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