The island of Yakushima is
located about 60 km south of the southern tip of Kyushu Island, between the East
China Sea and Pacific Ocean. In the mountainous region of Kyushu, Mt. Miyanoura
is the highest (at 1,936 m) and stands at the center of Yakushima. Numerous rivers
have chiseled deep valleys between the mountains. Yakushima has a warm and rainy
climate, where the annual precipitation is estimated to 4,000 mm in the plain
areas and 10,000 mm at the mountainous areas. The heritage site extends from
the heart of Yakushima to the west coast of the island.
Yakushima possesses rich flora and fauna, and is home to many endemic and
endangered plants and animals. Furthermore, it presents a characteristic vertical
distribution of vegetation from coastal zone to subalpine zone. It also contains
huge Japanese cedar trees (Cryptomeria japonica) called Yakusugi, which are thousands
of years old, in a superb scenic setting.
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