New Survey Finds Japan , Has Twice the Number of Islands , Than Previously Thought.
'The Guardian' reports that digital mapping technology has revealed that Japan has more islands than previously thought.
According to the Geospatial Information Authority , of Japan, the nation consists of , 14,125 islands.
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Before the study, which was the first of its kind in 35 years, Japan was thought to have 7,273 less islands.
'The Guardian' reports that the last survey, which was conducted in 1987 by the coast guard, relied on paper maps to tally the islands.
Using digitized maps, the new study was cross-referenced with past aerial photographs and other data to exclude counting artificially reclaimed land.
Several of Japan's 47 prefectures consist of a large number of islands.
According to the new survey, Hokkaido, in the north of Japan, consists of 1,473 islands.
In the southwest of Japan, Nagasaki was found to actually be comprised of 1,479 islands.
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The Japanese government is expected to release the findings within the coming weeks.
According to the Kyoto news agency, the new information is unlikely to change the size of Japan's territory or the size of its territorial waters
