Miyakojima

It is the main island of the Miyako Islands in the Sakishima Islands of Okinawa Prefecture. It is located about 300 km southwest of the main island of Okinawa. It is a low, flat plateau-like island with an area of ​​159.21 square kilometers and a highest point of 114.6 meters. It is the main island of Miyakojima City. 90% of the island is covered by Quaternary Ryukyu Limestone, with the Shimajiri Formation of the Tertiary Period as its base. As a result, there are no rivers and the society is dependent on groundwater. For this reason, plans for underground dams for agricultural use were advanced, and the Minafuku Dam, an experimental underground dam, was completed in 1979 (Showa 54). Following this, Sunagawa Dam was constructed in 1993 (Heisei 5), and Fukusato Dam was constructed in 2000, making it one of the world's largest underground dams in practical use. The island is dominated by karst topography, with limestone banks running north and south along terraces and fault cliffs, and coral reefs such as Yabiji and Yaebishi are well developed around the island. Most of the island is farmland, with sugarcane as the main crop, and a diversified management including beef cattle production, as well as the cultivation of tropical fruits. It is known as a unique presence in the Ryukyu culture in terms of folklore and language, and has a unique spiritual culture of the island, with a phrase called "araragama" (a Miyako dialect used to encourage oneself), which is a way of provoking oneself and others. Traditional crafts include Miyako Jofu cloth. There are regular flights to Miyako Airport from Tokyo (Haneda), Osaka (Kansai), Naha, and Ishigaki airports. There are also air and sea routes to Tarama Island in the Miyako archipelago, and sea routes to Irabu Island and Ogami Island. It is connected to Ikema Island by the Ikema Bridge, and to Kurima Island by the Kurima Bridge. In recent years, it has been in the spotlight as a tourist destination, with many visitors coming to see the coral reefs, swimming beaches, and tropical botanical gardens. Population: 47,631 (2009).

[Shigekazu Mezaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

沖縄県先島(さきしま)諸島中の宮古列島の主島。沖縄本島の南西約300キロメートルに位置する。面積159.21平方キロメートルで、最高点114.6メートルの低平な台地状の低島。宮古島市の主島。第三紀島尻(しまじり)層群を基盤として第四紀琉球(りゅうきゅう)石灰岩に全島の90％が覆われる。そのため河川がまったくなく、地下水依存の水社会をつくっている。このため、農業用の地下ダム計画が進められ、1979年（昭和54）実験用地下ダムの皆福ダム(みなふくだむ)が完成、その後も1993年（平成5）砂川ダム、2000年福里ダムを建設、世界的にみても大規模な地下ダムが実用化されている。段丘と断層崖(がい)に沿う石灰岩堤が南北に走るカルスト主体の地形をなし、八重干瀬(やびじ／やえびし)などのサンゴ礁の発達が島の周囲で良好である。大半が農地となり、サトウキビを主体として、肉用牛の生産など複合経営のほか、熱帯果樹の栽培も行われている。民俗・言語など琉球文化のなかでも特異な存在として知られており、「あららがま」（自分を鼓舞する場合に使う宮古方言）という自他を挑発する島独特の精神文化もある。伝統工芸品に宮古上布がある。東京（羽田）、大阪（関西）、那覇、石垣の各空港から宮古空港に定期便がある。また、宮古列島の多良間(たらま)島とは航空便と船便が、伊良部(いらぶ)島、大神(おおがみ)島とは船便がある。池間(いけま)島とは池間大橋が、来間(くりま)島とは来間大橋で結ばれている。近年観光地としても脚光を浴び、サンゴ礁や海水浴場、熱帯植物園などに観光客が多い。人口4万7631（2009）。

［目崎茂和］

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