Paramushir

Paramushir

Native name: Парамушир 幌筵島 (Paramushiru)
Paramushir Island (Landsat 7 image)
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	50°20′N 155°45′E / 50.333°N 155.750°E / 50.333; 155.750
Archipelago	Kuril Island
Area	2,053 km2 (793 sq mi)
Length	100 km (60 mi)
Width	20 km (12 mi)
Highest elevation	1,816 m (5,958 ft)
Highest point	Chikurachki
Administration
Russia
Oblast	Sakhalin Oblast
District	Severo-Kurilsky
Largest settlement	Severo-Kurilsk (pop. 2592)

Paramushir (Russian: Парамушир, Paramushir; Japanese: 幌筵島 Paramushiru-tō or Horomushiro-tō, Ainu: パラムシㇼ　or パラムシㇽ‎ Para-mu-sir), is a volcanic island in the northern portion of Kuril Islands chain in the Sea of Okhotsk in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It is separated from Shumshu by the very narrow Second Kuril Strait in the northeast 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi), from Antsiferov by the Luzhin Strait (15 km) to the southwest, from Atlasov in the northwest by 20 kilometres (12 mi), and from Onnekotan in the south by the 40 km wide Fourth Kuril Strait. Its northern tip is 39 kilometres (24 mi) from Cape Lopatka at the southern tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Its name is derived from the Ainu language, from “broad island” or “populous island”. Severo-Kurilsk, the administrative center of the Severo-Kurilsky district, is the only permanently populated settlement on Paramushir island.

Paramushir is roughly rectangular, and is the second largest of the Kuril Islands with an area of 2,053 square kilometres (793 sq mi). Geologically, Paramushir is a continuous chain of 23 volcanoes. At least five of them are active, and exceed 1,000 metres (3,300 ft):

Paramushir has a sub-arctic climate strongly modulated by the cooling effects of the North Pacific Oyashio Current. The arboreal flora of Paramushir is consequently limited to dense, stunted copses of Siberian dwarf pine and shrubby alder. The alpine tundra which dominates the landscape produces plentiful edible mushrooms and berries, especially lingonberry, Arctic raspberry, and crowberry. Red fox, Arctic hare and ermine are notably abundant and hunted by the inhabitants. The island also supports a population of brown bears. In the spring crested auklet nest on the island. The straits between Paramushir and Shumshu island support a notably dense population of sea otters; harbor seals are also common.