Japan Doubles Its Island Count After Discovering 7,000 New Islands

Japan has discovered that it has 7,000 new islands thanks to advanced mapping technology, resulting in more than twice the number of islands previously thought.

And while Japan has witnessed the formation of new islands and the disappearance of others, geographers have said that official statistics showing that it consists of about 6,000 islands are far from reality.

According to media reports, geographers using digital mapping technology have claimed that the number of islands in Japan is actually twice the number previously known.

In the first study of its kind in 35 years, Japan’s Geospatial Information Administration (GSI) found that there are 14,125 islands, about double the number of 6,852 islands recorded in the country in 1987, according to CNN.

When the Japanese Coast Guard counted the number of islands 35 years ago, the technology could not tell the difference between small island groups and larger individual islands, meaning that thousands of such islands were incorrectly counted.

In subsequent years, volcanic eruptions also contributed to the formation of new islands, and together they doubled the area of ​​​​the island, which was previously considered his possession.

GSI scientists used the same method to count the number of islands, noting only those with a circumference of 100 meters (330 feet) or more that are natural formations.

The same calculation methods were used to confirm the territory of Japan, but the agency added the use of aerial photographs and checked the results against previous maps, not including reclaimed land.

The scientists made a list in advance for each island they found by hand, but they not only removed small islands, but also left sandy shores and islands inside lakes and rivers. At the time, these land masses were not considered islands, but are now recognized by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Source: gizmodo.com