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Ōshima Strait

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

The Ōshima Strait is a special strip of water in Japan.

East side of Oshima straight
East side of Oshima straight

It sits between two large islands. These islands are Amami Ōshima and Kakeromajima. The strait is part of a big protected area. This area is called Amami Guntō National Park. It is a very important part of the local geography. The water connects these different pieces of land.

Measuring the strait is a simple task. It stretches from the west to the east. The distance from one side to the other is 17.5 miles. This is also known as 28.2 kilometers.

East side of Oshima straight
East side of Oshima straight

This length makes it a manageable path for boats. The water flows between the two main islands. It helps link the nearby islands together.

Many boats use this path every single day. There are five different ferry lines that cross the water.

East side of Oshima straight
East side of Oshima straight

These ferries are very popular with the people living there. They act as a way to move from place to place. Without these boats, travel between islands would be much harder. The ferries make the islands feel much closer.

Most of these boat trips start at the same place. They all depart from the Setonami port. This port is located on Amami Ōshima island.

East side of Oshima straight
East side of Oshima straight

One line goes to Seso port on Kakeromajima. Another ferry goes to Setouchi Town Ferry. A third line travels to Ukejima island at Okeamuro port. These routes keep the islands connected.

There are even more places you can reach by boat. One ferry line goes to Tokunoshima island. It stops at the Hetono port. The final ferry line goes to Naze port.

East side of Oshima straight
East side of Oshima straight

These different paths show how busy the strait is. They help people visit many different islands in the region. The Ōshima Strait is a vital link for everyone.

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File:East side of Oshima straight.jpg
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