kurilsk has the city status. The settlement has been based in the end of ХVIII centuries by Russian travellers on a place of settlement of aboriginals айну, existing from II thousand BC the Settlement at the moment of arrival of Russian travellers was called Shang (in transfer with айнского «the big settlement in the bottom watercourse». The city is located at two levels (the top part and bottom) with difference of heights approximately 30-40 metres.