Asahidake

Mount Asahi
旭岳
Mount Asahi, the tallest peak in Hokkaidō (September 2004)
Elevation	2,290.9 m (7,516 ft) [1]
Prominence	2,290.9 m (7,516 ft)
Listing	List of mountains and hills of Japan by height List of ultra prominent peaks List of volcanoes in Japan
Location
Mount Asahi Location of Mount Asahi in Japan.
Location	Hokkaidō, Japan
Range	Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group
Coordinates	43°39′N 142°51′E / 43.65°N 142.85°E / 43.65; 142.85Coordinates: 43°39′N 142°51′E / 43.65°N 142.85°E / 43.65; 142.85
Topo map	Geographical Survey Institute 25000:1 旭岳 25000:1 愛山溪温泉 50000:1 大雪山 50000:1 旭岳
Geology
Type	Stratovolcano[2]
Age of rock	Holocene[3]
Last eruption	1739

Mount Asahi (旭岳, Asahi-dake^?) is the tallest mountain in Hokkaidō, Japan. Part of the Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group of the Ishikari Mountains, it is located in the northern part of the Daisetsuzan National Park.

The mountain is popular with hikers in the summer and can be easily reached from Asahidake Onsen via Asahidake Ropeway.

Sugatami Pond, directly below the peak, is famous for its reflection of the peaks, snow, and steam escaping from the volcanic vents.

History

Sulphur was once mined in the fumarolic areas.^[2]

Geology

Mount Asahi is an active stratovolcano that arose 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southwest of the Ohachi-Daira caldera.^[2] The Japan Meteorological Agency gave the region rank C^[4] in volcanic activity. In addition to the main peak, there is a smaller volcano emerging from the southeast shoulder of the mountain, Mount Ushiro Asahi or Rear Mount Asahi (後旭岳, Ushiro-Asahi-dake^?). It is a stratovolcano 2,216 metres (7,270 ft) in height.^[2] The volcano consists mainly of andesite and dacite.^[4] That is Holocene volcanic non-alkali mafic rock less than 18,000 years old.^[3]

Eruptive history

There is no historical record of the eruptions of Mount Asahi. Tephrochronology and radiocarbon dating have determined the following events:^[2]

• 3200 BC ± 75 years, Asahi Soria deposit, corrected radiocarbon dating, explosive eruption
• 2800 BC ± 100 years, As-A tephra, corrected radiocarbon dating,explosive eruption and phreatic explosions
• 1450 BC ± 50 years, As-B tephra, uncorrected radiocarbon dating, explosive eruption and phreatic explosions
• 500 BC ± 50 years, Ash-b tephra, tephrochonology, explosive eruption and phreatic explosions and debris avalanches
• 1739, tephrochronology, explosive eruption and phreatic explosions with possible eruption of the central vent and radial fissures

Mount Asahi currently exhibits steam activity in the form of fumaroles.^[4]

References

1. ^ Geological Survey Institute topographic map Asahi-dake 旭岳
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Daisetsu". Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0805-06=. Retrieved 2008-07-09. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Seamless Digital Geological Map of Japan". Geological Survey of Japan. Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. 2007. http://riodb02.ibase.aist.go.jp/db084/index_e.html. Retrieved 2008-07-09. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Quaternary Volcanoes in Japan". Geological Survey of Japan. National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). 2006. http://riodb02.ibase.aist.go.jp/strata/VOL_JP/EN/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-09. 

• "Asahi-dake, Japan". Peakbagger.com. http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=10774. 

External links

Media related to Asahidake at Wikimedia Commons

• (English) Ropeway website