an island in the Sea of Okhotsk, off the SE coast of Russia north of Japan: fishing, forestry, and mineral resources (coal and petroleum). Capital: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Pop: 546 500 (2002). Area: 76 000 sq km (29 300 sqmiles)
Japanese name (1905–24): Karafuto
Sakhalin in American English
(ˈsækəˌlin; ˈsɑkəˌlin)
island of Russia off the E coast of Siberia: formerly (1905-45) divided between Russia & Japan: c. 29,500 sq mi (76,405 sq km)