Udone-shima
{{Short description|Island in the Izu archipelago, Japan}}
{{Infobox Islands
| name = Udone-shima
| image_name = Utone-Island.jpg
| image_caption =
| image_size =
| map_image = Map of Izu Islands.png
| map_caption =
| native_name = 鵜渡根島
| native_name_link =
| nickname =
| location = Izu Islands
| coordinates = {{Coord|34|28|21|N|139|17|38|E|region:JP-13_type:isle}}
| archipelago = Izu Islands
| total_islands =
| major_islands =
| area_km2 = 0.4
| length_m = 1500
| width_m = 550
| coastline_m =
| highest_mount =
| elevation_m = 210
| country = Japan
| country_admin_divisions_title = Prefecture
| country_admin_divisions = Tokyo
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Subprefecture
| country_admin_divisions_1 = Ōshima Subprefecture
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = Village
| country_admin_divisions_2 = Niijima
| population = 0
| population_as_of =
| density_km2 =
| ethnic_groups =
| additional_info =
}}
{{Nihongo|Udone-shima|鵜渡根島| }} is a volcanic, deserted island located in the Philippine Sea approximately {{convert|150|km|mi}} south of Tokyo in between Toshima and Nii-jima, in the northern portion of the Izu archipelago, Japan.
Geography
The 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 {{convert|210|m|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
{{see also|Nii-jima}}
This 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
{{Portal|Tokyo|Islands}}
External links
{{commons category|Utoneshima}}
- [https://gbank.gsj.jp/volcano/Quat_Vol/volcano_data/G04.html Udone Jima at Quaternary Volcanoes of Japan]
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223043232/http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/izu/udone-jima.php |date=December 23, 2010 |title=Entry at Oceandots.com }}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Uninhabited islands of Japan
Category:Former populated places in Japan