沖永良部島 | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of the island (2013) | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | East China Sea |
| Coordinates | 27°22′08″N128°34′00″E / 27.36889°N 128.56667°E /27.36889; 128.56667 |
| Archipelago | Amami Islands |
| Area | 93.63 km2 (36.15 sq mi) |
| Length | 20 km (12 mi) |
| Width | 7 km (4.3 mi) |
| Coastline | 50 km (31 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 246 m (807 ft) |
| Highest point | Ōyama |
| Administration | |
Japan | |
| Prefectures | Kagoshima Prefecture |
| District | Ōshima District |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 13,767 (2012) |
| Pop. density | 150/km2 (390/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Ryukyuan,Japanese |
Okinoerabujima (Japanese:沖永良部島;Okinoerabu:いぃらぶ,Yirabu; archaicNorthern Ryukyuan:せりよさ,Seriyosa), also known asOkinoerabu, is one of theSatsunan Islands, classed with theAmami archipelago betweenKyūshū andOkinawa.[1]
The island, 93.63 km2 in area, has a population of approximately 14,000 persons. Administratively it is divided into the towns ofWadomari andChina inKagoshima Prefecture. Much of the island is within the borders of theAmami Guntō National Park.
Okinoerabujima is isolated from the other Amami islands, and is located in betweenTokunoshima andYoronjima, approximately 536 kilometres (289 nmi) south of the southern tip of Kyūshū and 60 kilometres (32 nmi) north ofOkinawa.
The island is an elevated coralline island with a length of approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) and width of 7 kilometres (4.3 mi), with Mount Ōyama at 246 metres (807 ft) above sea level at its highest peak.[2] In the eastern part of the island is an extensive limestone cave system, one of the largest in Asia.[3] The coast of the island is surrounded by acoral reef.
Okinoerabujima has ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classificationCfa) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is somewhat lower in winter. The island is subject to frequenttyphoons.
| Climate data for Tateyama, Okinoerabujima (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1969−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 25.5 (77.9) | 27.4 (81.3) | 28.5 (83.3) | 29.8 (85.6) | 31.7 (89.1) | 33.9 (93.0) | 34.9 (94.8) | 34.4 (93.9) | 33.8 (92.8) | 32.7 (90.9) | 31.5 (88.7) | 27.1 (80.8) | 34.9 (94.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 18.8 (65.8) | 19.1 (66.4) | 20.8 (69.4) | 23.0 (73.4) | 25.7 (78.3) | 28.6 (83.5) | 31.3 (88.3) | 31.3 (88.3) | 30.2 (86.4) | 27.5 (81.5) | 24.2 (75.6) | 20.6 (69.1) | 25.1 (77.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.5 (61.7) | 16.6 (61.9) | 18.2 (64.8) | 20.5 (68.9) | 23.1 (73.6) | 25.9 (78.6) | 28.5 (83.3) | 28.6 (83.5) | 27.6 (81.7) | 25.1 (77.2) | 21.9 (71.4) | 18.4 (65.1) | 22.6 (72.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14.2 (57.6) | 14.3 (57.7) | 15.8 (60.4) | 18.2 (64.8) | 21.0 (69.8) | 24.0 (75.2) | 26.4 (79.5) | 26.5 (79.7) | 25.5 (77.9) | 23.1 (73.6) | 19.9 (67.8) | 16.1 (61.0) | 20.4 (68.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 4.7 (40.5) | 6.1 (43.0) | 5.2 (41.4) | 10.2 (50.4) | 14.1 (57.4) | 17.5 (63.5) | 20.5 (68.9) | 22.0 (71.6) | 19.2 (66.6) | 16.2 (61.2) | 12.6 (54.7) | 7.8 (46.0) | 4.7 (40.5) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 91.5 (3.60) | 93.0 (3.66) | 141.7 (5.58) | 146.4 (5.76) | 196.9 (7.75) | 317.7 (12.51) | 144.7 (5.70) | 175.8 (6.92) | 176.9 (6.96) | 172.4 (6.79) | 107.8 (4.24) | 91.9 (3.62) | 1,856.7 (73.10) |
| Average rainy days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 10.9 | 10.1 | 10.9 | 10.6 | 11.6 | 12.5 | 6.6 | 8.9 | 10.2 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 9.7 | 118.2 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 66 | 68 | 71 | 76 | 81 | 88 | 83 | 81 | 78 | 73 | 69 | 66 | 75 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 83.6 | 87.3 | 118.8 | 136.4 | 149.8 | 164.9 | 271.1 | 252.6 | 209.3 | 169.6 | 122.0 | 92.4 | 1,861.6 |
| Source:Japan Meteorological Agency[4][5] | |||||||||||||
It is uncertain when Okinoerabujima was first settled. It was ruled by theAji nobility who built numerousgusuku fortifications from the 8th century onwards. From 1266 it was part ofHokuzan, and from 1422 theRyukyu Kingdom. The island was invaded bysamurai fromSatsuma Domain during the 1609Invasion of Ryukyu and its incorporation into the official holdings of Satsuma was recognized by theTokugawa shogunate in 1624. Satsuma rule was harsh, with the inhabitants of the island reduced to serfdom and forced to raisesugar cane to meet high taxation, which often resulted in famine. The island was subordinate to Tokunoshima from 1616 to 1690, when an independentdaikansho was established. Throughout the Satsuma period, the island was used as a prison settlement, especially for political offenders, including many members of the Ryukyuan royal family.Saigō Takamori was exiled to Okinoerabujima from 1862 to 1864.
After theMeiji Restoration the island was incorporated intoŌsumi Province and later became part of Kagoshima Prefecture. FollowingWorld War II, along with the other Amami Islands, it was occupied by theUnited States until 1953, at which time it reverted to the control of Japan. In September 1977, a massive typhoon (Typhoon Babe (1977)) devastated the island, which experienced winds in excess of 210 km/h (130 mph) for two hours as the typhoon passed by.[6] Nearly two-thirds of the homes across the island were damaged or destroyed by the storm and 73 people were injured.[7] Most of the injuries across the island were caused by collapsing buildings.[8]
Okinoerabujima is home to several rare species of reptiles and insects endemic to the island itself, or more generally to the Ryukyu Islands. The island is one of fewer locations where swimming with whales (humpback whales) is legally approved.[9]
With moderate rainfall and a warm climate, the island is suitable for agriculture. Main crops include sweet potatoes, sugar cane andfloriculture. Brownsugar refining and the production of distilledshōchū liquor is the major industry. The island is not a major tourist destination, unlike many in the Amami archipelago.
The port of Wadomari, located in the town of the same name, has regular ferry services to Okinawa and Kagoshima. The smaller port of China, in the town of China, has ferries to Kagoshima and other of the Amami islands.
Okinoerabu Airport, in Wadomari, is located in east side of the island. Flights connect the island to Kagoshima, Tokunoshima, Amami (via Tokunoshima), and Okinawa (Naha).
