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Site description (2007 baseline):
Site location and context
Mikurajima, which is located about 200 km south-southeast of Tokyo metropolitan area, is a volcanic island with the circumference of 16 km. There are abrasion cliffs along the coastline with no beach. About a half of the island is dominated by primary forests of Castanopsis cuspdata trees. The forests have unique vegetation which includes both northern plants and the southern ones. Alpine plants are found from the area around 450 m above the sea level to the mountaintop, while subtropical plants are luxuriant below the 350 m level. This island has one of the largest breeding sites of Streaked Shearwater in the world, where about two million birds breed.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mikurajima island (Japan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mikurajima-island-iba-japan on 23/12/2024.