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The Liancourt Rocks

Geography
The Liancourt Rocks consist of two main islets and numerous surrounding rocks. The two main islets, called Seodo (Hangul: 서도; Hanja: 西島, "Western Island") and Dongdo (Hangul: 동도; Hanja: 東島, "Eastern Island") in Korean, and Ojima (男島, "Male Island") and Mejima (女島, "Female Island") in Japanese, are 151 metres (495 ft) apart.[6] The Western Island is the larger of the two, with a wider base and higher peak, while the Eastern Island offers more usable surface area.

Altogether, there are about 90 islets and reefs,[6] volcanic rocks formed in the Cenozoic era, more specifically 4.6 to 2.5 million years ago. A total of 37 of these islets are recognized as permanent land.[verification needed]

The total area of the islets is about 187,554 square metres (46.346 acres), with their highest point at 168.5 metres (553 ft) on the West Islet.[6] The western islet is about 88,740 square metres (21.93 acres); the eastern islet is about 73,300 square metres (18.1 acres).[6] The western islet consists of a single peak and features many caves along the coastline. The cliffs of the eastern islet are about 10 to 20 metres (33 to 66 ft) high. There are two large caves giving access to the sea, as well as a crater.[verification needed]

In 2006, a geologist reported that the islets formed 4.5 million years ago and are quickly eroding.[8] The underwater volcano erupted under the East Sea and the islets have been weathered over millions of years; therefore, the volcanic appearance is almost gone. However, since the islets were formed by several stages of volcanic activity, the formation and evolution of submarine volcanoes can be researched.

Climate
The Liancourt Rocks viewed from the North Due to their location and small size, the Liancourt Rocks can have harsh weather. If the swell is greater than 3 to 5 metres, then landing is not possible so on average ferries can only dock about once in every forty days.[12] Overall, the climate is warm and humid, and heavily influenced by warm sea currents. Precipitation is high throughout the year (annual average—1,383.4 millimetres or 54.46 inches), with occasional snowfall.[13] Fog is common. In summer, southerly winds dominate. The water around the islets is about 10 °C (50 °F) in early spring, when the water is coldest, warming to about 24 °C (75 °F) in late summer. Due to global warming, the average water temperature of the islets is rising gradually, there is an increases in the subtropical marine species due to this warning.

Ecology
The islets are volcanic rocks, with only a thin layer of soil and moss.[14] About 49 plant species, 107 bird species, and 93 insect species have been found to inhabit the islets, in addition to local marine life with 160 algal and 368 invertebrate species identified.[15] Although between 1,100 and 1,200 litres of fresh water flow daily, desalinization plants have been installed on the islets for human consumption because existing spring water suffers from guano contamination.[citation needed] Since the early 1970s trees and some types of flowers were planted.[citation needed] According to historical records, there used to be trees indigenous to Liancourt Rocks, which have supposedly been wiped out by overharvesting and fires caused by bombing drills over the islets.[b][16] A recent investigation, however, identified ten spindle trees aged 100–120 years.[17][18] Cetaceans such as Minke whales, orcas, and dolphins are known to migrate through these areas.[19][20][21] The warm and cold currents meet around the islets which make the area rich in plankton and fish. The most common species that are captured around the island are salmon, trout, octopus, cuttlefish, and mackerel.

Pollution and environmental destruction
A view from one of the rocks on a calm day Records of the human impact on the Liancourt Rocks before the late 20th century are scarce, although both Japanese and Koreans claim to have felled trees and killed Japanese sea lions there for many decades.[22][23]

There is a serious concern for pollution in the seas surrounding the Liancourt Rocks. The sewage water treatment system established on the islets has malfunctioned and sewage water produced by inhabitants of the Liancourt Rocks such as South Korean Coast Guard and lighthouse staff is being dumped directly into the ocean. Significant water pollution has been observed; sea water has turned milky white, sea vegetation is progressively dying off, and calcification of coral reefs is spreading. The pollution is also causing loss of biodiversity in the surrounding seas. In November 2004, eight tons of malodorous sludge was being dumped into the ocean every day.[24] Between 2007 and 2013, the Korean Marine Environment Management and civic organizations started to prevent marine pollution. They collected garbage around the islets and they are still putting forth a multilateral effort into reducing the pollution problem.

