Daikoku Island (大黒島, Daikoku-jima) is an uninhabited island in Akkeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan. Together with the smaller island of Kojima (小島) to the north, it forms a natural breakwater at the entrance to Akkeshi Bay (厚岸湾).[3] At the southwest tip of the island at an elevation of approximately 105 metres is Akkeshi Lighthouse (厚岸灯台), which began operations on 25 November 1890.[3][4] Of the island's 107 hectares, 64 are owned by the state, 42 by the municipality, and one is in private hands.[2]
Native name: 大黒島 | |
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Geography | |
Location | Pacific coast of eastern Hokkaidō |
Coordinates | 42°57′01″N 144°52′09″E |
Area | 1.07 km2 (0.41 sq mi)[1] |
Length | 1.8 km (1.12 mi)[2] |
Width | 700 m (2300 ft)[2] |
Coastline | 6.1 km (3.79 mi)[2] |
Highest elevation | 108 m (354 ft)[2] |
Administration | |
Japan | |
Prefecture | Hokkaido |
Subprefecture | Kushiro Subprefecture |
District | Akkeshi District |
Village | Akkeshi |
Demographics | |
Population | uninhabited |
The island forms part of Akkeshi Prefectural Natural Park and its entire area of 107 hectares is a Special Wildlife Protection Area.[1][5] It provides an important breeding ground for seabirds, in particular several hundred thousand Leach's storm petrel,[2] as well as the tufted puffin, Japanese cormorant, pelagic cormorant, spectacled guillemot, slaty-backed gull, and rhinoceros auklet.[2][6][3] Twelve hectares of the breeding grounds have been designated a Natural Monument.[6] The island has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International for its seabird colonies.[7]
Also found on the island are the grey-sided vole and harbour seal.[2][8] Trees include the green alder, painted maple, and Erman's birch; other plants, Sakhalin knotweed and Parasenecio hastatus.[2]
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