Korsakov

Although Korsakov and the Sakhalin District owe their existence to the less-than-glamorous industries of fishing, coal and oil, the typically Russian cities of this peninsula have always managed to sneak in a little fun, even during the height of Communism. Amid the Lenin statues and austere buildings, colorful flowers add cheer to the city streets, and lively markets offer brightly hued fruits and vegetables that make it from the hinterland to the table in just a matter of hours.