Gotō Islands
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Native name: 五島列島 | |
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The Gotō Islands (五島列島, Gotō-rettō, literally: "five-island archipelago") are
Geography
There are 140 islands, including five main ones: Fukue Island (福江島, Fukue-jima), Hisaka Island (久賀島, Hisaka-jima), Naru Island (奈留島, Naru-shima), Wakamatsu Island (若松島, Wakamatsu-jima), and Nakadōri Island (中通島, Nakadōri-jima).[4] The northernmost island is Ukujima.
The group of islands runs approximately 85 km (53 mi) from Osezaki Lighthouse, Fukue Island to Tsuwazaki Lighthouse, Nakadōri Island. Its center is near Naru Island at about 32°49′N 128°56′E / 32.817°N 128.933°E.
To the north is
The southern of the two principal islands, Fukue, measures approximately 25 kilometres (16 miles) north-to-south by 25 kilometres (16 miles) east-to-west; the northern, Nakadōri Island, measures approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) north-to-south by 30 kilometres (19 miles) east-to-west at its widest point. Most of Nakadōri Island, however, is quite narrow, measuring less than 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) wide for much of its length. Some dome-shaped hills command the old castle town of Fukue. The islands are highly cultivated; deer and other game abound, and trout are plentiful in the mountain streams.[5]
As a result of a merger on August 1, 2004, the city of
The small island of Kabajima is east of Hisaka Island and northeast of Fukue Island.[6] It belongs to Gotō City.
Demographics
In 2005, there were 76,311 inhabitants on the islands. [citation needed]
An important historical element is the roots of Christianity in Japan within the islands. Some of the inhabitants are descended from Christians of the Catholic Church ("
Products
Marine products, such as
Tourism
Fukue City is a typical jokamachi in Japan, but the most interesting point is that the old castle in Fukue (called Ishida Castle) was built last in Japanese history. The year after the castle was completed, Japan opened their nation because of the Meiji Restoration. Today, the castle is used as the Goto high school and is contributing to the education of young Goto natives. Most of the castle area inside the stone walls are opened for public. One can be able to see even the school grounds (which is also old castle heritage) if they ask for permission from the school administration office.
Transportation
The
Ferry services from Nagasaki and Sasebo are offered by Kyusyu Shosen Co. Ltd. Both standard ferry and hydrofoil services operate.
There are also regular bus services on Fukue island.
See also
- Barakamon—Manga/Anime series set on Fukue Island.
- Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater—Manga/Anime series partially set on the islands.
- Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region
Citations
- ISBN 978-0-444-59394-8.
- ^ International Hydrographic Organization: Limits of Oceans and Seals (Special Publication No. 23), 3. Auflage 1953, S. 31. Aufgerufen am 19.11.2023
- ISBN 4-8071-0004-1.
- ^ "Nagasaki, Unzen, Goto Islands, Iki and Tsushima" (PDF). Japan National Tourist Organization. 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2006-06-25. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
- ^ public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Goto Islands". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 277. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
- ^ Map of Goto Islands showing Kabashima at env.go.jap Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2013-4-30.
- ^ Kakure Kirishtan
- ^ "Airport". Archived from the original on 2015-11-08. Retrieved 2005-04-14.
External links
- Goto city tourism association (in Japanese)