| Native name: 北大東島, Kitadaitōjima | |
|---|---|
| Geography | |
| Location | East Asia |
| Archipelago | Japanese archipelago |
| Area | 13.10 km2 (5.058 sq mi) |
| Coastline | 21.2 km (13.17 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 75 m (246 ft) |
| Country | |
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Japan
|
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| Prefectures | Okinawa |
| District | Shimajiri District |
| Village | Minamidaitō |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 584 |
Kitadaitō (北大東島 Kitadaitō-jima), also spelled as Kita Daitō or Kita-Daitō, is one of the Daitō Islands in Japan. It is the home of Kitadaitō village.
Kitadaitō is 400 km from the nearest major inhabited land mass. Food is delivered once a week (or less regularly) by boat. Fishing is a key source of food and recreation for the inhabitants.
The island features no sandy beaches or naturally accessible ports. Boats are put to sea and returned to port by means of a crane.
The village of Kitadaitō is located on the island in Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture.
Kitadaito Airport serves the island. It was built in April 1971 for the purpose of emergency landings.[1]
It was uninhabited until the Meiji period, when people from other parts of Japan arrived.[2]