Mount Chōkai

Mount Chōkai
鳥海山
As seen from Sakata
Highest point
Elevation 2,236 m (7,336 ft) [1]
Prominence 1,891 m (6,204 ft) [1]
Listing •100 famous mountains in Japan
•Ultra
Coordinates 39°05′57″N 140°02′56″E / 39.09917°N 140.04889°E / 39.09917; 140.04889Coordinates: 39°05′57″N 140°02′56″E / 39.09917°N 140.04889°E / 39.09917; 140.04889 [1]
Geography
Mount Chōkai
Japan
Location Yamagata and Akita, Tōhoku, Japan
Geology
Mountain type Stratovolcano
Last eruption March to April 1974

Mount Chōkai (鳥海山, Chōkai-san) is an active volcano located on the southern border of Akita and Yamagata in the Tōhoku region of Japan, and is 2,236 m (7,336 ft) tall. Because of its (roughly) symmetrical shape and massive size, it is also known as Dewa no Fuji (出羽の富士)[2] or by Akita natives as Akita Fuji. Mount Chōkai is regarded as sacred by followers of the Shugendō branch of Shinto and is popular with hikers.

Outline

Chōkai is shared by the Akita and Yamagata prefectures, although the peak rests on the Yamagatan side of the border. In addition to being one of the 100 famous landscapes of Japan, it is also included as one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan, and famous 100 geographical features of Japan. It is surrounded by Chōkai Quasi-National Park.

Chōkai is the second tallest mountain in Tōhoku after Mount Hiuchigatake in Fukushima Prefecture. Although Hiuchigatake in the south is technically the taller mountain, it lies on the border of Kantō region in Gunma, and as such, Chōkai is thought by many to be the tallest true Tōhoku mountain.

Chōkai also has certain alpine plant species that can only be found on her slopes. The most common of these is the Chōkai Thistle (チョウカイアザミ).

Three ships have been named after Mount Chōkai: Chōkai, an early steam gunboat, and the cruiser Chōkai (sunk in 1944), which were both in the Japanese Imperial Navy, and the JDS Chōkai, a Kongō class guided missile destroyer currently in service in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Japan Ultra-Prominences". Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  2. ↑ "鳥海山登山ガイド". Mt. Chokai WEB. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  • Chokaisan - Japan Meteorological Agency (in Japanese)
  • "Chokaisan: National catalogue of the active volcanoes in Japan" (PDF). - Japan Meteorological Agency
  • Chokaisan - Smithsonian Institution: Global Volcanism Program


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