Sakhalin

[ sak-uh-lin, -leen; Russian suh-khuh-lyeen ]

noun

1. the largest island of the Russian Federation and the northernmost component of the Japanese archipelago: divided between Russia and Japan in 1905, the southern half Southern Sakhalin becoming the Japanese prefecture of Karafuto until its restoration to Russia after World War II. 28,000 square miles (72,520 square kilometers).

Sakhalin

/ səxaˈlin /

noun

1. an island in the Sea of Okhotsk, off the SE coast of Russia north of Japan: fishing, forestry, and mineral resources (coal and petroleum). Capital: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Pop: 546 500 (2002). Area: 76 000 sq km (29 300 sq miles) Japanese name (1905–24)Karafuto

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sakhalin¹

First recorded in 1860–65; from Russian Sakhalín, from Manchu Sahaliyan (ula angga hada) “(Island at the mouth of the) Black (river)”

Example Sentences

The Distler goldmine was not on Sakhalin Island—it was right in the middle of Siberia.

From The Daily Beast

According to family lore, the Distlers owned a goldmine on Sakhalin Island.

From The Daily Beast

There can be no doubt that the first explorers of Sakhalin were Japanese.

From Project Gutenberg

To these must now be added the recently ceded southern half of the Island of Sakhalin.

From Project Gutenberg

We saw the northern coast of Japan and the southern end of Sakhalin, both faint and shadowy in the fog and distance.

From Project Gutenberg

They called the river 'Sakhalin,' a name which the Russians gave to the long island at the mouth of the Amoor.

From Project Gutenberg

Sakhalin-Oula stretches more than a mile along the bank, but extends only a few rods back from the river.

From Project Gutenberg