Liancourt Rocks

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Map

Liancourt Rocks are a group of small islands in the Sea of Japan . The islands are currently occupied by the South Korean police who call them Dokdo. North Korea refers to them as Tok Islet in the English language, but in Korean both Korean states use the same term. They are also claimed by Japan, which calls them Takeshima. The name Liancourt Rocks comes from the French whaling ship Liancourt. The people on the Liancourt made a map of the islands in 1849.

The islands have large mineral and natural gas reserves as well as off-shore fishing.

1 Geography
2 Economy
3 Tourism
4 Climate
5 Ecology
6 Strategic location
7 Notes
8 References
9 Other websites

[change] Geography

Liancourt Rocks Native name: Takeshima/Dokudo

Geography
Location	Sea of Japan (East Sea)
Coordinates	37°14′30″N, 131°52′″E Coordinates: 37°14′30″N, 131°52′″E
Total islands	37
Major islands	2
Area	187,450 sq meters
Highest point	169 meters
Administration
Japan
Prefecture	Okinoshima Town, Oki District, Shimane
South Korea
Province	North Gyeongsang (Ulleung County))

Liancourt Rocks consists of two islets, that are 150 metres apart.^[1] These small islands are called Nishi-jima and Higashi-jima in Japanese, Seodo and Dongdo　in Korean. Both names can be translated as western island　西島　and 　eastern island　東島, respectively). The western islet is the larger of the two islets. Altogether, there are about 90 islets and reefs,^[2]. The islands and rocks have a volcanic nature.^[3] A total of 37 of these islets are recognized as permanent land.^[2] In 2006, a Korean geologist reported that both of these islets, especially, the eastern islet formed 4.5 million years ago and Ulleungdo formed 2 million years later. Both are quickly eroding and weathering, and expected to sink in the sea before Japan does^[4]

The total area of the islets is about 187,450 square meters, with their highest point at 169 meters in the western islet. The western islet is about 88,640 square meters in area; the eastern islet about 73,300 square meters.^[2] Liancourt Rocks is located at about 131°52′ East longitude and about 37°14′ North latitude.^[2] The western islet is located at 37°14′31″N, 131°51′55″E and the eastern islet is located at 37°14′27″N, 131°52′10″E. The islets are 217 km from mainland Korea and 250 km from mainland Japan.^[1] The nearest Korean territory (Ulleung-do) is 87 km away and can be visible on fair days;^[5]^[1] the nearest Japanese territory (Oki Islands) is 157 km away.^[2]

The western islet is made of a single peak. It has many caves along the coastline. The cliffs of the eastern islet are about 10 to 20 meters high. There are two caves giving access to the sea, as well as a crater.^[3]

[change] Economy

Over 900 Korean citizens say that they live on the islands. Over 2,000 Japanese do the same. However, only two people, a married Korean couple, are living there permanently.^[6]

Korean telecom service providers (namely SK Telecom, KTF, and LG Telecom) have also installed stations on Liancourt Rocks to cover the islets in the South Korean wireless telephone network. There is also regular ferry service from Ulleung-do.^[7]

Although the islets themselves are barely habitable, the Exclusive Economic Zone surrounding them has rich fishing grounds and possible reserves of natural gas.^[8] As of 2006, the expected reserves have not been found.^[2] A wide variety of fish as well as seaweed, kelp, sea slugs, and clams are located around the islets.^[3] Major fishery catches in the area are squid, Alaskan pollock, codfish, and octopus.^[3]^[2] There are 102 species of seaweed, although many of these have no economic value.^[2]

This area used to be one of the largest breeding grounds of sea lions (Zalophus californianus japonicus) and a good spot for hunting them and also a spot for obtaining abalone at the end of the Meiji period (1868-1912).^[9] Until the 1950s, sea lions were observed on the islets by the voluntary guards.^[10]

There are approximately 37 South Korean police that guard the islets, also there are Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Fisheries personnel, a married Korean couple (who are fishermen), and three lighthouse keepers living on the islets. In the past, several fishermen also lived there.^[11]

[change] Tourism

Because they are classified as a nature reserve, special permits are required for tourists to land on the islets rather than just circling them.^[11] There were 1,507 and 1,597 recorded tourists in 2003 and 2004 respectively.^[11] Visitors generally come by boat from Ulleung-do.^[2]^[11]

