Okinoerabu Island
| Japanese: Okinoerabujima (沖永良部島) Amami: Yyerabu (っイェラブ) Kunigami: Iraabu (いラーブ) |
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Yakomo beach on Okinoerabujima
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| Geography | |
| Location | East China Sea |
| Coordinates | 27°22′08″N 128°34′00″E / 27.36889°N 128.56667°ECoordinates: 27°22′08″N 128°34′00″E / 27.36889°N 128.56667°E |
| Archipelago | Amami Islands |
| Area | 93.63 km2 (36.15 sq mi) |
| Length | 20 km (12 mi) |
| Width | 7 km (4.3 mi) |
| Coastline | 50 km (31 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 246 m (807 ft) |
| Highest point | Ōyama |
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Japan
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| Prefectures | Kagoshima Prefecture |
| District | Ōshima District |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 15,000 (2013) |
| Pop. density | 150 /km2 (390 /sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Japanese |
Okinoerabujima (沖永良部島, Amami: っイェラブ Yyerabu; Kunigami: いラーブ Iraabu) is one of the Satsunan Islands, classed with the Amami archipelago between Kyūshū and Okinawa.
The island, 93.63 km² in area, has a population of approximately 15,000 persons. Administratively it is divided into the towns of Wadomari and China in Kagoshima Prefecture. Much of the island is within the borders of the Amami Guntō Quasi-National Park.
Okinoerabujima is isolated from the other Amami islands, and is located in between Tokunoshima and Yoronjima, approximately 536 kilometres (289 nmi) south of the southern tip of Kyūshū and 60 kilometres (32 nmi) north of Okinawa.
The island is an elevated coralline island with a length of approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) and width of 7 kilometres (4.3 mi), with Mount Ōyama at 246 metres (807 ft) above sea level at its highest peak. . In the eastern part of the island is an extensive limestone cave system, one of the largest in Asia. The coast of the island is surrounded by a coral reef.
It is uncertain when Okinoerabujima was first settled. It was ruled by the Aji nobility who built numerous gusuku fortifications from the 8th century onwards. From 1266 it was part of Hokuzan, and from 1422 the Ryukyu Kingdom. The island was invaded by samurai from Satsuma Domain during the 1609 Invasion of Ryukyu and its incorporation into the official holdings of Satsuma was recognized by the Tokugawa shogunate in 1624. Satsuma rule was harsh, with the inhabitants of the island reduced to serfdom and forced to raise sugar cane to meet high taxation, which often resulted in famine. The island was subordinate to Tokunoshima from 1616 to 1690, when an independent daikansho was established. Throughout the Satsuma period, the island was used as a prison settlement, especially for political offenders, including many members of the Ryukyuan royal family. Saigō Takamori was exiled to Okinoerabujima from 1862 to 1864.
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Wikipedia