Yonaguni, Island in Okinawa, Japan.
The island sits about one hundred eleven kilometers from Taiwan and forms the westernmost inhabited territory of Japan. Several small settlements spread along the coast, while the interior is shaped by fields and gentle hills.
In fifteen twenty-two the island was conquered from outside and came under new rule. Only after centuries of external control did it gain its own municipal administration again in the twentieth century.
The name reflects the location at the far edge of the island chain in local speech. Small horses of an old breed still graze on the pastures, traditionally used for heavy work and now protected as cultural property.
Flights reach the island several times a week from larger regional airports. A ferry connects the two ports with neighboring islands, though the crossing takes several hours.
Off the coast lies a rock formation on the seabed that stands out for its right-angled steps and flat surfaces. Divers can visit this structure, though debate continues to this day whether it is natural or of human origin.
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