Hegurajima
Encyclopedia
is a small island located in the Sea of Japan
at the far north of Ishikawa
, Japan
. It lies approximately 45 km from the mainland, and forms part of the township of Wajima.
The population
of about 100 has large seasonal variations due to fishing, diving and birding activities. The island is approximately 2 km by 1 km in size, and can easily be walked around in less than an hour.
on the island and a small minshuku. During the summer months female ama divers
dive for awabi (abalone
) for about 4–5 hours per day, following a long tradition that predates the use of wetsuit
s. There is a small fishing port, and a ferry runs to Wajima on the mainland. The island is a haven for migratory birds, and attracts tourists for birdwatching
.
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
at the far north of Ishikawa
Ishikawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is Kanazawa.- History :Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.- Geography :Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It lies approximately 45 km from the mainland, and forms part of the township of Wajima.
The population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of about 100 has large seasonal variations due to fishing, diving and birding activities. The island is approximately 2 km by 1 km in size, and can easily be walked around in less than an hour.
Notable facts
There is a lighthouseLighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
on the island and a small minshuku. During the summer months female ama divers
Ama divers
, uminchu or kaito are Japanese divers, famous for collecting pearls. The majority of ama are women.- History :...
dive for awabi (abalone
Abalone
Abalone , from aulón, are small to very large-sized edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Haliotidae and the genus Haliotis...
) for about 4–5 hours per day, following a long tradition that predates the use of wetsuit
Wetsuit
A wetsuit is a garment, usually made of foamed neoprene, which is worn by surfers, divers, windsurfers, canoeists, and others engaged in water sports, providing thermal insulation, abrasion resistance and buoyancy. The insulation properties depend on bubbles of gas enclosed within the material,...
s. There is a small fishing port, and a ferry runs to Wajima on the mainland. The island is a haven for migratory birds, and attracts tourists for birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
.
External links
- Island school website in Japanese
- Ferry Company "Hegura Kōro" in Japanese