Iriomote-jima
Iriomote -jima and Iriomote (Japanese西 表 岛) is 289.28 km ², the largest island of the Yaeyama Group of Okinawa Prefecture, almost at the southwestern end of the Japanese island chain.
Geography
Iriomote -jima lies south than Taipei and about 180 km closer to Taiwan than on the main island of Okinawa Prefecture ( about 430 km).
The majority of the island is a nature reserve and is part of the Yaeyama Park (125 km ² land area), which also includes the islands Kuroshima, Kohama -jima Taketomi -jima and. Are administered the islands of the municipality Taketomi, Iriomote which forms the main island of the community.
Between the latter two is Japan's largest coral reef. Its extension is 20 km from north to south, 15 km from east to west. About 21 km north-west of the island is an underwater active volcano ( last eruption 1926).
Population
Although the island has a larger area than the neighboring Ishigaki- jima, but it is with 2224 inhabitants in 1166 households (as of 2011 ) only sparsely populated. The local dialect, a variant of the Yaeyama language, is now rarely used.
Topography
The rough interior of the island is entirely hilly with elevations up to an altitude of 400 m, the mountain Komidake (古 见 岳) reaches 470 m.
Due to the high humidity ( 90 % in average), the large amounts of precipitation and strong forest cover is Iriomote -jima rich in water. There are 26 rivers with the Urauchigawa (18,8 km ) and longest river of Okinawa Prefecture at the top, followed by Nakamagawa (13,5 km).
Change on the coasts of steep cliffs with sandy beach. In some places you can find so-called "Star Sand" ( Hoshizuna ,星砂), consisting of the star-shaped calcium carbonate skeletons of foraminifera of the surrounding coral reefs.
Flora and Fauna
90 % of the island are covered by subtropical jungle, find themselves in the lowlands of the mouth region mangrove swamps.
In 1965, the Iriomote Cat ( Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis, Japanese Iriomote- Yamaneko ) was discovered, a standing under the protection of species of cat that lives exclusively on this island. As a natural monument also protected the serpent eagle ( Spilornis cheela, Japanese Kanmuri - washi ), a turtle ( Cuora flavomarginata, Japanese Semaruhakogame ), a smooth lizard ( Plestiodon kishinouyei, Japanese Kishinoue - tokage ) and disseminated in the Yaeyama Island group, Sakishima - called Grubenotternart habu ( Trimeresurus riukiuanus ). Their bite is fatal in rare cases, in contrast to the venom of the larger pit vipers on the northern islands of the Ryukyu Island chain.
Settlement and transport
Two settlements, Funaura (船 浦) in the north and Uebaru (大 原) in the southeast, have ferry connections with the island of Ishigaki- jima (approx. 45 min), the nearest airport is located on the island of Ishigaki.
The only road leading from Shirahama in the north- west over Funaura the north and east coast to Ohara in the southeast. On the south and west coast as well as inland there are no motorable roads.
History
Long lived here only a few rice farmers and fishermen in some parts of the coast. Although the Kingdom of Ryukyu tried to force a more intensive development in the early modern period, but the population was decimated by the immemorial angry malaria again and again. In 1879 the Ryukyu island chain by the Meiji government was incorporated into the Japanese Empire. Seven years later, the company Mitsui Bussan began with the removal of tertiärten carbon bearing on Iriomote. Because after three years lived only a third of the 200 employed miners, the company was allowed to rest for a while. In the 20s of the 20th century was a new attempt. During the war years, in addition to locals convicts and workers from the nearby Taiwan were forced to work in the mines. With the defeat of Japan, this phase ended. 1953 there was a renewed mining, but was abandoned due to lack of profitability in 1960.
In the years under American occupation until the return of Okinawa to Japan in 1972, it was possible to eradicate malaria on Iriomote.
Tourism
In contrast to the neighboring island of Ishigaki- jima, Iriomote offers few hotels and pensions. Because of the coral reef, the island is popular with divers. These excursions occur in the rivers by canoe or on foot through some trails into the interior. In the latter case, however, the assistance of a local guide is recommended. In the Northeast, there are rides pulled by water buffalo cart to offshore sand bank Yufu -jima (由 布 岛).
On Iriomote is the southernmost thermal baths (onsen ) in Japan.