Cape Crillon (Russian: Мыс Крильон, Japanese: 西能登呂岬 "Nishinotoro-misaki" (Cape Nishinotoro in Japanese), 45°54′N 142°05′E / 45.900°N 142.083°E / 45.900; 142.083) is the southernmost point of Sakhalin. The cape was named by Frenchman Jean-François de La Pérouse, who was the first European to discover it. Cape Sōya, in Japan, is located 43 kilometres (27 mi) to the south, across La Pérouse Strait.

Cape Crillon
Мыс Крильон
Extrimity of the cape
Extrimity of the cape
Cape Crillon is located in Russia
Cape Crillon
Cape Crillon
Coordinates: 45°54′00″N 142°05′00″E / 45.90000°N 142.08333°E / 45.90000; 142.08333
LocationSakhalin Oblast, Russian Far East  Russia
Offshore water bodiesPacific Ocean
Crillon Peninsula and Cape Crillon (southern section)

A Russian weather station, a lighthouse and a military base are all situated at Cape Crillon today. Additionally, the cape is the Russian terminus of the proposed Sakhalin–Hokkaido Tunnel that would connect Japan and Russia by rail.

On the western coast of the cape is the rock formation formerly known in Japanese as Kinfugan (金敷岩, literally "Anvil Rock").

History

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In 1808, Mamiya Rinzō was dispatched by the Tokugawa shogunate to survey Japanese territory on Sakhalin. Having arrived at the Matsumae domain outpost of Shiranushi on the southern tip of Cape Crillon, he was directed by local Ainu to a place called Kogohau (コゞハウ) where the remains of rammed earth walls were found.[1]

By the early 20th century, the ruins had come to be known as the Shiranushi Earthen Castle (白主土城, Shiranushi dojō). In 1905, there were discovered Matsumae documents suggesting the castle had been built by Imai Kanehira.[2]

Current archaeological evidence indicates the castle was a colonial product of the Yuan dynasty. According to the Yuanshi, the general Yangwuludai (楊兀魯帶) crossed the sea and established frontier garrisons on Sakhalin.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 間宮 Mamiya, 林蔵 Rinzō (1811). 北夷分界余話 Hokui bunkai yowa. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  2. ^ 西海岸遊行記 Seikaigan yūgyō ki. Japan: 樺太日日新聞 Karafuto Nichinichi Shinbun. October 22, 1912.
  3. ^ 菊池 Kikuchi, 俊彦 Toshihiko; 中村 Nakamura, 和之 Kazuyuki (2008). 中世の北東アジアとアイヌ : 奴児干永寧寺碑文とアイヌの北方世界 Chūsei no hokutō Ajia to Ainu - Nurugan Eineiji hibun to Ainu no hoppō sekai (1st ed.). Japan: 高志書院 Kōshi Shoin. ISBN 9784862150387.