The reason is that here is the most frozen region of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk: a cold northeastern wind blows and ice clogs the straits between the islands.
The tidal currents around the Shantar Islands are among the fastest in the World Ocean. They rush with force into the inter-island straits, resembling turbulent rivers, and then the roar of rushing water can be heard for several kilometers.
The local harsh nature is diversified by many rivers and streams, which form about a hundred waterfalls with a height of 10 to 100 m.
Despite the difficult climatic conditions, these lands are rich in flora and fauna. There are dozens of rare plant and animal species. There are more than two hundred species of birds on the archipelago alone, of which eleven are marine species, and most of all are colonial nests (bazaars) of spectacled guillemot, hatchet, ipatka, cormorants and various species of gulls.
There are large pinniped rookeries on the islands: sea lion, bearded seal, larga, akiba. V coastal waters a lot of mykizha, sesame, chum salmon, smelt, char, pink salmon, rudd, Dolly Varden char and lenok.
In addition, many species of mammals live on the Shantar Islands, especially predators: brown bear, wolf, common fox, raccoon dog, wolverine, otter, ermine, weasel, sable. There is no shortage of food: there is enough poultry and fish for food all year round.
Now there is no permanent population on the islands, except for a few workers of the meteorological station on the northeastern coast of the Yakshin bay of the Bolshoi Shantar island.
On the islands, here and there, you can still find evidence of a thriving whaling industry - rusty equipment and the remains of primitive saloop factories.
Closest to the islands is the Chumikan settlement - a port in the Udskaya Bay of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, at the mouth of the Uda River, and the administrative center of the Tuguro-Chumikansky District.
Considering the special value of the Shantar Islands region, the entire archipelago, together with the water area, in 1999 was included in the state nature reserve of federal significance "Shantar Islands" with an area of ​​515.5 thousand hectares.

general information

Location: Pacific Ocean.
Islands: Big Shantar, Feklistova, Small Shantar, Belichy, Bear, Bird, Utichy, Sugarloaf, Kusova, Prokofiev, Sivuch'i Kamni, Sukhotina, North, Middle, South and Diomede Stones.
Origin: continental.
Administrative affiliation: Tuguro-Chumikansky District, Khabarovsk Territory, Russian Federation.
Nearest settlements(all - on the mainland, belong to the Tuguro-Chumikansky district): the village of Chumikan - 1147 people. (2011), the village of Tugur - 387 people. (2011).
Languages: Russian, Evenk.
Ethnic composition: Evenki, Russians.
Religions: Orthodoxy, Shamanism.
Large rivers: Olenya, Srednyaya, Bolshoy Anaur, Yakshina (all - Bolshoi Shantar).
Large lakes: Karpino, Big and Small Omokoy (Big Shantar), Lisie (Feklistova).
Currency unit: Russian ruble.
Nearest international Airport : Novy airport in Khabarovsk.

Numbers

Area: about 2500 km 2 (Big Shantar - 1766 km 2, Feklistova - 372 km 2, Small Shantar - about 100 km 2, Belichy - about 70 km 2, others - Bear, Bird, Utichy, Sugar Loaf, Kusova, Prokofiev, Steller's Stones, Sukhotina, North, Middle, South and Diomede Stones - 192 km 2).
Tides: irregular, semi-daily, up to 10 m high.
Average altitude above sea level: about 100-200 m.
The most high point : Mount Veselaya (Big Shantar, 720 m).

Climate and weather

Moderately continental.
Cold winters, cool summers.
Average air temperature in January: -20.6 ° C.
Average air temperature in July: + 12.9 ° C.
Average water temperature in January: -1.8 ° C.
Average water temperature in July: + 11.5 ° C.
Average annual rainfall: 800-900 mm.
Relative humidity: 70%.

Economy

Marine fishing.
Service sector: travel, transport, trade.

sights

■ Natural: Cape Bely (Feklistova Island, marble rocks), Red Cape (Feklistova, jasper rocks), Olenya River, sheer coastal cliffs (Prokofiev Island), Kamen Lev rock (Big Shantar), rock "with a hole" (Small Shantar) , kekura (Utichiy), bird colonies, rookeries of marine mammals. ...
■ Other: meteorological station (Big Shantar), an abandoned American lettuce plant (Big Shantar), an old cemetery (Big Shantar).

