Udone-shima (鵜渡根島) is a volcanic, deserted island located in the Philippine Sea approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) south of Tokyo in between Toshima and Nii-jima, in the northern portion of the Izu archipelago, Japan.
Native name: 鵜渡根島 | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Izu Islands |
| Coordinates | 34°28′21″N 139°17′38″E / 34.47250°N 139.29389°E |
| Archipelago | Izu Islands |
| Area | 0.4 km2 (0.15 sq mi) |
| Length | 1,500 m (4900 ft) |
| Width | 550 m (1800 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 210 m (690 ft) |
| Administration | |
Japan | |
| Prefecture | Tokyo |
| Subprefecture | Ōshima Subprefecture |
| Village | Niijima |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Geography
editThe island is the remnant of an andesite lava dome with sheer sides, the only visible portion of a submarine volcanic caldera. The above sea-level portion has a surface area of approximately 0.4 square kilometers, with a summit height of 210 metres (690 ft). The main island is surrounded by a number of rocks.
Despite its small size, the island was formerly inhabited during the Meiji period by a small community of fishermen who also engaged in sericulture, or silk farming. A small Shinto shrine still exists on the island.
Natural History
editThis island shares many similarities in its biodiversity with neighboring islands such as Nii-jima. Being surrounded by rough sea, vicinity to the island is rather difficult to visit in fact, and this made the natural environments of the islands and nearby atolls protected. Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins that newly inhabited around Udone-shima as their residential range has been expanded wider even onto Honshu coasts. Larger sharks inhabit the area. Historically, a breeding colony of now-extinct Japanese sea lions once existed on the island as well.
See also
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External links
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- Udone Jima at Quaternary Volcanoes of Japan
- Entry at Oceandots.com at the Wayback Machine (archived December 23, 2010)