Miyake-jima
| Native name: <span class="nickname" ">三宅島 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Izu Islands |
| Coordinates | 34°04′44″N 139°31′44″E / 34.079°N 139.529°E |
| Area | 55.5 km2 (21.4 sq mi) |
| Coastline | 38.5 km (23.92 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 775 m (2,543 ft) |
| Highest point | Oyama (Stratovolcano) |
| Administration | |
|
Japan | |
| Prefectures |
Tokyo Metropolis (Ōshima Subprefecture) |
| District | None |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 2,714 (as of January 1, 2015) |
| Miyake Village 三宅村 | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 Location of Miyake Village in Tokyo Metropolis (Miyake Subprefecture) | |
  Miyake Village Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates: 34°5′N 139°31′E / 34.083°N 139.517°ECoordinates: 34°5′N 139°31′E / 34.083°N 139.517°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture |
Tokyo Metropolis (Miyake Subprefecture) |
| District | None |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Akimasa Sakurada |
| Area | |
| • Total | 55.50 km2 (21.43 sq mi) |
| Population (May 2008) | |
| • Total | 2,406 |
| • Density | 43.4/km2 (112/sq mi) |
| Symbols | |
| • Flower | Hydrangea |
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) |
| City Hall Address |
1774, Tsubota, Miyake-mura, Tōkyō-to[1] 100-1211 |
| Website |
www |
Miyake-jima (三宅島, "Miyake Island") is an island in the Izu group, southeast of Honshu, Japan.[2] The island is administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan government, and has an area of 55.50 km2, the island is 180 kilometres (110 mi) south of Tokyo. As of January 1, 2006, the population of the island is 2884. The highest point is at 815 metres (2,674 ft). Like other islands in the Izu Island group, Miyake-jima forms part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
Miyake Village (三宅村 Miyake-mura) serves as the local government of the island. Village is used in the sense of a municipality in this context, which also encloses nearby tiny uninhabited Ōnoharajima west south-west of Miyake-jima. The seat of the local government is in the village (in the traditional sense) of Tsubota on the southeast coast of Miyake Island.
Mt. Oyama
with Ōnoharajima west south-west of it
The island is a granitic composite cone in origin, and the main volcano, Mount Oyama, has erupted several times in recent history. A lava flow in 1940 killed 11 people, and other eruptions occurred in 1962 and 1983.[3] On July 14, 2000, Mount Oyama began another series of eruptions, and by September, the island was completely evacuated. After a four-year period of volcanic emissions, residents were allowed to return permanently on February 1, 2005. After the eruption, there has been a constant flow of sulfuric gas coming from Mount Oyama (see link).
Climate
Miyake-jima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year, but is somewhat lower in winter.
| Climate data for Miyake-jima | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 11.6 (52.9) |
11.5 (52.7) |
13.8 (56.8) |
18.1 (64.6) |
21.4 (70.5) |
24.0 (75.2) |
27.1 (80.8) |
28.5 (83.3) |
26.2 (79.2) |
22.2 (72) |
18.6 (65.5) |
14.2 (57.6) |
19.77 (67.59) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 9.5 (49.1) |
9.2 (48.6) |
11.3 (52.3) |
15.4 (59.7) |
18.8 (65.8) |
21.6 (70.9) |
24.8 (76.6) |
26.1 (79) |
24.0 (75.2) |
19.9 (67.8) |
16.3 (61.3) |
12.1 (53.8) |
17.42 (63.34) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 6.8 (44.2) |
6.4 (43.5) |
8.4 (47.1) |
12.4 (54.3) |
15.9 (60.6) |
19.2 (66.6) |
22.6 (72.7) |
23.9 (75) |
21.7 (71.1) |
17.4 (63.3) |
13.5 (56.3) |
9.2 (48.6) |
14.78 (58.61) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 138.3 (5.445) |
172.9 (6.807) |
248.8 (9.795) |
239.2 (9.417) |
250.4 (9.858) |
328.2 (12.921) |
196.0 (7.717) |
225.9 (8.894) |
323.6 (12.74) |
352.4 (13.874) |
255.6 (10.063) |
140.7 (5.539) |
2,872 (113.07) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 63 | 65 | 68 | 74 | 77 | 84 | 86 | 85 | 82 | 75 | 70 | 65 | 74.5 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 124.1 | 113.0 | 138.2 | 150.5 | 176.8 | 131.6 | 179.2 | 211.0 | 142.8 | 109.6 | 103.5 | 125.6 | 1,705.9 |
| Source: NOAA (1961-1990)[4] | |||||||||||||
Culture and tourism
Miyake-jima is famous for its traditional taiko performances, known as kamitsuki kiyari taiko, as well as being home to the rare endemic Izu thrush (akakokko).[5] The island is home to an unusually rich flora and fauna with several rare species of birds and animals, although its natural habitats are constantly under threat from human and volcanic activity. Underwater, the island is valued by divers for its coral reefs and marine fauna (including the dolphin population outside nearby Mikura-jima).
