Oki Daitō

Map of Daitō Islands

Map of Oki-Daitō Island

Aerial Photograph of Oki-Daitō Island

Okidaitō (沖大東島, Okidaitō-jima^?), also spelled as Oki Daitō or Oki-Daitō, previously known as Rasa Island (ラサ島, Rasa-tō^?), is an uninhabited island in the Daitō island group southeast of Okinawa, Japan. It belongs to Kitadaitō Village. It was formally incorporated into Japan in 1900.^{[citation needed]}

The island was exploited for phosphate ore for a long period in the 20th century. The Rasa Island Phosphate Ore Company, now Rasa Industries,^[1] was set up for this purpose in 1911.

The island has been uninhabited since 1945. From 1956, the island was used as a shooting range of the United States Navy. Because of the usage, the island now lacks any trees.

References

1. ^ Rasa Industries, Ltd. Businessweek company description of Rasa Industries

Coordinates: 24°28′N 131°11′E / 24.467°N 131.183°E / 24.467; 131.183