Zhenbao Island

Zhenbao Island (simplified Chinese: 珍宝岛; traditional Chinese: 珍寶島; pinyin: Zhēnbǎo dǎo; lit.: 'Rare Treasure Island') or Damansky Island (Russian: о́стров Дама́нский, ostrov Damanskiy) is a small island measuring 0.74 square kilometres (0.29 sq mi). It is located on the Ussuri River on the border between Primorsky Krai of Russia and Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China (PRC).

Designations
Official nameHeilongjiang Zhenbaodao Wetland National Nature Reserve
Designated1 September 2011
Reference no.1978[1]
Zhenbao Island

Prior to 1991, the island was part of Russia. It got its Russian name from railway engineer Stanislav Damansky who died here in an incident in 1888 while charting the future route for Trans-Siberian railway.

Conflict over the island between USSR & China
Main article: Sino-Soviet border conflict § Battle of Zhenbao Island

It was the subject of a territorial dispute between the Soviet Union and the PRC. Battles were fought over Zhenbao Island by the Soviet Union and the PRC, with a considerable loss of life, during the Sino-Soviet border conflict of March 1969. The conflict over Zhenbao raised concerns that it could ignite another World War until an initial resolution of the conflict in November 1969.

On 19 May 1991, the two sides came to an agreement that Zhenbao Island was part of the territory of the PRC; the Soviet troops withdrew.

A 2004 Russian documentary film, Damansky Island Year 1969. ("Остров Даманский. 1969 год"), was made about the 1969 Zhenbao incident.

References
  1. "Heilongjiang Zhenbaodao Wetland National Nature Reserve". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.


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