Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Kanmurijima

Kanmurijima Island
Native name:
冠島 Kanmurijima
Nickname: Oshima or Yushima[1]
Aerial photograph of Kanmurijima
Kanmurijima Island is located in Japan
Kanmurijima Island
Kanmurijima Island
Location in Japan
Geography
LocationSea of Japan
Coordinates35°40′50″N 135°25′35″E / 35.68056°N 135.42639°E / 35.68056; 135.42639
Archipelagono
Area0.223 km2 (0.086 sq mi)
Length1.3 km (0.81 mi)
Width0.5 km (0.31 mi)
Coastline4 km (2.5 mi)
Highest elevation169.7 m (556.8 ft)
Administration
Japan
PrefectureKyoto Prefecture
CityMaizuru
Demographics
Population0
Ethnic groupsJapanese

Kanmurijima (冠島) is an island in the Sea of Japan administered under Maizuru in Kyoto Prefecture. It is about 2 km from Kutsujima, a similar smaller island. Nakatsu reef (中津ぐり, Nakatsu-guri) is located just midway between islands. A breeding ground for streaked shearwaters, the island was designated a Japanese natural monument (天然記念物, tennen-kinenbutsu) in 1924. It has also been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.[2] Currently, the island is designated as Kanmurijima-Kutsujima wildlife protection area and any landing is prohibited. A recreational diving service is available though.[3]

View of Ama-no-Hashidate by Sesshū Tōyō. On the right, torii of Kono Shrine is seen. On extreme right, Kammurijima and Kutsujima are also painted

History

According to records of Tango no kuni fudoki, Kanmurijima and Kutsujima are the remains of a much larger island which submerged following an earthquake in 701 A.D. The topography of the seafloor seems to support the claim, as the steep 60-metre cliff is located underwater off the eastern coast of Kanmurijima and Kutsujima, indicating a recent crustal fault.

See also

References