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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Sleepy Japanese Town Built Inside an Active Volcano
Source: The Smithsonian
For the residents of Aogashima, an island about 200 miles due south of Tokyo, 1785 was an unforgettable year. Although they werent alive to witness the deadliest event in island history, they know what unfolded all too welland what they know hasn't changed their mind about living atop a real-life volcano.
Theyve heard the stories about how, on May 18, the ground began to shake. Giant plumes of gas and smoke billowed out from the mouth of the islands volcano, shooting rocks, mud and other debris into the sky. By June 4, the islands 327 residents had no choice but to evacuate, but only about half succeeded and the rest perished. Those who live on the island thats home to a volcano still registered as active by the Japanese Meteorological Agency, the governmental agency responsible for monitoring the nations 110 active volcanoes, know that theres always the chance that history could repeat itself. But Aogashimas inhabitants are willing to take that risk.
One such resident is Masanubu Yoshida, a government worker who has lived on the island for the past 15 years. He says that he tries not to spend too much time worrying about the possibility of another eruption. After all, its been more than 230 years since the last onethe odds (at least so far) are in his favor.
No one can win over nature, he tells Smithsonian.com. Rather than dwell on the possibilities, the 40-year-old focuses on the benefits of living in this lush paradise, which formed from the remnants of four overlapping calderas centuries ago. Much of the village is located inside the outer crater wall.
Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/japanese-town-aogashima-active-volcano-180959153/
Silver_Witch
(1,820 posts)masmdu
(2,536 posts)Visiting family in the area and going to hot springs/onsen. The caldera here is massive (about 75 miles circumference) and beautiful.
demmiblue
(36,865 posts)I also googled some of the onsen there... lovely and relaxing. Enjoy your time there!
masmdu
(2,536 posts)demmiblue
(36,865 posts)Nope, not jealous at all!
masmdu
(2,536 posts)And if you are ever in Kyushu it is well worth a visit. My favorite time to visit is in the winter but work makes that rare.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)I can see why they consider it a trade-off.
yuiyoshida
(41,832 posts)She has family in Osaka, and its her favorite onsen. I wish she would take me with her!
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)thanks for that pic.
I want so badly to visit an onsen!!! I would soak until I turned into a prune!
GOKURAKU GOKURAKU!!
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)I won't live where the ground moves or the mountains smoke.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)demmiblue
(36,865 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Thanks for the visits.
Long ago we seriously considered purchasing a house near Puget Sound with a wonderful view to Mt. Ranier, close enough to dominate everything. The job transfer never happened, and I've always wondered if I would have been completely happy with that constant reminder. I certainly know why people live on this island, though, and Manhattan Island as well.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)in the world? I lived there for years (only moved to Boston 4 years ago) and never felt terribly threatened (maybe a little after 9/11). Mostly just stressed out and tired of the rat race.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)attempts will be made to make 9/11 look like amateur hour. Already have been, no doubt.
Of course, I also was a bit concerned about Southern California when we lived there -- 20 million people surrounded on 3 sides by hundreds of miles of desert and the fourth by the Pacific Ocean. I always thought if I were a terrorist I'd like to take out water and power, communications, major roadways in August or September, but above all water. A primitive high-level nuke from a freighter on the ocean could do most of it. Deaths would begin almost immediately.
Ugly thoughts. Many areas of Southern California are also paradise to their residents, and it'll never be allowed to happen. But we were raising kids, so we stored water under the house anyway. It was cheap and allowed me to forget about it.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)the bridges and tunnels were taken out, people would be absolutely stranded. I'd be lying if I said that thought never crossed my mind. I guess that didn't scare me as much as potential natural disasters though. I'm not sure why.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)And Boston is also very high on my list. One plus about high-density areas is that aid has to go there first.
masmdu
(2,536 posts)Would love to visit but I'd suffer from rock fever if I lived there. I used to take a boat once a week to an tiny island to teach English in a town of about 100 people. While the experience was interesting I was always glad to get back to the mainland.
demmiblue
(36,865 posts)another search of Aogashima brought me to a site that discussed the island, as well as Tanabata (which is today!).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanabata
(I'm sure you are aware, I just posted this for myself and others )
Rock fever... I have known a few people express the same about Hawaii (not so tiny, but compared to the contiguous states...).
This has been fun! I know little about Japan... thanks for your input.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)southwestern desert. Magnificent. And what a wonderful reason to have a festival. Our nation forming after the Enlightenment was a great blessing, but not being much older has its costs too.