Demographics and economy
The base that houses South Korean Police Guards on Liancourt Rocks' East Islet As of February 2017, there are two civilian residents, two government officials, six lighthouse managers, and 40 members of the coast guard living on the islets.[2] Since the South Korean Coast Guard was sent to the islets, civilian travel has been subject to South Korean government approval; they have stated that the reason for this is that the islet group is designated as a nature reserve.[citation needed]

In March 1965, Choi Jong-duk moved from the nearby Ulleungdo to the islets to make a living from fishing. He also helped install facilities from May 1968. In 1981, Choi Jong-dok changed his administrative address to the Liancourt Rocks, making himself the first person to officially live there. He died there in September 1987. His son-in-law, Cho Jun-ki, and his wife also resided there from 1985 until they moved out in 1992. Meanwhile, in 1991, Kim Sung-do and Kim Shin-yeol transferred to the islets as permanent residents, still continuing to live there.

The South Korean government gave its approval to allow 1,597 visitors to visit the islets in 2004. Since March 2005, more tourists have received approval to visit. The South Korean government lets up to 70 tourists land at any one given time; one ferry provides rides to the islets every day.[27] Tour companies charge around 350,000 Korean won per person (about US$250 as of 2009).[28] The only way to enter the islands is by a ship from the nearest islands Ulleungdo. The total visitors to the Liancourt Rocks has exceeded 1.9 million, a daily average of visitors is 660 people.

The natural gas, Methane Hydrate, is an important resource that resides in and around the islets. There was research conducted in June of 2005 by a South Korean gas hydrate project team, they found that there is around 600 million tons of natural gas in the seabed approximately one hundred kilometers south of Ullengdo. Based off the research it was estimated that the natural gas deposits could supply South Korea for thirty years.

History
Whaling

American and French whaleships cruised for right whales off the rocks between 1849 and 1892.[33]

Sovereignty dispute

Main article: Liancourt Rocks dispute

South Korea stamps depicting the Liancourt Rocks from 1954. Sovereignty over the islands has been an ongoing point of contention in Japan–South Korea relations. There are conflicting interpretations about the historical state of sovereignty over the islets.

Korean claims are partly based on references to an island called Usan-do (우산도, 于山島/亐山島) in various medieval historical records, maps, and encyclopedia such as Samguk Sagi, Annals of Joseon Dynasty, Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam, and Dongguk munhon bigo. According to the Korean view, these refer to today's Liancourt Rocks.[citation needed]

A South Korean Police boat approaches the dock on Liancourt Rocks' East Islet. Japanese researchers of these documents have claimed the various references to Usan-do refer at different times to Jukdo, its neighboring island Ulleungdo, or a non-existent island between Ulleungdo and Korea.[c] The first printed usage of the name Dokdo was in a Japanese log book in 1904.[citation needed]

Other key points of the dispute involve the legal basis which Japan used to claim the islands in 1905, and the legal basis of South Korea's claim on the islands in 1952.[citation needed]

North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency has stated that North Korea claims the islands, writing that the islands have been "the sacred territory of North Korea since ancient times".[34][35]

Holiday

In 2000, South Korea declared Liancourt Rocks day also known as Dokdo Day, to raise awareness about the easternmost island both domestically and internationally. Dokdo Day celebrates the 100th anniversary of Emperor Gojong’s official announcement of the jurisdiction over the island that is near Ulleungdo island in the East Sea. In 2005, Japan’s Shimane prefecture announced Takeshima Day to celebrate 100 years of the annexation of the island.