Lot's Wife (孀婦岩, Sōfu-iwa or Sōfugan, "Widow Rock") is a volcanicdesert island located in the Philippine Sea approximately 650 kilometres (400 mi) south off the coast of Tokyo, at the southernmost tip of the Izu archipelago, Japan. Though only 0.01 km2 in area, it reaches almost 100 meters in height.
The island is a basaltpillar with sheer sides, the only visible portion of a submarine volcanic caldera extending 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) south-east at an average depth of 240 metres (790 ft). The above sea-level portion measures approximately 84 metres east-west and 56 metres north-south, with a summit height of 99 metres (325 ft). The sides of the island features several geological joints facing the water's surface.
The island lies approximately 650 kilometres (400 mi) south off the coast of Tokyo and 76 kilometres (47 mi) from nearby Torishima. Due to its shape and heavy seas, it is almost impossible to disembark on the island, although attempts have been made by rock climbers successfully in 1972 and 2003 (though several accidents have been registered). A scientific expedition visited the island in 2017 along with an NHK film crew. The expedition was featured in an episode of the documentary series NHK Documentary, which aired in February 2019.[1]
The site is also known for the transparency of its surrounding waters and abundance of fish, which makes it a popular scuba diving spot.
The only vegetation on the island is a few clumps of Poaceae, and the island attracts a small number of seabirds for nesting.
Historyedit
On April 9, 1788, British merchant sailor John Meares sighted what he came to describe as “the most marvellous thing” he had ever set his eyes on, a small island he and the ship’s crew decided to baptize as Lot's Wife, referring to the Book of Genesis 19:26. The Japanese name Sōfu Iwa (“The Widow Crag”) is rather freely translated from English.[2]
During the Pacific War, Sofu Gan was used by US Navy submariners as a reference marker for calibration of instruments as they entered Japanese waters.[3] The uninhabited and uninhabitable island was the southernmost Japanese island not occupied by the United States after the 1952 San Francisco Treaty. It is currently administratively part of Tokyo Metropolis.
^O'Kane, Richard H. Clear the Bridge! The War Patrols of the USS Tang London Macdonald & Jane's 1978 p.210 ISBN0354011855
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sofuiwa.
Sofugan: Japan Coast Guard submarine volcano database (in Japanese)
"Sofugan: National catalogue of the active volcanoes in Japan" (PDF). - Japan Meteorological Agency
May 07, 2024
wife, crag, wife, 孀婦岩, sōfu, sōfugan, widow, rock, volcanic, desert, island, located, philippine, approximately, kilometres, south, coast, tokyo, southernmost, archipelago, japan, though, only, area, reaches, almost, meters, height, wifenative, name, sōfu, iwa. Lot s Wife 孀婦岩 Sōfu iwa or Sōfugan Widow Rock is a volcanic desert island located in the Philippine Sea approximately 650 kilometres 400 mi south off the coast of Tokyo at the southernmost tip of the Izu archipelago Japan Though only 0 01 km2 in area it reaches almost 100 meters in height Lot s WifeNative name Sōfu IwaGeographyLocationIzu IslandsCoordinates29 47 39 N 140 20 31 E 29 79417 N 140 34194 E 29 79417 140 34194ArchipelagoIzu IslandsArea0 0037 km2 0 0014 sq mi Length84 m 276 ft Width56 m 184 ft Highest elevation99 m 325 ft AdministrationJapanPrefectureTokyoSubprefectureHachijō SubprefectureDemographicsPopulation0 Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksGeography editThe island is a basalt pillar with sheer sides the only visible portion of a submarine volcanic caldera extending 2 6 kilometres 1 6 mi south east at an average depth of 240 metres 790 ft The above sea level portion measures approximately 84 metres east west and 56 metres north south with a summit height of 99 metres 325 ft The sides of the island features several geological joints facing the water s surface The island lies approximately 650 kilometres 400 mi south off the coast of Tokyo and 76 kilometres 47 mi from nearby Torishima Due to its shape and heavy seas it is almost impossible to disembark on the island although attempts have been made by rock climbers successfully in 1972 and 2003 though several accidents have been registered A scientific expedition visited the island in 2017 along with an NHK film crew The expedition was featured in an episode of the documentary series NHK Documentary which aired in February 2019 1 The site is also known for the transparency of its surrounding waters and abundance of fish which makes it a popular scuba diving spot The only vegetation on the island is a few clumps of Poaceae and the island attracts a small number of seabirds for nesting History editOn April 9 1788 British merchant sailor John Meares sighted what he came to describe as the most marvellous thing he had ever set his eyes on a small island he and the ship s crew decided to baptize as Lot s Wife referring to the Book of Genesis 19 26 The Japanese name Sōfu Iwa The Widow Crag is rather freely translated from English 2 During the Pacific War Sofu Gan was used by US Navy submariners as a reference marker for calibration of instruments as they entered Japanese waters 3 The uninhabited and uninhabitable island was the southernmost Japanese island not occupied by the United States after the 1952 San Francisco Treaty It is currently administratively part of Tokyo Metropolis See also edit nbsp Tokyo portal nbsp Islands portal Ball s Pyramid Rockall Shag Rocks South Georgia Black Rock South Georgia Desert island List of islands List of islands in JapanReferences edit Tokyo s Lost Islands Sofugan NHK Documentary TV NHK WORLD English retrieved 2019 03 13 孀婦岩 Sōfu Iwa Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia Japanese ed ja 孀婦岩 browsed 2008 02 23 O Kane Richard H Clear the Bridge The War Patrols of the USS Tang London Macdonald amp Jane s 1978 p 210 ISBN 0354011855External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sofuiwa Sofugan Japan Coast Guard submarine volcano database in Japanese Sofugan National catalogue of the active volcanoes in Japan PDF Japan Meteorological Agency Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lot 27s Wife crag amp oldid 1220024709, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
