Kyūroku-jima
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Native name: Japanese: 久六島 | |
|---|---|
 Aerial photograph of Kyūroku-jima | |
  Kyūroku-jima | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Sea of Japan |
| Coordinates | 40°32′0″N 139°29′58″E / 40.53333°N 139.49944°E |
| Highest elevation | 4.7 m (15.4 ft) |
| Administration | |
Japan | |
| Prefecture | Aomori Prefecture |
| Town | Fukaura |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
| Pop. density | 0/km2 (0/sq mi) |
Kyūroku-jima (久六島) is a group of islets in the Sea of Japan about 30 kilometers (19 mi) west of the Japanese main island of Honshu. It is administered as part of the town of Fukaura in Aomori Prefecture and is the prefecture's westernmost point. The islets are the peaks of a submarine volcano.
Kyūroku-jima is located 30 kilometers (19 mi) west of Honshu, and is Aomori Prefecture's westernmost point.[1] The islets are the peaks of a submarine volcano.[2]
The islets are surrounded by rocky reefs that are difficult to navigate, but the largest island has a quay built on to it. Due to this difficulty, the Japan Coast Guard only visits the islands once a year to do inspections on their lighthouse.[3]
Geology
The volcano that makes up Kyūroku-jima formed about 3.32 million years ago. The rock that is above the ocean surface is made up of dark-colored alkali basalt and a yellow tuff, each of which are distinctly visible to visitors. The islets of Kurokushima are the peaks of a horseshoe-shaped caldera that rises about 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) from the surrounding seafloor. It is comparable to nearby Mount Iwaki, which also has a prominence of around 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) relative to Shirakami-Sanchi.[4]