Hokkaido is one of the islands of the Japanese state. Read more about its features and attractions in the article.
Islands of japan
Japan is an amazing country that is completely surrounded by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The Japanese archipelago consists of 6852 islands. The largest are Shikoku, Honshu, Kyushu, Hokkaido. The islands of the Japanese state have a well-developed infrastructure, performing the functions of full-fledged territorial units. Communication with the mainland is maintained by sea transport and aircraft.
Honshu and Hokkaido Islands are the largest in Japan. Honshu occupies about a third of the entire country. It has many main objects, for example, the capital of Japan, Tokyo, as well as pride and a symbol of the state - Mount Fuji. Kyushu is the third largest, there is an assumption that Japanese civilization arose on this island. Here is the infamous city of Nagasaki, which currently houses Peace Park.
Some islands are connected by rail tunnels, Honshu and Shikoku are connected by a bridge system. The sea space, which is located between the islands of the state, is called the Inland Sea, its area is about 18 thousand square kilometers.
Hokkaido Island (Japan): Description
By area, which is 83,400 square meters. km, he is the second in the state. Its population is about 5.5 million inhabitants. The Japanese island of Hokkaido is the northernmost of the four largest islands of the state. It is separated from Honshu by the Sangar Strait.
The entire territory is divided into 14 districts. Hokkaido controls several adjacent islands, for example, Risiri, Rebun and others. The island has nine major cities: Sapporo, Hakodate, Kushiro, Asahikawa, Ebetsu, Otaru, Tomakomai, Obihiro and Kitami. Sapporo is the administrative center with about 30% of the population of Hokkaido. The island has 39 colleges and 37 universities.
Hokkaido is a popular tourist destination. Most often it is reached by ferry or plane, with the other islands of the state it is connected only by a railway tunnel that leads directly to Honshu Island. The tunnel called "Seikan" is located at a depth of 240 meters.
Hokkaido History
The first settlements appeared 20 thousand years ago in Hokkaido. The islands of the central part of Japan are significantly different from the north, where it is located. For a long time, the life and traditions of one culture were continued in others. Such continuity was observed in the Satsumon culture, which was a transformed post-Jomon culture. That Jomon is considered the first culture that arose in Hokkaido. On the basis of Satsumon in the 13th century, the Ainu culture, which still exists, arose.
In the Middle Ages, the Japanese arrive on the island. At war with the Ainu, they occupy the southern part of the territory. In the 17th century, the Japanese create a feudal principality, which establishes control over the entire island, without having conquered the Ainu to the end.
In the XIX century, the Hokkaido Office was created, which performs the functions of a state body. Significant work is underway on the island to improve infrastructure. Railways and ports are being built, and a transportation system is being established between Hokkaido and Honshu. Steelworks, sawmills, paper mills are emerging, and agriculture is developing. Since then, industry has been one of the important industries on the island.
Hokkaido Geography
The islands of Japan are mainly of volcanic origin, Hokkaido is no exception. The island is formed by ophiolites and sedimentary-volcanic rocks. From the North coast is the Sea of Okhotsk. The island is also washed by the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. In the south, Hokkaido is represented by the Oshima Peninsula. On this island are two extreme points of the country: in the north is Cape Soya, and in the east - Nosappu-Saki.
The terrain is mountainous and at the same time flat. Volcanoes and mountains stretch across the entire central part. The island is affected by seismic activity, and some volcanoes are considered active (Koma, Usu, Tokati, Tarume, Mazakan). Asahi is the highest peak. This mountain on the island of Hokkaido reaches 2290 meters in height. Plains are located closer to the coast.
Climate
Due to the extent from north to south, the climatic conditions of Japan in different parts of the country are different. Hokkaido is distinguished by cold temperatures. The islands in the southwestern part, on the contrary, have warm conditions, since a subtropical climate has formed here.
In Hokkaido, winters are colder than in other regions of Japan; snow on the island can be up to 120 days per season. On mountain ranges closer to the northern part of the island, snowdrifts can reach 11 meters, and almost two meters off the coast of the Pacific Ocean. In January, the average temperature is from -12 to -4 degrees. Throughout the winter, there are many drifting ice floes from the Sea of Okhotsk.
Summer is usually cool too. The average August temperature is from 17 to 22 degrees. In summer, the number of rainy days on average reaches 150, although on other islands this figure is much higher.
Animal and plant world
The nature of Hokkaido is the main reason tourists visit it. Despite the large number of industrial enterprises, the government managed to preserve natural resources. About 70% are forests. Coniferous trees grow in the northern part; they are represented by spruce, cedar, and fir. Broad-leaved trees grow in the southern part. In Hokkaido, bamboo is also widespread.
The animal world is quite diverse. Here is the largest population of brown bears in Asia. Ermines, sables, foxes live on the island. The local lakes are full of fish, and in spring a lot of birds fly here. One of their local residents is a flying squirrel, called the "Ezo Momonga", which can be found only in Hokkaido.
sights
The main attractions of the island, of course, are natural sites. Hokkaido has about 20 national, quasi-national parks and reserves. The island has a huge number of lakes, hot springs and picturesque mountains.
In the city of Kushiro, there is a natural park of Japanese cranes, which are under special state protection. Akan National Park, which is located on the shores of the lake of the same name, is famous for its hot springs.
On the farm of Tomita in the city of Furano you can observe stunning beauty. Hectares of land are planted with various varieties of lavender. From June to July, the fields are decorated with lilac, white and other flowers. Here grow sunflowers, and poppies, and daffodils.
One of the most popular places on the island is Blue Lake. Gray trunks of dried trees peep out from the bright blue water, creating a truly enchanting sight.
Resorts and Festivals
Thanks to snowy winters and mountains, ski resorts open in Hokkaido in November. They operate in the city of Furano, Niseki, Biya. In addition, interesting festivals are organized on the island. In the main city of Hokkaido, the Snow Festival opens every year. At this time, huge snowdrifts become real material for creativity. About two million people from all over the world come together to compete in the ability to create sculptures from ice and snow. Another winter festival is organized in the city of Mombetsu, it is called the "Festival of Drifting Ice Floes".
At the already known farm of Furano, the Lavender Festival opens every summer. This action is, of course, dedicated to the flowering of this plant. In total, more than a thousand different festivals and celebrations take place on the island. One of them, by the way, is very reminiscent of the European harvest holidays, everything just happens on the seashores, and instead of gratitude for the fruit harvest, the locals thank nature for their generous catch.
Conclusion
Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku are the largest Japanese islands. Hokkaido Island is the second largest. It is located in the northern part of the country, so its climate is colder and harsher than in the rest of Japan. Despite this, the island has a unique nature, which millions of people come from all over the world to see.