Quizzes
Quick Facts
- Japanese:
- Minami-tori-shima
- Also called:
- Marcus Island
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Minami-tori Island
Aerial view of Minami-tori Island, southeast of Japan.
Minamitori Island
island, Japan
Also known as: Marcus Island, Minami-tori-shima
Minamitori Island, coral atoll in the central Pacific Ocean 700 miles (1,125 km) southeast of Japan. It rises to 204 feet (62 metres) and has an area of 740 acres (300 hectares). Minamitori Island was discovered by the Japanese navigator Shinroku Mizutani (1868) and was annexed by Japan (1898). Prior to World War II it was administered as part of the Tokyo fu (urban prefecture). Occupied by U.S. troops late in the war, it was returned to Japan in 1968. It now shares a common administration with the Bonin Islands and the Volcano Islands. The atoll was the site of a meteorological station for studying typhoons. Marine products harvested include swordfish, seaweed, and squid.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Richard Pallardy.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.