Kuril Islands
geographical name
Ku·ril Islands
| \ ˈkyu̇r-ˌēl
, ˈku̇r-; kyu̇-ˈrēl, ku̇-\
, ˈku̇r-; kyu̇-ˈrēl, ku̇-\
variants:
or Kurile Islands
Definition of Kuril Islands
islands in the Pacific between Russia (southern Kamchatka) and Japan (northeastern Hokkaido); belonged 1875–1945 to Japan; now controlled by Russia with Japan claiming the southernmost islands area 6023 square miles (15,600 square kilometers)