Okinoerabu Island

An island located in the southern part of the Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is also called Okierabujima. Its area is 93.65 square kilometers. The Quaternary Ryukyu limestone covers the Paleozoic bedrock, forming several elevated coral reefs. The island is flat, with the highest point being 246 meters at Mt. Oyama in the west. Karst topography, including countless dolines and limestone caves, is formed on the island, with Shoryudo and Suirendo being representative examples. The average temperature in the coldest month (January) does not fall below 15°C, and the annual average temperature is high at 22°C. This allows subtropical plants such as banyan trees, Japanese lantern trees, and pandanus to grow well. The annual precipitation is just over 1,800 mm, which is low for the Satsunan Islands. There are virtually no surface rivers, and water for agriculture and daily life used to come from the opening of a limestone cave called the Kurago River and from a spring at the foot of a terrace cliff. Water facilities have now been developed, and the effort of drawing water is no longer necessary, but the water source is almost the same as before. The main crop is sugarcane. The cultivation of freesia and star lily bulbs, which are local specialties, is well known. It belongs to the Amami Islands National Park, and many tourists visit to see the natural and cultural scenery that is different from the mainland, such as the coral reef coast, limestone caves, vegetation, and high storehouses. It consists of two towns, China and Wadomari, in Oshima County. Okinoerabu Airport is located in the eastern part of the island, and there are regular flights between Kagoshima, Amami Oshima, Okinawa (Naha), Yoron, and Tokunoshima. Regular ships also stop at the port from Kagoshima Port and Naha Port. The island's population is 12,996 (2015).

[Kimihiko Tsukada, May 21, 2019]

"The History of Okinoerabu Island" edited by Takeshi Misao (1961, Bountei)" ▽ "The Local History of Okinoerabu Island" edited by Takeshi Nagayoshi (1968, Wadomari Town)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鹿児島県奄美諸島(あまみしょとう)南部に位置する島。「おきえらぶじま」ともよぶ。面積93.65平方キロメートル。古生層の基盤を第四紀の琉球(りゅうきゅう)石灰岩が数段の隆起サンゴ礁となって覆う。最高点も西部にある大山(おおやま)で246メートルと低平な島。島内には無数のドリーネや鍾乳洞(しょうにゅうどう)などのカルスト地形が形成され、昇竜洞(しょうりゅうどう)や水連洞などは代表的なものである。最寒月（1月）の平均気温は15℃を下らず、年平均気温も22℃と高い。このため、ビロウ、ガジュマル、アダンなどの亜熱帯植物がよく生育する。年降水量は1800ミリメートル強で、薩南(さつなん)諸島としては少ない。表流河川はないに等しく、農業・生活用水はかつては暗川(くらごう)とよばれる鍾乳洞の開口部や、段丘崖(がい)下の湧泉(ゆうせん)の水を利用していた。現在は水道施設が整備され、水くみの労力は要さないが水源は以前とほぼ同じである。基幹作物はサトウキビ。特産物のフリージア、エラブユリの球根栽培はよく知られている。奄美群島国立公園に属し、サンゴ礁海岸、鍾乳洞、植生、貯蔵庫の高倉など本土と異なる自然・文化景観を求めて訪れる観光客は多い。大島郡知名(ちな)、和泊(わどまり)の2町からなる。島の東部に沖永良部空港があり、鹿児島、奄美大島、沖縄（那覇(なは)）、与論、徳之島(とくのしま)との間に定期便がある。また鹿児島港、那覇港からの定期船も寄港する。島の人口1万2996（2015）。

［塚田公彦　2019年5月21日］

『操担勁編『沖永良部沿革誌』（1961・望雲亭）』▽『永吉毅編『沖永良部島郷土史資料』（1968・和泊町）』

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