Iriomote (西表島 Iriomote-jima) is the largest of the Yaeyama Islands and the second largest in Okinawa Prefecture after Okinawa Island itself.

Despite an area of 289 sq.km. the island's total population is less than 2000, and infrastructure is limited to a single coastal road connecting the hamlets on the northern shore. The island does not have even an airstrip, and most visitors — over 150,000 in 2003 — arrive from Ishigaki by ferry. Administratively the island belongs to Taketomi District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

Geography and climate

90% of the island is covered by dense subtropical jungle and mangrove swamps. 80% of the island is protected state land, and 34.3% of the island forms the Iriomote National Park. The highest point on the island is Mt. Komi (古見岳 Komidake) at 470 meters.

The island is famed for the Iriomote Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis), an endangered nocturnal wildcat found only on Iriomote and considered by some to be its own species.

Culture

The Iriomote dialect of the Yaeyama language is spoken by some on the island.

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