Population: Population of the region is more than 600.000 people.

Economy: The Sakhalin economy is based on fish, fish-processing, forest and oil and gas industries. The island is the third-largest producer of fish products in the Russian Far East. Seafood and timber are exported mostly to Japan as well as to other Asia-Pacific countries. According to 1999 data of the Shelf Department and Committee for Natural Resrouces of the Administration of the Sakhalin Region, proven reserves of hydrocarbons in four offshore projects total 1400 mmt oil and 2.3 bcm gas, with another 2.6 billion barrels oil equivalent estimated in areas yet to be leased.

Culture: Nature of Sakhalinskaya region is unique and beautiful. In the region there are mineral springs, cure mud, volcanoes and waterfalls. On the Kurils there is the highest waterfall in Russia - "Iljya Muromets" with the height of 141 metres. In the region there are exclusive monuments of archeology, sites, connected with culture of the natives.

Administrative division: Sakhalinskaya region is divided into 17 districts, 9 towns of regional submission, 10 towns of district submission, 34 town settlements, 66 villages. Centre of the region is the town of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Brief History:

• Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk was founded in 1946.
• Sakhalin region was founded on 2 January 1947 from the former Sakhalinskaya region of Khabarovsky region and the territories, jointed to Russia after the victory over Japan in the World War the Second.