Minamitorishima

About

Minamitorishima (lit. "Southern Bird Island"), sometimes known as Minami-Tori-shima or Minami-Torishima and also known as Marcus Island, is an isolated Japanese coral atoll in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It is the easternmost and most isolated territory belonging to Japan, and the only Japanese territory on the Pacific Plate, past the Japan Trench. Although small (151 ha or 370 acres), it is of strategic importance, as it enables Japan to claim a 428,875 km2 (125, 040 sq nmi) exclusive economic zone in the surrounding waters. It is the easternmost territory of Tokyo, being administratively part of Ogasawara Subprefecture. No civilians live there, except personnel of the Japan Meteorological Agency, Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), and Japan Coast Guard serving temporary tours of duty on the island.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.