Kiritappu Wetland

Kiritappu Wetland (霧多布湿原, きりたっぷしつげん）is a 3,168ha. wetland area in Hamanaka-cho, Akkeshi-gun, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is also called Wetland of flowers (花の湿原) because numerous flowers can be seen in summer.

Kiritappu wetland is the third largest wetland in Japan, following Kushiro wetland () and Sarobetsu field ().The peatland in the center of Kiritappu wetland　(803ha) was nominated as a natural treasure of Japan in 1922.On 1993-6-10 it was registered as one of the Ramsar sites.

The local people made a national trust, Kiritappu Shitsugen Trust N.P.O., and are making efforts to protect and preserve the wetland.

Location

It is on the northeast side of Japan, on the east side of Hokkaidō, facing the Pacific Ocean between Kushiro and Nemuro. It is 9km long and 3km wide.

Hokkaidō road no. 808 runs there ( or 一般道道琵琶瀬茶内停車場線); it is also called as "MG Road"（Marshy Grassland Road).

On the height of the west part of the wetland there is an observation deck that offers great views.On the north hill there is Kiritappu Wetland Center (霧多布湿原センター), a visitors' center run by Kiritappu Shitsugen Trust N.P.O.

Wetland of flowers

It is called "Wetland of flowers" because there are relatively more flowers compared to other wetlands. These flowers include:
* "Lysichiton camtschatcense" 　ミズバショウ、white（June）
* "Fritillaria camtschatcensis" 　クロユリ、deep purple（June）
* "Eriophorum vaginatum" ワタスゲ、white cotton（June, July）
* "Iris setosa" 　ヒメオウギアヤメ、blue-purple（July）
* "Hemerocallis middendorffii" エゾカンゾウ、yellow（July）
* "Iris ensata" var. "spontanea" ノハナショウブ、red-purple（July）
* "Gentiana　 triflora　" var. "japonica　" エゾリンドウ blue（September）

National Trust Japan

Kiritappu Shitsugen Trust N.P.O. was founded in 2000.

External links

* [http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~wetlands/ NPO人 霧多布湿原トラスト] (Kiritappu Shitsugen Trust N.P.O.)
* [http://www.kiritappu.or.jp/center/ 霧多布湿原センター] ：Kiritappu Wetland Center, a visitors' center run by Kiritappu Shitsugen Trust N.P.O.