Native name: 礼文島, Rebun-tō | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Rebun | |
| Geography | |
| Location | East Asia |
| Coordinates | 45°22′07″N 141°00′55″E / 45.36861°N 141.01528°E |
| Archipelago | Japanese Archipelago |
| Area | 80 km2 (31 sq mi) |
| Length | 29 km (18 mi) |
| Width | 8 km (5 mi) |
| Coastline | 72 km (44.7 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 490.0 m (1607.6 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Rebun |
| Administration | |
| Prefecture | Hokkaido |
| Subprefecture | Sōya Subprefecture |
| District | Rebun District |
| Town | Rebun |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 3,194 (2007-12-31) |
| Pop. density | 39.3/km2 (101.8/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Ainu, Japanese |
Rebun Island (礼文島, Rebun-tō, Ainu: Repun) is an island in the Sea of Japan off the northwestern tip of Hokkaidō, Japan. The island sits 50 kilometres (31 mi) off the coast of Hokkaidō. Rebun stretches 29 kilometres (18 mi) from north to south and 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from east to west. The island covers approximately 80 square kilometres (31 sq mi). Rebun Island is located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northwest of Rishiri Island, and the two islands are separated by the Rebun Channel.[1][2][3]
Rebun Island is known for its alpine flowers and the 8-Hour Hiking Course which runs from one end of the island to the other, north to south. The hiking course can be broken into two sections, known as the 4-Hour Hiking Courses. Rebun Island is home to a chashi, or hilltop fortification of the Ainu people. The highest point on the island is Mount Rebun (490 metres (1,610 ft)).[2] The island is part of the Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park.
Fossilized remains of long-finned pilot whales that are now extinct in the north Pacific have been excavated on Rebun Island, [4] and remains of funerals for orcas, possibly referring them as Repun Kamuy (God of Sea/Offshore) have been found as well.[5] Rebun Island is also the site where the last reliable record of the extinct Japanese sea lion came from in 1974.
- ^ "礼文島" [Rebun Island]. Dijitaru Daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
- ^ a b "礼文島" [Rebun Island]. Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
- ^ "礼文島" [Rebun Island]. Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 153301537. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
- ^ Amano M. (2012). "みちのくの海のイルカたち(特集 みちのくの海と水族館の海棲哺乳類)" (PDF). Isana 56. Faculty of Fisheries of University of Nagasaki, Isanakai: 60–65. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
- ^ Miyanaga T.. 2014. "（北海道）「シャチ送り」の遺構か 礼文島の遺跡で出土". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved on October 04, 2017