Ogasawara Islands

The Ogasawara Islands are an archipelago that consists of more than 30 islands, some of them very small in size. In 2013, a new island joined the archipelago. He was literally born on the surface, through a volcanic eruption. Its dimensions are just over 200 meters wide, and its height above sea level is no more than 200 meters.

General information

The Ogasawara Islands were first discovered by Spanish sailors in the mid-16th century. And the Japanese discovered the islands more than 100 years later in 1670. They were then called “Bunin-jima”, uninhabited, but the Spaniards called them archiepiscopal (possibly in honor of the organizer or sponsor of their expedition).

It is known that during the Second World War, the territory of the Ogasawara Islands became the site of battles for American and Japanese military forces. After which the islands were under the authority of the American government for some time. Currently, an American military base is located on one of the islands, which is no longer operational, and the island remains uninhabited. In 1968, the islands were returned to Japan. Most of the islands remained uninhabited. Only the 2 largest of them are inhabited - Dad Island and Mom Island. Just over two thousand people live here, mostly engaged in farming and maintaining the tourism business.

Attractions

The main asset of the Ogasawara Islands is its pristine, virtually untouched nature. The Japanese call it "heaven on earth." It is summer all year round and the water temperature is suitable for swimming. The islands' sandy beaches and clear waters of the Pacific Ocean provide an excellent location for a wide range of water sports and recreation. It is said that when you go scuba diving in the Ogasawara Islands, you can see the remains of sunken medieval ships.

Another interesting entertainment is also connected with the ocean, or rather with its inhabitants - whales. You can observe huge marine mammals by sailing a short distance from the shore; they live here in sufficient numbers: some live permanently, some come during the mating season. Here you can see large schools of dolphins, and if you're lucky, swim with them.

There are special hiking trails on the Ogasawara Islands, following which you can explore the rich local flora and fauna. Rare green turtles come here to lay eggs, and there are also different types of insects that are rarely found in other places. Some remote islands show little volcanic activity, while others are completely uninhabited.