In 2005, the first wedding ceremony was held on the islets. The South Korean couple chose the location to protest against Japanese territorial claims.^[12]

[change] Climate

Liancourt Rocks can have harsh weather conditions. This is because of its location, and small size. Sometimes, ships are unable to dock because of strong northwestern winds in winter.^[1]^[3] The climate is warm and humid. It is heavily influenced by warm sea currents. There is a lot of rain throughout the year (annual average - 1324 mm), with occasional snowfall.^[3] Fog is a common sight. In the summer, southerly winds dominate.^[3] The water around the islets is about 10 degrees Celsius in spring, when the water is coolest. It warms to about 25 degrees Celsius in August.^[3]

[change] Ecology

Like Ulleung-do, the islets are volcanic rocks, with only a thin layer of soil and moss.^[2] About 80 species of plants, over 22 species of birds, and 37 species of insects have been recorded on the islets, in addition to the local maritime life.^[1]

Since the early 1970s, trees and some types of flowers were planted along with the indigenous flora and fauna.^[1] (Trees are required under international law for the islets to be recognized as natural islands rather than reefs.^[11]^[3])

Liancourt Rocks was declared "Natural Monument #336" by South Korea in the 1990s. Some birsds actually live on the islands, but most are just using them as a stopover to fly elsewhere. The fork-tailed petrel, streaked shearwater, and black-tailed gulls live on the islands. The population of breeding birds counted on the rocks, however, has been declining in recent years.^[3]

In 1999, the islets were designated a special environmental protected area by the South Korean government.^[1] They are older than any other Korean volcanic islands, including Ulleung-do.^[3]

It was announced in 2005 that three new genera and five new species of bacteria had been identified by ROK scientists in the waters off the islets. The genera are Dokdonella koreensis, Dokdonia donghaenensis, and Donghae dokdoensis. The newly identified species are Virgilbacillus dokdoensis, Maribacter dokdoensis, Marimonas dokdoensis, Polaribacter dokdoensis, and Porphyrobacter dokdoensis.

[change] Strategic location

The islets are of importance not only for economic reasons, but also for military ones. They have occasionally served as a military base, most notably during the Russo-Japanese War. The South Korean government has built a radar station and helicopter landing pad on the islets, enabling it to track foreign naval forces. The 37 police on the islets serve as armed guards.^[2]

[change] Notes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 Korea.net (1999–2006). Dokdo: A Profile. Retrieved 9 January, 2006.
↑ ^2.00 ^2.01 ^2.02 ^2.03 ^2.04 ^2.05 ^2.06 ^2.07 ^2.08 ^2.09 ^2.10 Gyongsangbuk-do (2001). Cyber Dokdo. Retrieved 9 January, 2006.
↑ ^3.00 ^3.01 ^3.02 ^3.03 ^3.04 ^3.05 ^3.06 ^3.07 ^3.08 ^3.09 ^3.10 Truth of Dokdo. Story of Dokdo. Retrieved 9 January, 2006.
↑ "독도, 일본보다 빠른 속도로 침몰하고 있다", The Korea Times, 2006/12/01. 손영관교수 `독도ㆍ울릉도 `침몰하고 있다``, JoongAng Ilbo, 2006/12/01.
↑ DKB News. UL1.jpg. Retrieved 9 January, 2006.
↑ See Hankooki.
↑ See Cyber Dokdo.
↑ Truth of Dokdo. Importance of Dokdo. Retrieved 9 January, 2006.
↑ Historically,Takeshima belongs to Japan, Shimane Prefectural Government, Japan
↑ (ko) "50년대 독도의용수비대가 활약할 당시만 해도 20∼30마리씩 떼를 지어 독도 연안에서 서식하는장면이 목격됐다. 독도의용수비대원이던 이규현씨(82·울릉군 울릉읍 도동리)는 "당시 독도에서 강치(바다사자) 무리를 간간이 볼 수 있었고, 울릉도 주민들은 이를 가재, 강치로 부르기도 했다"고 말했다." 독도에 바다사자 복원한다, The Kukmin Daily, 2006.02.02
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 ^11.2 ^11.3 ^11.4 Korea.net (1999–2006). Dokdo: Inhabitants and Visitors. Retrieved 9 January, 2006.
↑ Tour 2 Korea Dokdo Tour. Retrieved 18 January, 2006.