歴史に取り残された石灰岩の島、小大下島（こおげじま） Kooge Island, a limestone island left behind in history

飛島海道の終点、岡村島から300ｍ離れた小大下島。ここには橋が繋がれませんでした。
明治初期まで無人島だった小大下島は石灰石の採掘が本格化する昭和30年前後には人口が600人を超えていました。旅館、医院、遊技場もあり、芝居や映画もやってきたそうです。その後、露天掘りであり、海面下まで採掘が進み採掘量が減少し、鉱業所は閉鎖され、現在は漁業とミカン栽培中心の静かな島となっている。島内の各地に鉱山の遺跡が点在している。
この島を訪れるのは4年ぶり。前回は畑の所有者の話が聞けたが、今回は漁業者と話ができました。
人口は20人と増えてはいないが、退職後に帰ってきた60歳台の人が何人かいるようで、しばらくは無人島にはなりそうにありません。
商店、信号、標識等、ほぼ何も無い島。鳥の声を聴きながらのんびりと過ごせます。
撮影：Log　フィルター：ND32
音楽：DJ ZOO - BGMと聞き流し　 / @djzoo-bgm566
Time To Go - Roman P　Chamtrails - Sémø　Our Journey - Lux Inspira　Break Of Day - Charlie Ryan
Kooge Island is the terminal point of Tobishima Kaido, 300m away from Okamura Island. There was no bridge connected here.
Kogejima, which was an uninhabited island until the early Meiji period, had a population of over 600 people around 1955, when limestone mining began in earnest. There is also an inn, a clinic, and a playground, and it seems that plays and movies have also been held here. After that, open-pit mining progressed to below sea level, and the amount of mining decreased, and the mining site was closed.Currently, the island is a quiet island focused on fishing and mandarin orange cultivation. Mine ruins are scattered throughout the island.
It's been 4 years since I visited this island. Last time I was able to talk to the owner of the field, but this time I was able to talk to a fisherman.
Although the population has not increased to 20 people, it seems that there are some people in their 60s who have returned home after retirement, so it is unlikely that the island will become a deserted island for a while.
An island with almost no shops, traffic lights, signs, etc. You can relax while listening to the sounds of birds.
Photography: Log
Music: DJ ZOO - BGM and listening / @djzoo-bgm566
Time To Go - Roman P Chamtrails - Sémø Our Journey - Lux Inspira Break Of Day - Charlie Ryan