Kerama Shotō National Park

Kerama Shotō National Park
慶良間諸島国立公園
Kerama Shotō National Park
Location of Kerama Shotō National Park
Kerama Shotō National Park
Kerama Shotō National Park (Japan)
LocationKerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan
Coordinates26°2′N 127°33′E / 26.033°N 127.550°E / 26.033; 127.550
Area939.95 km2 (362.92 sq mi)
Established5 March 2014
Governing bodyMinistry of the Environment (Japan)

Kerama Shotō National Park (慶良間諸島国立公園, Kerama Shotō Kokuritsu Kōen) is a national park in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Established in 2014, it is located in and around the Kerama Islands. The park comprises a land area of 3,520 ha (8,700 acres) in the municipalities of Tokashiki and Zamami together with 90,475 ha (223,570 acres) of the surrounding waters. The Kerama Islands previously formed part of Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Park. The day of establishment, March 5, coincides with Coral Day (サンゴの日).[1][2][3]

Nature

Kerama Shoto has forests and coral reefs. The reefs are home to 248 species of reef-building corals. The islands also have over 620 native plants, including 46 species of trees, such as Ryukyu pines and fan palms. Some notable and rare species found here are green sea turtles, humpback whales, Ryukyu robins, sword-tail newt, Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle, and Kerama deer.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ 慶良間諸島国立公園の指定の概要 [Designation of Kerama Shoto National Park - Summary] (PDF) (in Japanese). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Kerama Islands: new national park in Japan". IUCN. 31 March 2014. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  3. ^ 慶良間諸島国立公園の指定について [Concerning the designation of Kerama Shoto National Park] (in Japanese). Okinawa Prefecture. 5 March 2014. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Plants and Animals Keramashoto National Park". National Parks of Japan. Retrieved 13 September 2025.