), island (1990 pop. 4,240,265), 7,247 sq mi (18,770 sq km), S Japan, separated from Honshu and Kyushu by the Inland Sea. The smallest of the major islands of Japan, its high mountains and steep slopes limit agriculture and impede communication; there are no volcanoes. Shikoku's climate is humid subtropical. Rice, grains, mulberry, palms, and camphor are the chief products. Fishing and salt production are important, along with the petroleum, metal, paper, and textile industries. A large copper mine is located at Besshi. Population is concentrated along the coast; Takamatsu and Matsuyama are the largest cities.Shikoku
Smallest main island (pop., 2004 est.: 4,111,000) of Japan. It is located south of Honshu and east of Kyushu. Much of its 7,065 sq mi (18,298 sq km) is mountainous, and the population is concentrated in urban areas along the coast. Rice, barley, wheat, and mandarin oranges are among the island's major crops. Industries include petroleum refining, textiles, paper, and fishing.
Shikoku
Shikoku
an island in Japan, in the southern part of the Japanese Archipelago. Area, 17,760 sq km (18,800 sq km including about 300 islets and offshore rocks). Population, 3.9 million (1970). Shikoku is bounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Inland Sea, and the Kii, Naruto, Hoyo, and Bungo straits; its coastline is approximately 1,800 km long. The northwestern and southeastern coasts are regular, but parts of the northeastern and southwestern coasts are greatly indented by bays exposed to strong tidal currents.
Shikoku is predominantly mountainous. In the north is the Sanuki range, a chain of hills and low mountains composed mostly of granites. In the island’s southern and central parts are mountains composed primarily of shales; Mount Ishizuchi, at 1,981 m, is the highest point. The largest deposits of copper ore in Japan are found at Besshiyama.
The climate is subtropical and monsoonal. The average temperature in January ranges from 5° to 10°C; in some intermon-tane basins it drops to as low as – 2° C. The average temperature in July ranges from 20° to 28°C. In the north, annual precipitation is less than 1,000 mm, but in the south it may reach 3,000 mm. Typhoons are frequent.
The rivers of Shikoku characteristically descend over frequent stretches of rapids and discharge large volumes of water into the sea; the largest is the Yoshino. High water occurs in the summer. Dense forests of oak, fir, cryptomeria, and hemlock grow on the island’s hillsides.
Citrus fruits are grown widely on Shikoku. Nearby waters yield fish and pearls. The largest cities are Matsuyama, Ima-bari, Niihama, Takamatsu, Tokushima, and Kochi.
IU. K. EFREMOV
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