Shimokoshiki-jima

Shimokoshiki Island
Native name: 下甑島 Shimokoshiki-jima
Shimokoshiki-jima is marked as (3)
Shimokoshiki Island
Location in Japan
Geography
Location East China Sea
Coordinates 31°42′15″N 129°43′25″E / 31.704047°N 129.723703°E / 31.704047; 129.723703Coordinates: 31°42′15″N 129°43′25″E / 31.704047°N 129.723703°E / 31.704047; 129.723703
Area 66.12 km2 (25.53 sq mi)
Length 21 km (13 mi)
Width 6 km (3.7 mi)
Coastline 84.8 km (52.69 mi)
Highest elevation 604 m (1,982 ft)
Highest point mount Otake
Administration
Japan
Prefecture Kagoshima Prefecture
city Satsumasendai
Demographics
Population 2780 (2010)
Pop. density 42 /km2 (109 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups Japanese

Shimokoshiki Island (下甑島, Shimokoshiki-jima) is the largest island in the Koshikijima Islands. Its coasts are washed by East China Sea. The island's highest peak is Mount Otake 604 m (1,982 ft) housing a long-range radar station of Japan Air Self-Defense Force at 31°41′41″N 129°42′58″E / 31.694625°N 129.715992°E / 31.694625; 129.715992.

Geography

The Shimokoshiki-jima has very rugged terrain even compared to other Koshikijima Islandss, the majority of island been composed of overlapped mountains 400–500 meters high. As a result, many scenic cliffs are scattered along west coast, with most notable being the Napoleon Rock.

Settlements and administrative units

History

The site of the island was initially elevated in Cretaceous period about 80 million years before present. The sites housing dinosaur fossils are located across the island, which together with scenic cliffs propelled island to Japanese top 100 geological sites list. In historical record, Shimokoshiki-jima is first mentioned during Nara period when it was populated by Satsuma tribe of the Hayato people. The island was incorporated in the Japan by early Heyan period though. The island belonged to Christian domain during Nanboku trade period and 35 people were executed in the aftermath of the Shimabara rebellion in 1638.

During the Great Tenmei famine in 178x period, large group of inhabitants of the Shimokoshiki-jima migrated to Kanoya, Kagoshima. The second wave of migration in 1887–1897, driven by famine, typhoon-related destruction and epidemics, departed to Tanegashima.

The regular communications with mainland by means of telegraph and scheduled ship service began in 1901. The direct passage of typhoon Ruth over island again brought severe damage, and the population which peaked in 1950 at 13,578 persons, started to rapidly decline, with over half of inhabitants of island departing within 20 years.

Modern Shimokoshiki-jima is primarily a fishing island, with 10.9% of population being the fishermen as in 2009.

Transportation

The Shimokoshiki-jima is planned to be eventually connected to Nakakoshiki-jima and through it to the Kamikoshiki-jima, but the bridge and two connecting tunnels at Nakakoshiki-jima were progressing slowly since project start in 2006.

A ferry lines also connect the Shimokoshiki-jima to the Kamikoshiki-jima island and to the Ichikikushikino city on Kyushu mainland, the latter offering two daily round-trips.

Inside island, the transportation is provided by public buses operating four routes. Some of routes need a prior reservation due small number of passengers.

Notable residents

See also

References

  • This article incorporates material from Japanese Wikipedia page 下甑島, accessed 23 August 2017


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