Native name: 長島Nagashima | |
|---|---|
  Nagashima Island Nagashima's location (Kumamoto Prefecture in highlight) | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Yatsuhiro Sea,East China Sea |
| Coordinates | 32°09′00″N130°09′0″E / 32.15000°N 130.15000°E /32.15000; 130.15000 |
| Length | 16 km (9.9 mi) |
| Width | 11 km (6.8 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 403 m (1322 ft) |
| Highest point | mount Dainaka-dake |
| Administration | |
Japan | |
| Prefecture | Kagoshima Prefecture |
| city | Nagashima |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 10120 (2000) |
| Pop. density | 112/km2 (290/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Japanese |
Nagashima (長島,Nagashima) is an island in theAmakusa islands, south ofShimoshima Island. Its coasts are washed byYatsuhiro Sea, Hachimannoseto strait andEast China Sea. Nagashima Island, together withShishi-jima,Shoura Island [ja] andIkara [ja] islands, has been administered as part ofNagashima town since 2006. The island's highest peak is Mount Dainaka-dake 403 m (1,322 ft), although Mount Yatake is only slightly lower at 402 m (1,319 ft)
Nagashima Island is connected to theKyushu mainland by theKuronoseto Oohashi [ja] bridge (completed in 1974) over 400-meter wide strait. It is also connected to Ikara Island byIkara Oohashi [ja] since 1990 and toShoura Island [ja] since 1966. The national roads serving the island isRoute 389.
A ferry line also connectsNagashima Island to theShimoshima island.[citation needed]
Nagashima is believed to be the place whereTangerine (Citrus unshiu) was introduced to Japan in the earlyEdo period. Later in theEdo period the island was notable for its fruit gardens and horse grazing meadows. Modern Nagashima is concentrated on the food industry, in particular on alcoholic beverages,[1] garments, shoes, and electronics manufacture.[citation needed]
Nagashima Island is located in thehumid subtropical climate zone (KöppenCfa), with four distinct seasons. The island never sees snowfall during the winter. Spring inShimoshima Island starts off mild, but ends up being hot and humid. The summer tends to be Shimoshima's wettest season, with thetsuyu (梅雨,tsuyu, "plum rain") — the rainy season — occurring between early June (average:Jun.7) to late July (average:Jul.21). The island's weather is affected by the nearbyLiman current [ja] while being shielded from the warmKuroshio Current by theKyushu island, resulting in wetter and colder climate than should be expected at lower 30`s latitudes.[citation needed]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
