364 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1952 



Miyako Shima, and Hateruma Shima. The western or inner arc 

 consists of the islands of volcanic origin, including those of the 

 Tokara Gunto or Archipelago, Tori Shima, Aguni Shima, and 

 Kume Shima. On some of the northern islands of this arc there 

 are still active volcanic vents. 



Figure 1. — The Ryukyu Islands group. 



The principal geographic features of the chain are shown on 

 the map. Politically the Osumi Gunto or Archipelago north of the 

 deepest transverse channel, the Tokara Channel, and the Tokara 

 Gunto south of this channel are parts of Japan. The remaining gun- 

 tos, or island groups, are now governed by the central independent 

 Ryukyu-seifu or government established in Naha, the capital, on 

 Okinawa Island. This operates under the guidance of the United 

 States Civil Administration with headquarters also in Naha. This 



