Minami Torishima

Minami Torishima (南鳥島) or Marcus Island is an isolated island in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, located at {{coor dm|24|18|N|153|58|E|}}. The Japanese meaning of the name is "Southern Bird Island". It is 1.2 km2 in area. It is the easternmost territory belonging to Japan, some 1 848 km SE of Tokyo, or 1 267 East of the closest Japanese island, Minami Iōjima of the Ogasawara Islands, and nearly on a straight line between Tokyo and Wake Island, which is 1 415 km ESE. The closest island, however, is Farallon de Pajaros of the Mariana Islands, which is 1021 km WSW of Minami Torishima.

Related Topics:
Island - Pacific Ocean - Japanese - Japan - Tokyo - Ogasawara Islands - Wake Island - Farallon de Pajaros - Mariana Islands

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The island is first mentioned in 1864, given a position by a US survey ship in 1874, and first landed on by Kiozaemon Saito in 1879. Japan officially claimed the island July 19, 1898.

Related Topics:
1864 - US - 1874 - Kiozaemon Saito - 1879 - July 19 - 1898

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In World War II there were over 4,000 Japanese soldiers stationed on the island, and the US Navy attacked it in 1943, but never attempted to capture it.

Related Topics:
World War II - US Navy - 1943

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The island is presently used for weather observation and has a radio station, but little else. Because of its isolation, it is of some interest to DXers.

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The island was initially discovered by Captain Arriola in 1694, but its location was left unrecorded until further sightings in the early 19th century.

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Administratively, the island is considered part of Ogasawara village, Tokyo.

Related Topics:
Ogasawara - Tokyo

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