SAKHALIN', commonly written SAGHALIEN, native name TARAIKA, a long and narrow island, runs from n. to s. close off the shores of Asiatic Russia, in the s.w. of the Sea of Ochotsk. It formerly belonged partly to Russia and partly to Japan, but the whole of the island now belongs to Russia, Japan having surrendered its portion in 1875. The estimated area is 47,600 sq.m. Pop. '72. 13,000. It is 588 m. in length, and about 120 in. in extreme breadth. Lat. 45° 54'-54° 24' n. In lat. 52° the island approaches to within 6 tn. of the mainland, from which it is separated by time shallow Mamie strait. A mountain-chain with craggy summits, which in lat. 52° are covered with snow through out the year, traverses the island from n. to south, There are no important natural har bors. The chief rivers are the Ty, falling into Patience gulf, and 90 ft. wide and 7 ft. deep at its mouth, and the Tymy flowing north-east. The rivers and the coasts swarm with fine fish. Immense stores of fish are preserved in a frozen state during winter, and
upon these the natives and their dogs in great part subsist. On the e. coast of the island the vegetation, especially in the n., has a stunted appearance. On the w. coast luxuri ant grass clothes the valleys, and forests of pine, fir, birch, larch, oak, and maple trees cover the mountains. Amon the the animals are the reindeer, the stag, roe, elk, and musk ox. In the northern part of Sakhalin the climate is even more rigorous than at Niko laevsk (q.v.). At Aniva bay, in the s., the coldest day in the winter of 1853-54 showed a temperature of 13° Fah. The inhabitants carryon an inconsiderable barter trade with their fish, furs, and seals. Coals have been discovered in several localities and explored by the Russians. Ravenstein's Russians on the Amur (Trfibner & Co., Lond. 1861).