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Suggest pagesShiretoko Peninsula
| Shiretoko Peninsula (知床半島, Shiretoko-hantō) | |
| Range | |
 A satellite image of Shiretoko Peninsula
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| Name origin: Ainu sir etok, the end of the Earth or the place where the Earth protrudes | |
| Country | Japan |
|---|---|
| State | Hokkaidō |
| Regions | Abashiri Subprefecture, Nemuro Subprefecture |
| Districts | Menashi District, Shari District, Shibetsu District |
| Municipalities | Kiyosato, Nakashibetsu, Rausu, Shari, Shibetsu |
| Highest point | Mount Rausu |
| - location | Shari and Rausu, Hokkaidō, Japan |
| - elevation | 1,661 m (5,449 ft) |
| - coordinates | 44°4′33″N 145°7′21″E / 44.07583°N 145.1225°E |
| Length | 70 km (43 mi), SW-NE |
| Width | 25 km (16 mi), NW-SE |
| Area | 1,230 km2 (475 sq mi) |
| Geology | Volcanic |
| Orogeny | island arc |
| Plant | Quercus mongolica |
| Animal | Red Fox, Ussuri brown bear, Sika Deer |
Shiretoko Peninsula (知床半島 Shiretoko-hantō) is located on the easternmost portion of the Japanese island of Hokkaidō, protruding into the Sea of Okhotsk. It is separated from the Kunashir Island of Russia by the Nemuro Strait. The name Shiretoko is derived from the Ainu language word sir etok, meaning the end of the Earth[1] or the place where the Earth protrudes. The towns of Rausu and Shari cover the peninsula.
On July 14, 2005, in a meeting held in the Republic of South Africa, the Shiretoko Peninsula was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and on July 17 was officially registered as such. The reason is that in the Northern Hemisphere, the peninsula is the southern most point where sea ice usually forms. [2]
Contents |
[edit] Geography
From Shiretoko Cape at the tip of the peninsula, a series of volcanoes run down the peninsula, including Mount Shiretoko, Mount Unabetsu, and Mount Iō. It is part of the Chishima volcanic zone.[1][3] The highest peak is Mount Rausu.[3] The peninsula is 70 kilometres (43 mi) long and 25 kilometres (16 mi) wide at its base.[3] It covers some 123,000 hectares (470 sq mi)[3]
The peninsula is bounded on the Northwest side by the Sea of Okhotsk[1] and the Southeast side by the Pacific Ocean. To the east, Kunashir Island runs parallel to the peninsula.[1] The Kunashir can be seen from Shiretoko Peninsula.[1] Kunashir is part of Russia, but disputed by Japan.[1]
The cold Oyashio Current flows south along the peninsula.[1]
The volcanic zone has made several onsen possible, including Seseki Onsen and Iwaobetsu Onsen.
[edit] List of peaks
- Uii Nupuri
- Mount Poromoi
- Mount Shiretoko
- Mount Dokkarimui
- Mount Rusha
- Mount Higashi
- Mount Chienbetsu
- Mount Minami
- Mount Iō
- Mount Okkabake
- Mount Sashirui
- Mount Rausu
- Mount Chinnishibetsu
- Mount Onnebetsu
- Mount Unabetsu
- Mount Shari
- Mount Samakke Nupuri
- Mount Shibetsu
[edit] Climate
The Oyashio Current has a profound impact on the weather of the peninsula. Shiretoko Peninsula has short summers and long winters.[1] The current causes fog on the southeastern coast and sea ice in the winter.[1] Snow covers the peaks from September to June, except the very highest peaks, which retain snow all summer long.[1]
[edit] Flora and fauna
The Shiretoko Peninsula is home to many species of both conifers and broadleaf trees, including the acorn-bearing Quercus mongolica (Mizunara). Above 1,000 metres (3,000 ft) grows Siberian Dwarf Pine.[3] Red Foxes and Sika Deer also inhabit the area. There are also a large number of Ussuri Brown Bears.[3] In the upper reaches of Mount Rausu, Mount Onnebetsu, and Mount Shari are the only known breeding areas of Arctic Warblers in Hokkaidō.[3] Sea eagles flourish here, and seals can be often seen on the coast.
Whale watching is a popular attraction in the local tourism. Thirteen or fourteen species of cetaceans species have been recorded in the area. Especially for Orca, Killer Whales, the waters surrounding the peninsula are regarded as one of the most significant habitat areas in the northwestern Pacific.[citation needed] There was a notable mass stranding of 12 animals in February 2005. Nine animals died.[4][5]
Shiretoko Peninsula is one of the few places where groups of male Sperm Whales and Baird's Beaked Whales can be spotted from the shore. Other frequently seen species include Minke Whales, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Dall's Porpoises and Harbour Porpoises.[6]
Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, North Pacific Right Whales, Blue Whales, White Whales, Cuvier's Beaked Whales, Stejneger's beaked whales, Short-Finned Pilot Whales can also be observed.
[edit] Conservation efforts
To protect the wild animals and pristine natural beauty of the Shiretoko Peninsula, in 1964 a great portion of the peninsula was designated Shiretoko National Park.[1] Since then, the park has been subject to strict regulation as a nature preserve, and entering is prohibited.
[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Shiretoko Peninsula |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Hunt, Paul (1988). "33. Shiretoko". Hiking in Japan: An Adventurer's Guide to the Mountain Trails (First edition ed.). Tokyo and New York: Kodansha International Ltd. pp. 200–205. ISBN 0-87011-893-5.
- ^ "Shiretoko Peninsula". NASA Earth Observatory. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=18081. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g "JP010Shiretoko, Mount Syari-dake". Important Bird Areas of Japan. Wild Bird Society of Japan. http://www.wbsj.org/nature/hogo/others/iba/eng/010.html. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ^ "シャチ１２頭、流氷で動けず 羅臼の海" (in Japanese). Yomiuri Online. 8 Feb 2005. http://hokkaido.yomiuri.co.jp/shiretoko/shiretoko_article/20050208-1_article.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
- ^ "流氷で遭難、羅臼のシャチ １頭、自力で沖へ 残る１１頭は力尽きる？" (in Japanese). Yomiuri Online. 8 Feb 2005. http://hokkaido.yomiuri.co.jp/shiretoko/shiretoko_article/20050208-2_article.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
- ^ Sato, Hal. "The Whale View Park: Observation Deck" (in self-published). The SeaLife Watch. http://www.slw.jp/kujiranokai_webdeck.html. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
Coordinates: 44°05′46″N 145°09′14″E / 44.09611°N 145.15389°E
