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Coastline of south Sakhalin with long pristine beaches is amazing area for driving adventure.
Sakhalin has plenty of stunning natural scenery to offer. However, traveling out in the wilderness of Sakhalin requires available 4x4 vehicles and thoughtful preparation in advance. An easier alternative is shelling out the extra cost for enlisting the aid of a local tour operator.
Several years ago, some of Sakhalin's wilderness areas were restricted but today most of the island is accessible except of farther south area where is required government permit to enter.
East coast
 From Yuzhno city you can reach the east coast of the island just for 40 min.driving by car. There is Okhotskoye Sea with vast expenses of the chill waters even during hot summer and wild coastline. The road to the Okhotskoye village turns right on the coast and runs for several km along the sand beach. It is nice place for picnic during hot summer time as cold sea water brings fresh air. Trips to beach can be combined with bird watching and is particularly spectacular when the annual swan migration takes place in April/May.The nearby strings of shallow lakes runs along Sakhalin's eastern coast line are popular for swimming and fishing. Locals name them Warm Lakes. Same of lakes connecting with the sea have salty water. Lakes Tunaycha and Izmechivoye (Озеро Тунайча, Изменчивое) are the biggest among them
West coast
The West Coast beaches are further away but the water is warmer and the beaches are nicer. There is Tatarsky strait separating Sakhalin Island from the mainland with relatively warm waters. The highway to the western coast runs by Aniva town and then branchs out to roads to the Nevelsk and Kholmsk (two ports on the west shore). The road leads over picturesque mountain pass and then runs along western sea shore with a long line of the nice sandy beach stretched over many kilometres.
 South coast
In the south of Sakhalin there is Aniva bay with several nice places. The water in the west side of the bay is warmer then anywhere else but muddy. The coast with wide sand beach stretches from the Aniva town to the south for several kilometers.
The east side of the Aniva bay has rocky precipice coast with the nice stony beach below. There is the good road running along the coast towards port Korsakov and LNG plant. Then after LNG asphalt road is changed by earth track. You can get the narrow beach turning to the one of small roads descending to the sea. Shallow coast water is rich with sea-urchin. If you have diving equipment you can catch in the dipper water crabs, scallops and octopuses.
Mud Volcano is 90 minute drive outside Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, only appeared in 1959, and consists of several cones within a 15-acre (6 hectares) site of volcanic mud which erupt periodically. In many places you can see fumaroles bubbling through the mud. You can hike, or drive by car (4x4 only) on the small dirt track leading to the site.
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