Native name: Чиринкотан 志林規島 / | |
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 NASA picture of Antsiferov from space | |
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  Antsiferov / Shirinki | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Sea of Okhotsk |
| Coordinates | 50°12′N154°59′E / 50.20°N 154.98°E /50.20; 154.98 |
| Archipelago | Kuril Islands |
| Area | 7 km2 (2.7 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 761 m (2497 ft) |
| Administration | |
Russia | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
| Ethnic groups | Ainu (formerly) |
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Antsiferov Island (Russian:Остров Анциферова; also known as ShirinkiRussian:ШиринкиJapanese 志林規島;Shirinki-tō) is an uninhabitedvolcanic island located in the northernKuril Islands chain in theSea of Okhotsk in the northwestPacific Ocean. Its former Japanese name is derived from theAinu language for "place of tall waves". Its nearest neighbor isParamushir, located 15 km away across theLuzhin Strait. It is currently named for thecossack explorerDanila Antsiferov, who first described it along with other northern Kuril islands in the early eighteenth century.
Antsiferov is a roughly circular island with an area of 6 km2[1] and is part of a spur range extending to the west of the main Kuril islands arc.The island is astratovolcano with a diameter of 4.25 km and with a central peak (Japanese 蓮華岳;Renge-dake) with a height of 761 metres which is marked by acaldera which is 0.75 kilometre in diameter, which is breached to the south. Twolava domes are located near the walls of the breach, which appear to be of relatively recent origin, although no volcanic eruptions have been observed on Antsiferov in modern times. Much of the island is covered by pumice frompyroclastic-fall deposits.
The southern end of Antsiferov is the site of one of five majorSteller sea lion breeding rookeries (about 600 animals) on the Kuril Islands. Because of the absence of terrestrial predators, it is also the home of very dense colonies ofnorthern fulmars andtufted puffins which nest in the hummocks along its slopes. Cliff-dwelling birds, such askittiwakes andthick-billed murres are also abundant.
Antsiferov had no permanent habitation prior to European contact, but was visited in summer by theAinu tribes for hunting. Claimed by theEmpire of Russia,sovereignty was passed to theEmpire of Japan per theTreaty of Saint Petersburg along with the rest of the Kuril islands. The island was formerly administered as part of Shimushu District ofNemuro Subprefecture ofHokkaidō. AfterWorld War II, the island came under the control of theSoviet Union, and is now administered as part of theSakhalin Oblast of theRussian Federation. The island is now part of awildlife refuge, and approach within 20 km by fishing vessels is prohibited.
