GotÅ Islands
The Gotō Islands (Japanese五 岛 列岛, Gotō - RETTO, dt "Five Islands Island Chain " ) are a group of islands in the southwestern corner of the Japanese archipelago.
Geography
The island group is located at the southern entrance into the Korean Strait, 80 km west of Nagasaki and belong administratively to the prefecture of Nagasaki. Due to the remote location but many administrative functions (五 岛 地方 局, Gotō Chiho kyoku ) by the Regional Office Gotō - to 2004 sub-prefecture Gotō - perceived.
The group consists of about 140 islands. It stretches over 90 km long and 30 km wide, forming a land mass of 690 square kilometers. The largest islands from south to north are:
- Fukue -jima (福 江 岛; 326.45 km ², 32 ° 41 ' N, 128 ° 45' O32.691388888889128.74194444444 )
- Hisaka -jima (久 贺 岛; 37.35 km ², 32 ° 48 ' N, 128 ° 53' O32.803611111111128.87555555556 )
- Naru- shima (奈 留 岛; 23.82 km ², 32 ° 51 ' N, 128 ° 56' O32.844722222222128.93027777778 )
- Wakamatsu -jima (若 松 岛; 30.99 km ², 32 ° 53 'N, 129 ° 0' O32.885555555556129.00416666667 ) and
- Nakadori -jima (中 通 岛; 168.42 km ², 32 ° 57 'N, 129 ° 5' O32.955555555556129.07694444444 ).
On Fukue, Hisaka, Naru- jima is the city Gotō and Wakamatsu and Nakadori -jima the community Shinkamigoto.
In the north outweighs fishing and fish farming, agriculture in the south.
The archipelago was once a refuge for persecuted Christians in Japan.
Sport and Leisure
On the island of Fukue -jima the Ironman Japan is held annually since 2001 in June. In this triathlon over the Ironman distance is 3.86 km swim, 180.2 km cycling to cope 42.195 km running for the athletes.