Aogasima - quiet town inside an active volcano
• Aogasima - quiet town inside an active volcano
About 230 years ago the eruption destroyed nearly half the city's population. But people continue to live and hope for the best.
in 1785, will remain forever in the memory of the inhabitants Aogasimy - a small island for three hundred kilometers south of Tokyo. That year there was the worst disaster in the history of the island. And although his present inhabitants had not yet been born, the memory of this event is passed by word of mouth.
According to legend, May 18 the ground began to shake. From volcano crater felled giant cloud of gas and smoke in the sky flying stones, mud and other debris. By the beginning of June 4 residents have realized that it is necessary to leave the island, but only half of the 327 people managed to successfully evacuate the rest died. At present the volcano is still considered active. Watching him lead the Japan Meteorological Agency, which is responsible for monitoring all active volcanoes in Japan. Today the population of the island knows that history may repeat itself, but prefers to take risks.
One of these brave men are public servants Masanubu Yoshida, who lives on the island of the past fifteen years. He's trying not to spend too much time thinking about the possibility of a new eruption. In the end, since it's been 230 years, so long as the odds are in his favor. "No one can overcome nature" - says Yoshida. So instead of thinking about probabilities, he prefers to focus on the benefits of living in a lush paradise, which was formed from the remnants of the four craters overlapping centuries ago. Most of the settlements located inside the outer wall of the funnel.
Since the island is in the middle of the Philippine Sea, fishing - a very popular activity among local residents. They are also fond of mountaineering, hiking and swimming, although the steep rocky cliffs of the island make it difficult to approach the water everywhere except in the harbor.
Due to the volcano island is rich in hot springs and geothermal energy. One of the field of tourists visit the natural saunas described his experience: "You can bring food with you and cook it simply by placing one on top of the steam holes." In the sauna, there is always a large number of ready kastryulek and pans to cook boiled eggs and other food.
Although Yoshida works in the office, most of his neighbors - farmers and fishermen. The island has a factory for the production of calcium-rich salt, a few shops, a hotel, shop. Residents are grown herbs and vegetables and produce shochu - a strong alcoholic drink, which is one of Japan's national symbols. Despite the small size of the island, most of its inhabitants do not prefer to move on foot or by bicycle and by car, because due to the tropical climate, the weather can often bring a surprise in the form of a strong wind or a sudden rain. On the island there are few roads, mostly winding around the center of the island. But in spite of urban life oases Aogasima in stark contrast with the main part of Japan. On duty Yoshida accounts several times a year to visit Tokyo, performing trehsotkilometrovoe traveling by sea by ferry. During these visits to the 13,000,000th city he feels a confusion that would tends to return to a solitary life on the island.
"I often visit most of cases the land, but I was afraid of overpopulation - there are just too many people, - he says. - On our island we can feel the greatness of nature, you will never feel in a big city. "
Fortunately for Yoshida and his neighbors, until the volcano remains calm. Japan Meteorological Agency in 2007 began issuing warnings of volcanic activity, and over the 9 years to Aogasimy was not issued a single warning. And yet each day for islanders - is one more day of life in paradise.