is a

high island Geologically, a high island or volcanic island is an island of volcanic origin. The term can be used to distinguish such islands from low islands, which are formed from sedimentation or the uplifting of coral reefs (which have often formed ...

in the

Sea of Japan The Sea of Japan is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Like the Mediterranean Sea, i ...

off the coast of

Hokkaido is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel. The lar ...

, Japan. Administratively the island is part of Hokkaido Prefecture, and is divided between two towns, Rishiri and Rishirifuji. The island is formed by the cone-shaped extinct volcanic peak of

Mount Rishiri is a Quaternary stratovolcano located off the coast of Hokkaidō, Japan in the Sea of Japan. It rises out of the Sea of Japan forming Rishiri Island. Because its cone shape resembles Mount Fuji it is sometimes referred to as Rishiri Fuji. I ...

. Along with

Rebun Island is an island in the Sea of Japan off the northwestern tip of Hokkaidō, Japan. The island sits off the coast of Hokkaidō. Rebun stretches from north to south and from east to west. The island covers approximately . Rebun Island is located ...

and the coastal area of the Sarobetsu Plain, Rishiri forms the

Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park is a national park on the Rishiri Island, Rebun Island, and a coastal area from Wakkanai to Horonobe at the north-western tip of Hokkaidō, Japan. Areas of the park cover . The park is noted for its alpine flora and views of volcanic mountains ...

. The main industries of Rishiri are tourism and fishing. The island is about in circumference and covers . The island has a population of 5,102 residents.

Etymology

Rishiri derives its name from the Ainu language, and means "high island", or "island with a high peak", a reference to the altitude of

above sea level. Rishiri Relief Map, SRTM

Geography

Rishiri Island is located roughly west of Hokkaido; Rebun Island is a further to the northwest. Rishiri is roughly circular with a coastline of . The island spans from north to south and from east to west.

rises to an altitude of and provides a good source of fresh water; numerous small ponds and springs are located at the foot of the mountain. The residents of Rishiri live in coastal communities, which are connected by a bus service that circumnavigates the island. Mt Rishiri

Von Karman vortices off Rishiri Island, Japan

Important Bird Area

The island has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports populations of black-tailed gulls and

Japanese robin The Japanese robin (''Larvivora akahige'') is a small passerine bird in the family Muscicapidae. This species was formerly named ''Erithacus akahige'', or ''Komadori''. Its range extends from the south of the Kuril and Sakhalin Islands througho ...

Climate

Communities

The island is divided between two towns, Rishiri (population 2,304), on the south-west half of island and Rishirifuji (population 2,798) on the north-east half of island, both which belong to Rishiri District,

Sōya Subprefecture is a subprefecture of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. Its population is estimated to be 77,500 as of July 31, 2004 and its area is . It is the northernmost subprefecture A subprefecture is an administrative division of a country that is below pre ...

. These towns include the following communities, listed from the north side of the island, clockwise around:

Transportation

* Ferry service to Rebun,

Wakkanai ' meaning "cold water river" is a city located in Sōya Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of Sōya Subprefecture. It contains Japan's northernmost point, Cape Sōya, from which the Russian island of Sakhalin can be seen. As of 1 ...

, and

Otaru is a city and port in Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, northwest of Sapporo. The city faces Ishikari Bay and the Sea of Japan, and has long served as the main port of the bay. With its many historical buildings, Otaru is a popular to ...

* Air link to

A bus runs the circuit route around the island.

Rishiri Airport is an airport in Rishirifuji, Hokkaidō, Japan, near the town of Rishiri on Rishiri Island is a high island in the Sea of Japan off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan. Administratively the island is part of Hokkaido Prefecture, and is di ...

is located in Rishirifuji.

History

* 1807-1808 Failed military expedition to Sakhalin, part of deceased buried at cape Peshi. *

Ranald MacDonald Ranald MacDonald (February 3, 1824 – August 24, 1894) was the first native English-speaker to teach the English language in Japan, including educating Einosuke Moriyama, one of the chief interpreters to handle the negotiations between Co ...

(1824-1894), first native English teacher in Japan, landed on Rishiri in 1848. * On February 7, 2013, Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets had been spotted above Japanese waters off Rishiri Island, and were pursued by four Mitsubishi F-2s.

Economy

The economy of Rishiri Island formerly depended on the fishing of

Pacific herring The Pacific herring (''Clupea pallasii'') is a species of the herring family associated with the Pacific Ocean environment of North America and northeast Asia. It is a silvery fish with unspined fins and a deeply forked caudal fin. The distribut ...

, but the herring stock is now mostly depleted. Rishiri Island is now noted for its production of dried

kombu ''Konbu'' (from ja, 昆布, konbu or kombu) is edible kelp mostly from the family Laminariaceae and is widely eaten in East Asia. It may also be referred to as ''dasima'' ( ko, 다시마) or ''haidai'' (). Kelp features in the diets of many ...

Noted features

* Pon-yama () - a mountain top near north coast, nearby a site of non-coastal hiking camp on island Other features of Rishiri Island include: * Cape Peshi on the East side of the port Oshidomari * Cape Senhoshi ** Neguma (Sleeping Bear) Rock * Jimmen Rock * Ponmoshiri Island * Hime Marsh * Menūshoro Marsh * Otatomari Marsh

References

External links

* {{Authority control Islands of the Sea of Japan Islands of Hokkaido Important Bird Areas of Japan