Sakhalin

American  

[-leen, sak-uh-lin, suh-khuh-lyeen] / -ˌlin, ˈsæk əˌlɪn, sə xʌˈljin /

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).

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Sakhalin British  

/ səxaˈlin /

noun

1. Japanese name (1905–24): Karafuto. 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)

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Etymology

Origin of Sakhalin

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Sakhalin

In Sakhalin, Putin, 73, held a meeting "on ensuring the security of Russia's eastern borders," RIA Novosti said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

Earlier this year, Exxon Mobil met with Russia’s biggest state energy company, Rosneft, to discuss returning to the massive Sakhalin gas project if Moscow and Washington gave the green light.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 29, 2025

A power grid was also damaged in Russia's Sakhalin region.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2025

Russian officials issued a tsunami alert for the island of Sakhalin, warning that areas across the island’s west coast could be affected by the waves.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 31, 2023

The island of Sakhalin was divided between them, both armies evacuated Manchuria, leaving it to the Chinese, and Port Arthur and Dalny were transferred to Japan.

From A History of the Nations and Empires Involved and a Study of the Events Culminating in the Great Conflict by Logan Marshall

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