Matua Island

Matua ( _ru. Матуа) or Matsuwa is an island in the central Kuril Islands archipelago. It is located at coord|48.1|N|153.2|E| and has an area of 52 km².

In the northwestern end of the island is Sarychev Peak, elevation 1496 m, which has periodically erupted and is one of the most active volcanoes in the Kuril Islands. This peak has erupted at least 14 times since 1765. The largest such eruption occurred in 1924, and the last major eruption was in 1960.

Administratively this island belongs to the Sakhalin Oblast of the Russian Federation.

History

During World War II the Japanese had an airfield located on this island. The island was garrisoned by the 41st Independent Mixed Regiment, 6th Independent Tank Company, and supporting units. During 1944 the Japanese facilities on the island were intermittently shelled by U.S. naval and bomber forces. Several Japanese cargo vessels were sunk near the island, and while at harbor. On June 1, 1944, a shore battery on Point Tagan sank the USS Herring (SS-233).

ee also

* Organization of Kita and Minami Fortresses

External links

* [http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/kuril/matua.htm Matua Island] — Oceandots.
* [http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/north_asia/c_kuriles.html Central Kurile Islands] — Volcano World.
* [http://users.bendnet.com/bjensen/volcano/russia/kurile-sarychev.html Sarychev Peak]
* [http://land.worldcitydb.com/sakhalinskaya_ã¢â€â™_in_russian_federation_state.html Sakhalin Oblast]