Curious facts

■ Sula - uplift of water on the sea surface, which occurs, in particular, with a sharp decrease in the speed of the tidal current, as well as with the collision of multidirectional currents or with strong winds directed against the current. The water surface in the rip area is like bubbling and boiling water. Most often, rifts are observed in straits and at river mouths. In the area of ​​the Shantar Islands, the sula reaches a height of 3-4 m and poses a danger to small ships.
■ Thirty bird species inhabiting the Shantar Islands are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
■ The Strait of Lindholm was named after the Finn Otto Lindholm, a prominent businessman who pioneered the whaling industry in the Far East in the middle of the 19th century.
■ The name “Shantar Sea” was first used by whalers in the 19th century. Today, this name has been preserved in the old topographic maps... It was mentioned on nautical charts and in sailing directions until the middle of the 20th century, and then disappeared, as well as from new topographic maps. The reasons for the refusal of the cartographers from this name are not at all ideological: the insignificant - in the opinion of cartographers - the size of the "sea" and the fact that it was originally called a lip (bay).
■ Kusov Island was discovered in 1829 by the Russian hydrographer P.T. Kozmin and named after the director of the Russian-American company N.I. Kusov.
■ Shantar Islands - the area of ​​the strongest geomagnetic anomaly, forcing the compass needle to rotate clockwise continuously.
■ The Srednyaya River on Bolshoy Shantar is the only place on the entire coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk where mykizha, or rainbow trout, lives, a species included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
■ In the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, on the shelf exclusively in the region of the Shantar Islands, an endemic grows - the brown seaweed kelp angustata. This marine organism is used in the food industry and medicine.

They are located right at the entrance to the Udskaya Bay, near the Akademiya and Tugursky bays. This group of islands is located on western territory Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

Shantars are a small group of islands located on the outskirts of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Being very original, they embody all the beauties of this sea. There are multicolored rocks and wild taiga. Intense tidal currents roar into narrow straits among the rocks. The nature of eternal fogs and wandering ice. Bears bred on the islands in large numbers, and the marine population is represented by seals, whales, killer whales, beluga whales ...

The climatic conditions of the Shantar Islands are much more severe than in the northernmost territory of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. This can be explained by the approach to the cold territories of Yakutia, the system of tidal and wind currents. On the islands, tides can reach up to 5-8 meters, and the currents are the fastest in the world's oceans. They reach up to 8 knots in the straits: North, Dangerous, and not far from the continent. The total force of the tides is concentrated in the straits, like in a bottleneck. These straits are more like fast-flowing rivers, and the sound of water rushing by can be heard at a distance of several kilometers. Which .

The islands become ice-free only for 1.5-2 months. Icebergs float even in July, but snow falls in September. Such harsh weather, despite the fact that the islands are located at the latitude of Moscow! The islands are inaccessible and they were able to preserve nature with all its primordiality. In this place, you can observe feeding whales, a large number of seals and killer whales that hunt them, a large number of bird colonies and bears that roam the coast. This place has excellent fishing. In the rivers you can find such fish species as: pink salmon, char, sesame, rudd, lenok and Dolly Varden char. There are many mushrooms and berries in this place.

At one time, people lived on Shantars, but now, apart from the workers of the meteorological station, you will not meet anyone on the islands. But on the other hand, fish abound in lakes and rivers, it is very noisy from the cry of birds, and whales, seals and killer whales swim near the coast. The geology of the islands is also curious. The coast is a real geological museum, which is located right in the open air. Many places offer the opportunity to observe rocks, painted in different colors - red, pink, green and white.

Animal world

The peculiarity of this area on the planet lies in the fact that during the ice age, at the moment when the main part of the terrestrial planet was under ice, there was a territory in the Far East where the land, sea and ancient plants were able to survive in their original form to this day. ... One such plant is a brown seaweed called angustata kelp. It grows exclusively in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk on the Shantar Islands. The landscapes of the islands are simply mesmerizing with their own beauty. The summer period of time in this place, although short, is very stormy. A large number of waterfalls are dumped from the steep Shantar coasts.

Lakes and rivers are unsurpassed. The largest is Lake Bolshoye; the Olenya River flows into it. At one time, people who were engaged in whaling lived on Shantars, at present, besides the workers of the meteorological station, there is no one on the islands. Shantars are a photographer's paradise. Northern nature with its splendor and wild animals that react so calmly to the presence of man. Especially there are a large number of bears, they can simply be photographed at close range.

The Shantar Islands are an archipelago in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Sometimes they are called foggy islands because of the frequent fogs. Coniferous forest and grass grow on the islands. WITH mountain peaks a large number of streams and rivers fall, and thus more than a hundred waterfalls are formed, the height of which is 10-100 meters.

The water area of ​​the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is located within the boundaries of the national park zone and is significant object to preserve the biological resources of the sea. Several species of whales are also noted here, there are a large number of rookeries for pinnipeds and sea lion, on the rocks of the coast there is a large concentration of colonial seabirds.