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To the first settlers..
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
I was told that this monument was erected to the first Japanese settlers of 1890s. The concrete fence surrounds a cemetery. More than 500 people arrived to Shumshu, the northernmost outpost of the empire. After the first winter, only about 25 stayed alive.
A couple of years later a Japanese prince visited Shumshu. He said this island was no place for civilized men, and that only Ainu or Russians would have possibly survived here.
And Shumshu indeed was a home to Ainu, starting thousands of years ago. Archeological expeditions have found several Ainu sites on the island. Almost all of “contemporary” ainu have moved to Japan. They took Japanese last names, but kept using Russian first names. Russians did not have a great success on surviving on Shumshu. What happened to village Baikovo I told in a note to my previous Shumshu photo. |
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What an interesting note to this good picture, Olga! You bring us to places that I don't know, too far for my imagination
Thank you!
Compliments!
Livia
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(7434)
Hi Olga. This composition and this colors makes this photo interesting. Great place!
TFS
Philip