The residents of the island are required to carry gas masks with them at all times, but they don't need to be worn constantly. Raid alarms go off if there is a dramatic increase in the levels of sulfur in the air.[6]
The island was used as a penal colony during the Edo Period.
Access
The island is accessible by over-night ferry, the Sarubia Maru or the Camellia, which is operated by Tōkai Kisen. The ferry departs from Takeshiba Sanbashi Pier, near Hamamatsuchō, Tokyo at 22:30 and arrives at Miyakejima at 5:00.
There are flights connecting Miyakejima Airport and Haneda Airport with an approximate flying time of 50 minutes. Flights are also operated from Chofu Airport. The area is prone to high volume of sulfuric gas and flights had been suspended for almost eight years after the July 14, 2000 volcano eruption. Flights have again resumed during April 2008, after sulfuric gases in the air have dropped to levels below 0.2ppm.[7] There is also a helicopter that arrives via Izu Ōshima. There are also two helicopter flights operated by Tokyo Island Shuttle which originate in Aogashima and Izu Ōshima and fly to Toshima, Miyake-jima, Mikura-jima, Hachijō-jima and Aogashima.
August 31 incident
On August 31, 1945, during the Allies' occupation of Tokyo, ground gunners on Miyake-jima fired three shots at an American transport aircraft, with no casualties. These were to be amongst the last shots fired in the war.[8]
Education
The village operates its six public elementary and junior high schools.[9]
Tokyo Metropolitan Government operates Miyake High School.[10]
See also
- List of volcanoes in Japan
- List of islands of Japan
- Izu Islands
- Devil's Sea
- Jack Moyer (1929-2004), former resident and marine biologist
Notes
 |
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Miyakejima. |
- ↑ Due to the 2000 eruption, they currently use the temporal office at 497, Ako, Miyake-mura, Tōkyō-to.
- ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Izu Shotō," Japan Encyclopedia, p. 412.
- ↑ http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/north_asia/miyakejima/oyama.html
- ↑ "Miyakejima Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
- ↑ asahi.com : English
- ↑ http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/featuredarticles/JN/miyake_fishing/miyake_fishing.pdf
- ↑ Archived April 30, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Adelaide Advertiser, Sat September 1, 1945 See http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page2667581?zoomLevel=3
- ↑ "6 schools on Miyakejima Island resume classes" (Archive). Kyodo News, Japan Weekly Monitor. July 3, 2000. Publication date: July 10, 2000. Retrieved on May 29, 2014.
- ↑ http://www.miyake-h.metro.tokyo.jp/
References
- Teikoku's Complete Atlas of Japan, Teikoku-Shoin., Ltd. Tokyo 1990, ISBN 4-8071-0004-1
External links
- Miyake Village Official Website
- Miyakejima - Japan Meteorological Agency (Japanese)
- Miyakejima: National catalogue of the active volcanoes in Japan PDF - Japan Meteorological Agency
- Miyake Jima - Geological Survey of Japan
- Miyakejima: Global Volcanism Program - Smithsonian Institution
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