Fuji is a volcano that is considered one of the most beautiful on the planet. It is located in Japan, where it has been deified for centuries. It should be noted that currently in this country the mountain is considered a sacred national symbol. The ancient Japanese believed that the gods lived here. In connection with all this, it is not surprising that her image is found not only in numerous paintings and photos, but also on national Japanese banknotes. There is a legend that the mountain appeared on a completely flat area in just one night, which was caused by a strong earthquake.
The volcano is owned by the Great Hong Sengen Temple - an important Shinto shrine. In one of its halls, a donation original received from the shogun in 1609 is stored to this day. It should be emphasized that it was confirmed by the Japanese Supreme Court in our time.
Location
Fujiyama volcano on a map of Japan can be seen on the island of Honshu. The distance from here to the capital of the country - Tokyo - is about ninety kilometers in a southeast direction. Its location is located directly above the area where three tectonic plates are joined together - the Philippine, North American and Eurasian. Now around the mountain is the National Japanese Park called Fuji-Hakone-Izu. From any place on the island you can see its even cone. From a geographical point of view, the coordinates of the volcano of Fuji are designated as 35 degrees 21 minutes north latitude and 138 degrees 43 minutes east longitude. The circuit, consisting of five lakes that surround the mountain from the north, gives a particular picturesque landscape.
Status
Nowadays, scientists around the world are arguing about what status the Fuji volcano should have: is it active or extinct? There are many reasons in favor of both one statement and the second, so it is not so simple to unequivocally answer this question. Now in Japan it is called an active volcano, the probability of an eruption of which is very low.
Shape, size and age
The mountain has the shape of an almost perfect cone. The height of the volcano of Fuji is 3776 meters. In this regard, most of the time its peak is difficult to see because of the clouds. Separate words deserve the outlines of a crater that look very much like a lotus flower. Its petals in this case are huge ridges, which were called by the locals as Yaksudo Fuyo. As for its diameter, it is approximately five hundred meters. According to numerous archaeological and scientific studies, the mountain is a stratovolcano. Its formation began about a hundred thousand years ago. This process lasted a very long time and ended about ten thousand years ago. On the western slope is the so-called Great Dip. Around it there are a large number of various religious buildings.
Name Origin
Even in our time, many scientists find it difficult to answer, in connection with which Mount Fuji was named just that name. Judging by modern hieroglyphs, “Fuji” literally means abundance and wealth. Along with this, we must not forget that the name has existed for many centuries, so this approach will not be entirely correct and, most likely, does not have the right semantic load. Many scholars cite one of the Japanese annals dated to the tenth century. It indicates that the name of the volcano means "immortality."
One of the British missionaries (John Batchelor) already at the beginning of the twentieth century put forward a theory according to which the word "Fuji" is of Ainu origin and means a fiery deity. However, the famous Japanese linguist Kyosuke a little later refuted this version. Research on this subject is underway now, but there is no single interpretation yet.
Conquering the top
Among other things, Fuji is a volcano that attracts a huge number of tourists every year. Information about his first conquest dates back to 663. Then an unknown monk managed to climb the mountain. According to statistical information, now every year about five million tourists come here from all over the planet. At the same time, on average, every tenth of them ascends to the crater itself. Its depth is about two hundred meters, which cannot but take breath from everyone who got here.
Currently, there are three routes leading all interested tourists directly to the vent. An interesting fact related to climbing a volcano is that only men were allowed to climb it earlier. This happened before the reign of Mendi (1868-1912). A lot has changed since then, and now it is women who make up the majority of pilgrims. You can climb the mountain from July 1 to August 31. This time is considered the safest. In all other months, the peak is covered with snow.
Eruptions
Statistics on the eruptions of this volcano have been going on for more than twelve centuries, starting from 781. During this period, with more or less significant force, only six were recorded.
More than three hundred years have passed since the last violent eruption. It began on November 24, 1707 and lasted for two months. Halfway from the top to the bottom of the mountain, a second crater appeared, from which lava and thick smoke burst. The area where the volcano of Fuji is located, as well as most of the streets of the capital of Japan, Tokyo, were literally covered with a thick layer of ash. The emerged secondary peak, which is known as Heysan, can be seen today. Two more major eruptions occurred in 800 and 864.
Fujiyama in Japanese Art
In Japanese national art, Mount Fuji is usually depicted as a volcano with snowy slopes, from the vent of which there is a small stream of smoke. The first memories of her in local literature date back to the eighth century. It should be recalled that at this time the period of its volcanic activity fell. Fujiyama became world famous thanks in large part to the work of Japanese engravers who worked during the reign of Emperor Edo. The most popular of them can be called such works of Hokusai as “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” and “One Hundred Views of Fuji”.
Part of the national park
As noted above, Mount Fuji is an integral part of the national park. On its slopes you can find many signs warning of a strict ban on garbage. Moreover, each pilgrim before going up receives a package designed to collect it, if any was left by someone. At the same time, no one considers it shameful to contribute to the maintenance of the Japanese shrine in a clean state. To ensure proper order on the slopes, many automatic dry closets also function.
Tourism
Without a doubt, Fuji is a volcano, which is the most popular and main tourist attraction in Japan. It is not surprising that most of the country's inhabitants consider it the most beautiful place on the planet. Starting in July, for three months, local rescue centers and small mountain huts are at the disposal of tired tourists and travelers. At this time, trade in food and drinks is also very common here.
Of the three paths laid to the top, one is highlighted. There are ten points intended for relaxation. Here, each conqueror of the peak is given special staves made of bamboo. They significantly help them when lifting. Moreover, at each of the stations on the staves a mark is applied, which is a confirmation that the tourist has really overcome the stage. To simplify the ascent to half way (to the fifth point), a road was laid.
Religious and cultural significance
In Japan, the vast majority of the population professes Shintoism. For every adherent of this religion, Fuji is a sacred volcano. The ancient inhabitants of the country assumed that his crater was a forge of the fire god Ainu. This, in their opinion, was considered the reason that the slopes are strewn with debris and ash. Now, from July to August, the period of the greatest activity of believing pilgrims who seek to visit their main shrine begins. During this time, up to three thousand people remain here every night who want to watch the vast expanses of the ocean and the rising sun from them. Every Japanese considers the pilgrimage to this mountain his sacred duty.