Natural island complexes are always unusual and unique. Their isolation from the outer world, peculiar insular climate, influence of sea currents, creative and destructive activity of sea waves form landscapes unique in their beauty. The nature of the islands where active volcanoes still exist is especially interesting. All of this can be said about the Kuril Islands stretching for more than 1,000 km along the Pacific coast of Russia.

There are different types of volcanic activity on the islands including discharges of thermal waters with different chemical composition and of different temperature and hot gases. The Tyatya Volcano (1,819 m)

on the Kunashir Island fascinates by its absolutely regular cone. Black magnetite sand, shingle of different colors, large and small boiling lakes, a range of waterfalls of different color shades (even orange), given to them by the rocks the waterfalls are made of, coexist side by side with coastal cliffs of fantastic shapes. Cape Stolbchaty is especially peculiar because it is formed by giant stone column-like blocks resting on a base flattened by sea waves. Volcanic activity also influenced plant and animal communities. In the places where the level of volcanic activity is the highest we can meet a lot of heat-loving plants and representatives of southern fauna. Warm and cold sea currents, the territory stretching far from north to south, and a complex relief add to the diversity of the Islands' wildlife.

In this area it is easy to encounter representatives of the Japanese-Korean, Manchuria and Okhotsk-Kamchatka flora and fauna complexes. Rich broadleaf forests of oak, ash-tree, wild magnolia (the world's oldest population) fantastically interlaced by lianas - actinidia, Schizandra, Kogne grape with bushes of Kuril bamboo, are replaced at forest openings

and along valleys of rivers by high grass (up to 4 meters high). The Islands are home to more than 30 species of higher vascular plants included into the Russian Red Book. The major part of the rest of the plant species growing there are rare and endangered. Birds migration routes run through the area of the Southern Kuril Islands. Among all the bird species living here 30 have been added to the Russian Red Book. Of especial interest are bald eagle, erne, fishing eagle owl (this is the only island population known to man).

The Kunashir is also home to Japanese crane (the only couple). Local rivers are spawning sites of salmon. The coastal zone of the islands is as rich. It has multiple colonies of sea waterfowl and rookeries and breeding-grounds of sea mammals. An island specie of seals - Antur - is a local symbol. The Urup Island is the habitat of one of the largest kalan populations living in the southern parts of the distribution area of this animal.