World Heritage Identification Number: 1698
World Heritage since: 2024
Category: Cultural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇯🇵 Japan
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
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Sado Island Gold Mines: A Unique Serial Property in Japan's Volcanic Landscape
The Sado Island Gold Mines, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024, offers a captivating glimpse into Japan's rich mining history. Located off the coast of Niigata Prefecture, this serial property spans across three distinct areas, each showcasing unique mining techniques that predate mechanization.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The Sado Island Gold Mines is a serial property located on Sado Island, some thirty-five kilometres west of the Niigata Prefecture coast. It is formed of three component parts illustrative of different unmechanised mining methods. Sado Island is of volcanic origin and features two parallel mountain ranges stretching from southwest to northeast and separated by one alluvial plain, the Kuninaka Plain. Gold and silver deposits were formed by the rising of hydrothermal water close to the land surface and forming veins in the rock; tectonic activity first submerged the surface deposits to the seabed, which was later raised again by tectonic movements. Placer deposits were exploited in Nishimikawa Area, located on the north-western side of the Kosado Mountains. In addition, the weathering of the volcanic rock exposed ore veins, which were mined underground at the land surface and deep underground in the Aikawa-Tsurushi Area, at the southern end of the Osado Mountains range. Mostly tangible attributes reflecting mining activities and social and labour organisation are preserved as archaeological elements, both above and below ground, and landscape features.
Encyclopedia Record: Sado Island
Sado Island is an island located in the eastern part of the Sea of Japan, under the jurisdiction of Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, with a coastline of 262.7 kilometres (163.2 mi). In October 2017, Sado Island had a population of 55,212 people. Sado Island covers an area of 854.76 km2 (330.02 sq mi), and is the second largest island after Okinawa Island outside of the four main islands of Japan, excluding the disputed Southern Kurils. The shortest distance between Sado Island and Honshu is 32 km (20 mi). The highest peak on Sado Island is Mount Kinpoku, with an elevation of 1,172 m (3,845 ft).Additional Site Details
Area: 750.9 hectares
Coordinates: 38.0408333333 , 138.2577777778
Image
Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA - Johnson Space Center. "The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth.", Public domain
