- Daisetsuzan National Park
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This article is about Daisetsuzan National Park. For the volcanic group, see Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group.
Daisetsuzan National Park 大雪山国立公園 IUCN Category II (National Park)
A summer view from Mount Asahidake, Daisetsuzan National Park.Location Hokkaidō, Japan Coordinates 43°39′37″N 142°51′29″E / 43.66028°N 142.85806°ECoordinates: 43°39′37″N 142°51′29″E / 43.66028°N 142.85806°E Area 2,267.64 km² Established December 4, 1934 Visitors 6,000,000[1] Daisetsuzan National Park (大雪山国立公園 Daisetsuzan Kokuritsu Kōen), or Taisetsuzan is located in the mountainous center of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō. At 2267.64 square kilometers, Daisetsuzan is the largest national park in Japan.
The name means "Great Snowy Mountain(s)", an apt description of these peaks — there are 16 peaks over 2000 meters with trails and many more without trails — that offer some of the most rugged scenery in Japan.
There are three volcanic mountain groups. The groups consist of stratovolcanoes piled on top of each other. As one vent becomes active, it builds a peak then stops until a new vent appears. These groups are:
- Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group — lies in the northern part of the park and includes Hokkaidō's tallest mountain, Mount Asahi.
- Tokachi Volcanic Group — lies in the southwest of the park north of the Yubari and Hidaka Mountains. It includes Mount Tokachi
- Shikaribetsu Volcanic Group — lies in the eastern part of the park and includes Mount Ishikari.
These volcanic groups lie around a central highlands dominated by Mount Tomuraushi
The park is famous for its wildlife, including brown bears, its alpine meadows and remote backcountry.
Daisetsuzan National Park also includes the hot spring resorts of Asahidake Onsen, Fukiage Onsen, Sounkyo Onsen and Tenninkyo Onsen.
See also
- List of national parks of Japan
- List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments
References
- ^ Ehrlich, Gretel (August 2008). "Between Volcanoes". Nationional Geographic Magazine. National Geographic Society. pp. 2. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/08/daisetsuzan/ehrlich-text/. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
External links
- Official Website of Daisetsuzan National Park
- Daisetsuzan National Park travel guide from Wikitravel
- Daisetsuzan National Park at Biodiversity Center of Japan, Ministry of the Environment
- Gretel Ehrlich: Daisetsuzan, National Geographic Magazine August 2008 link
Categories:- IUCN Category II
- National parks of Japan
- Special Natural monuments of Japan
- Visitor attractions in Hokkaidō
- Protected Areas of Hokkaidō
- Protected areas established in 1934
- Hokkaidō geography stubs
- Japan protected area stubs
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