Kuril Islands

[ koor-il ahy-luhnz, koo-reel ]

plural noun

1. a chain of more than 55 small volcanic islands off the northeast coast of Asia, extending from northern Japan to the southern tip of Kamchatka: under Russian administration since Soviet invasion 1945, but subject to dispute, as with Japan’s ongoing claim to the four southernmost islands.

Kuril Islands

/ kʊˈriːl /

plural noun

1. a chain of 56 volcanic islands off the NE coast of Asia, extending for 1200 km (750 miles) from the S tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula to NE Hokkaido. Area: 14 990 sq km (6020 sq miles) Japanese nameChishima

Word History and Origins

Origin of Kuril Islands¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Russian Kuríl'skiye Ostrová, from Ainu kur “man”

Example Sentences

A review of Seventh Fleet drills since January reveals the fleet conducted more than 37 military exercises in a region that spans some 75 million square miles, and stretches from Japan’s northern Kuril Islands, west to the Indian Ocean, and south to Antarctica.

From Washington Times

"Troop exercises are taking place near the Kuril Islands, which seriously complicates the situation in the Asia-Pacific region."

From Reuters

In a statement, the Russian prosecutor's office declared the League of Residents "undesirable", accusing it of "forming a negative opinion" about Russia and risking destabilisation on the island chain, which it refers to as the Kuril Islands.

From Reuters

Defending against attacks on Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands — claimed by both Russia and Japan — was among the objectives of the drills.

From Washington Times

Japan asserts territorial rights to the Kuril Islands, which it calls the Northern Territories.

From Seattle Times