Shiretoko Peninsula

The nihongo|Shiretoko Peninsula|知床半島|shiretokohantō, is located on the easternmost portion of the Japanese island of Hokkaidō, protruding into the Sea of Okhotsk. It is separated from the Kunashir Island of Russia by the Nemuro Strait. The name Shiretoko is derived from the Ainu language word "sir etok", meaning "the end of the earth" or "the place where the earth protrudes". The towns of Rausu and Shari cover the peninsula.

On July 14 2005, in a meeting held in the Republic of South Africa, the Shiretoko Peninsula was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and on July 17 was officially registered as such. The reason is because in the Northern Hemisphere, the peninsula is the southern most point where sea ice usually forms. [cite web |url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=18081 |title=Shiretoko Peninsula |accessdate=2008-07-09 |format= |work=NASA Earth Observatory ]

Geography

From Shiretoko Cape at the tip of the peninsula, a series of volcanoes run down the peninsula, including Shiretoko Peak, Utabetsudake, and Shiretoko Iōzan. The volcano area has given rise to several famous onsen, including Seseki Onsen and Iwaobetsu Onsen. The variety of onsen in the area make the peninsula a popular tourist destination.

Flora and fauna

The Shiretoko Peninsula is home to many species of both conifers and broadleaf trees, including the acorn-bearing nihongo|Quercus mongolica|Mizunara. Red Foxes, Amur brown bears, and Sika Deer also inhabit the area. Sea eagles flourish here, and seals and cetaceans can be often seen on the coast.

Conservation efforts

To protect the wild animals and pristine natural beauty of the Shiretoko Peninsula, in 1964 a great portion of the peninsula was designated Shiretoko National Park. Since then, the park has been subject to strict regulation as a nature preserve, and entering is prohibited.

ee also

*List of peninsulas

References