Mashike Mountains

Mashike Mountains (増毛山地 Mashike Sanchi)
Range
View from Obira (April 2009)
Country	Japan
State	Hokkaidō
Regions	Ishikari, Rumoi, Sorachi
Parts	Kabato Mountains, Shokanbetsudake Mountains
Highest point	Mount Shokanbetsu
- location	Mashike and Shintotsukawa, Rumoi and Sorachi Subprefecture, Japan
- elevation	1,491.6 m (4,894 ft)
- coordinates	43°42′57″N 141°31′23″E / 43.71583°N 141.52306°E / 43.71583; 141.52306
Biome	alpine climate
Geology	Volcanic and fold
Orogeny	island arc

Mashike Mountains (増毛山地, Mashike Sanchi^?) are a group mountains on the western coast of Hokkaidō. The mountain range is divided into two regions by the Hamamasu River.^[1] The northern region is a group of volcanic mountains called Shokanbetsudake Mountains.^[2]. The southern region is known as the Kabato Mountains.^[1] The Mashike mountains lie between the Teshio Mountains to the north and the Ishikari Plain to the south. Mashikie mountains includes part of Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park.^[2]

The highest peak of the Mashike mountains is Mount Shokanbetsu (1492m). ^[2]

Mount Minami Shokan, Mount Kunbetsu and Mount Etai define a triangle that surrounds the Uryū Wetlands (雨竜沼湿原, Uryūnumashitsugen^?).^[2]

Flora and fauna

Unlike on Honshū, you can see alpine plants at altitudes as low as 1000 meters in the Mashike mountains.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "厚田・浜益の自然" (in Japanese). 石狩ファイル No.0052-01. 石狩市教育委員会. 2006-03-31. http://www.city.ishikari.hokkaido.jp/content/000005823.pdf. Retrieved 8 May 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} "暑寒別天売焼尻国定公園　Shokanbetsu Teuri Yagishiri Quasi National Park" (in Japanese). Mashike Town Web Site. 増毛町役場. http://www.town.mashike.hokkaido.jp/menu/kanko/syokanpark/sypark.html. Retrieved 3 May 2010. 
3. ^ "暑寒別岳" (in Japanese). Mashike Town Web Site. 増毛町役場. http://www.town.mashike.hokkaido.jp/menu/kanko/Mt.syokan/mtsyok.html. Retrieved 3 May 2010.