Aogashima is a volcanic Japanese island that some consider the real-life Jurassic Park, in the Philippine Sea. It’s administered by Tokyo and located approximately 222-miles south of Tokyo and 40-miles south of Hachijo-jima. In addition to being a potential dinosaur theme park, it would be a great hideout if a zombie apocalypse should ever occur, as it’s the southernmost and most isolated inhabited island of the Izu archipelago. Continue reading for more.
5. Formation
Aogashima is a complex Quaternary volcanic island 3.5 km in length with a maximum width of 2.5 km, formed by the overlapping remnants of at least four submarine calderas.
4. Surroundings
The island is surrounded by very steep rugged cliffs of layered volcanic deposits. The southern coast also rises to a sharp ridge forming one edge of a caldera named Ikenosawa with a diameter of 1.5 km.
3. Caldera
The caldera dominates the island, with one point on its southern ridge, Otonbu with a height of 423 metres (1,388 ft), as the island’s highest point. The caldera is occupied by a secondary cone named Maruyama.
2. Active Volcano
Still considered a Class-C active volcano by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the last eruption of Aogashima was during a four-year period from 1781-1785.
1. The History
The history of human settlement on Aogashima is uncertain. Most of the people in Aogashima are Japanese. The island is mentioned in Edo period records kept at Hachijo-jima, which record volcanic activity in 1652, and from 1670-1680. In April 1783, lava flows from the Maruyama cone resulted in the evacuation of all 63 households on the island. During a massive eruption in 1785, some 130-140 of the population of 327 islanders perished.
