Irabu Island

Japanese: 伊良部島 - いらぶじま

A limestone island located in the western part of Okinawa Prefecture, about 300 km from Naha City and about 5 km west of Miyako Island. It belongs to Miyakojima City. It is an oval shape with a long axis of just over 8 km from northwest to southeast, and to the southwest, separated by a channel several tens of meters wide and about 3 km long, is Shimoji Island, an affiliated island. On the west coast is the historic Irabu settlement, and on the east coast are Ikemazoe and Maesatozoe, villages that were relocated from Ikema Island. The Sarahama settlement straddles both districts on the coast, and Sarahama Port is a departure and arrival point for regular boats and a base for bonito fishing. In the west, there are beaches such as Sawada-no-hama and Toguchi-no-hama. It is also famous as a stopover point for the migratory bird Sashiba (a type of hawk). It belongs to Irabu Prefectural Natural Park. Area 29.05 ^km2 . Population 6815 (2000).

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

沖縄県西部，那覇市から約 300km，宮古島の西方約 5kmにある石灰岩の島。宮古島市に属する。北西－南東を 8km強の長軸とする長円形で，南西に幅数十m，長さ約 3kmの水路を隔てて属島の下地島がある。西岸には歴史の古い伊良部集落があり，東岸には池間島からの移住村の池間添，前里添がある。両地区にまたがって海岸部に佐良浜集落があり，佐良浜港は定期便の発着地で，カツオ漁の基地。西部には佐和田の浜，渡口の浜などの海水浴場がある。また渡り鳥のサシバ (タカの一種) の飛来地としても有名。伊良部県立自然公園に属する。面積 29.05km²。人口 6815 (2000) 。

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