Minamitorishima
Minami Torishima (南鳥島) or Marcus Island is an isolated island in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, located at 24°18′N 153°58′E / 24.300°N 153.967°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.
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.
In World War II there were over 4,000 Japanese soldiers stationed on the island, and the US Navy attacked it in 1942 [1] and in 1943 [2], but never attempted to capture it.
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.
The island was initially discovered by Captain Arriola in 1694, but its location was left unrecorded until further sightings in the early 19th century.
Administratively, the island is considered part of Ogasawara village, Tokyo.
External link
- Marcus Island sunrise, sunset, tides