Kuril Islands

geographical name

Ku·​ril Islands ˈkyu̇r-ˌēl 

ˈku̇r-;

kyu̇-ˈrēl,

ku̇-

variants or Kurile 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)