初島, Artificial island in Omuta, Japan
The circular artificial island measures 120 meters in diameter and stands in the Ariake Sea, approximately 2 kilometers from the Omuta coast.
Built between 1949 and 1951, the island served as a ventilation point for the Mitsui Miike coal mine tunnels that extended under the Ariake Sea.
The island represents the industrial heritage of coal mining in Japan, demonstrating the engineering methods used to maintain worker safety in underground mines.
Engineers constructed the island on soft seabed sediment at a depth of 4 meters using wire mesh foundations and carefully arranged stone walls.
The ventilation system on the island used large mechanical fans to extract contaminated air from the mine shafts and maintain proper air circulation underground.
GPS coordinates: 33.05325,130.40447
Latest update: March 15, 2025 16:49
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