largest island in the Amami chain of the northern Ryukyu Islands, in Kagoshima ken (prefecture), Japan. Most of the 274-square-mile (709-square-km) island is mountainous and forested. A quasi-national park protects landscapes at the higher elevations. Mount Yūwan is the highest mountain at 2,276 feet (694 metres). The lower, cultivated areas produce timber, sugarcane, and rice. A hydroelectric station operates on the Sumiyō River. Naze, the largest city, has a scientific research station and hospitals for senior citizens and retarded children. Naze and Setouchi are domestic shipping ports, and Setouchi has a museum. An airport is situated on Cape Kasari, and a highway connects Kasari and Setouchi. Pop. (2000) 71,827.