Ko Island (小島, Ko-jima) or Kojima is an uninhabited volcanic island in the Sea of Japan, 23 kilometres (14 mi) southwest of the mainland portion of the town of Matsumae[2] and is the southernmost point in Hokkaidō. It is under the administration of the district of Matsumae in Oshima Subprefecture in Hokkaido, Japan. To distinguish Ko Island from other islands with the same name, it is sometimes known as Oshima Ko Island (渡島小島, Oshima-Kojima) or Matsumae Ko Island (松前小島, Matsumae-Kojima).
Native name: 小島, Ko-jima | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | East Asia |
| Coordinates | 41°21′34″N 139°48′18″E / 41.35944°N 139.80500°E[1] |
| Archipelago | Japanese Archipelago |
| Area | 1.54 km2 (0.59 sq mi) |
| Coastline | 5 km (3.1 mi)[2] |
| Highest elevation | 282.1 m (925.5 ft)[1] |
| Highest point | Ko Island |
| Administration | |
Japan | |
| Prefecture | Hokkaido |
| Subprefecture | Oshima Subprefecture |
| District | Matsumae District |
| Town | Matsumae |
| Demographics | |
| Population | uninhabited |
Ko Island is the world's smallest volcanic island.[3] It has an area of 1.54 square kilometres (0.59 sq mi). The island is an andesitic stratovolcano.[4] The peak consists of non-alkali mafic rocks, dating from the Early Pleistocene overtop of non-alkali felsic rocks from the Late Miocene-Pliocene.[5]
Several smaller islets surround Ko Island, including Daihiyakushima, Shohiyakushima, Tenjinshima, and Sazaeshima.[6]
To provide refuge for fishing vessels, a small harbor has been put in place.
Flora and fauna
editKo Island has been designated a natural monument. It is a breeding ground for common guillemot, Japanese cormorant, and black-tailed gull. The island, along with some neighbouring islets, have been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because they also support colonies of rhinoceros auklets.[7]
15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to the west of Ko Island is the Ko Island Bank, where migratory fish tend to gather. In the adjacent seas there is also tuna and squid. In previous times it was referred to as the Sea of Treasure (宝の海, Takara no Umi). For this reason it is a major fishing area for fishermen out of Matsumae, especially because of the decline in the Arabesque greenling over the last 24 to 25 years.[2]
The predominant vegetation on the island is grasses, but there are stands of Acer pictum subsp. mono in the caldera.[6]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b 地図閲覧サービス 2万5千分1地形図名： (内挿図又は図葉外）. 25,000:1 Topographical Map (in Japanese). Geographical Survey Institute. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
- ^ a b c 小島漁港の概要 (in Japanese). Hakodate Development and Construction Department. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
- ^ The smallest volcanic island in the world?
- ^ "OSHIMA KO-JIMA". Quaternary Volcanoes of Japan. Geological Survey of Japan, AIST. 2006. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
- ^ "Hokkaido". Seamless Digital Geological Map of Japan. Geological Survey of Japan, AIST. Nov 2, 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
- ^ a b "JP031Matsumae islets". Important Bird Areas in Japan. Wild Bird Society of Japan (WBSJ). 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
- ^ "Matsumae islets". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
Sources
edit- Based on the translation of ja:渡島小島 on 14 December 2008
- "Oshima-Kojima". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2021-06-25.