Amami Ōshima

Amami Ōshima
Native name:
奄美大島, Amami Ōshima
Nickname: Uushima
Amami Ōshima
Amami Ōshima
 
Amami Ōshima
Amami Ōshima (Asia)
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates28°19′35″N 129°22′29″E / 28.32639°N 129.37472°E / 28.32639; 129.37472
ArchipelagoAmami Islands
Area712.35 km2 (275.04 sq mi)
Coastline461.1 km (286.51 mi)
Highest elevation694 m (2277 ft)
Highest pointYuwandake
Administration
PrefecturesKagoshima Prefecture
DistrictŌshima District
Largest settlementAmami (pop. 44,561)
Demographics
Population73,000 (2013)
Ethnic groupsRyukyuan, Japanese
Part ofAmami-Ōshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island
CriteriaNatural: x
Reference1574-001
Inscription2021 (44th Session)

Amami Ōshima (奄美大島; Okinawan: Uushima (ウーシマ); Amami: Ushima (ウシマ)), also known as Amami, is the largest island in the Amami archipelago between Kyūshū and Okinawa. It is one of the Satsunan Islands, all of which belong to Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

The island, 712.35 km2 in area, has a population of approximately 73,000 people. Administratively it is divided into the city of Amami, the towns of Tatsugō, Setouchi, and the villages of Uken and Yamato in Kagoshima Prefecture. Much of the island is within the borders of the Amami Guntō National Park.

In 2021, it was listed as part of the serial UNESCO World Heritage Site of Amami-Ōshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island.