Yuge Island

An island at the northeastern tip of Ehime Prefecture, at the eastern end of the Geiyo Islands in the Seto Inland Sea. It belongs to Kamijima Town, Ochi County. Its area is 8.67 square kilometers. The two islands, north and south, are connected by a sandbar that connects the island to the mainland, forming a gourd shape, with the central settlement of Yuge Shimoyuge and the port located on the sandbar. The highest point is Mitsuyama (325.3 meters) in the north, and the summit commands a good view of the Seto Inland Sea. The island is made up of quartz-mica schist, granite, limestone, and other rocks, some of which contain Paleozoic strata, and stone is also produced here. The islands of Ikina, Iwagi, Akahone, and Sajima are collectively called the Kamijima Islands, and Yuge Island is the center of the group. The northern part is part of the Seto Inland Sea National Park. In 1996, the Yuge Bridge was built between Sashima and Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. There are ferry services between Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture and Innoshima Island, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, but there are more ferry services between Innoshima Island and Sashima Island. Population: 2,834 (2009).

[Kazuo Fukaishi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

愛媛県北東端、瀬戸内海芸予諸島東端にある島。越智(おち)郡上島(かみじま)町に属する。面積8.67平方キロメートル。南北二つの島が陸繋(りくけい)砂州によって結ばれ、ひょうたんの形をなし、砂州上に中心集落の弓削下弓削(ゆげしもゆげ)や港湾が立地する。最高点は北部の三山(みつやま)（325.3メートル）で、山頂からは瀬戸内海の眺望がいい。一部古生層を含む石英雲母片岩、花崗(かこう)岩、石灰岩などからなり、石材生産も行われる。なお、生名(いきな)、岩城(いわぎ)、赤穂根(あかほね)、佐(さ)島の島々を総称して上島諸島とよび、弓削島はその中心。北部は瀬戸内海国立公園域。1996年（平成8）には佐島との間に弓削大橋が架けられた。愛媛県今治(いまばり)市とを結ぶ船便と、広島県尾道(おのみち)市因島(いんのしま)とを結ぶ船便があるが、因島との便の方が多い。人口2834（2009）。

［深石一夫］

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