Shimokita Hanto Quasi-National Park
Encyclopedia
is a quasi-national park in the far northern Tohoku region
of Honshū
in Japan
. It is rated a protected landscape (category V) according to the IUCN. The park, which covers most of Shimokita Peninsula
, includes the volcanic peaks
and caldera lakes of the Osorezan Mountain Range
, the coastal rock formations of Hotokegaura
, Cape Shiriyazaki and its sand dunes, Cape Ōma, the northernmost point on Honshū, and surrounding forests. The park also encompasses a portion of the natural habitat of the Japanese macaque
. The mountainous interior is forested with Siebold's beech
and Nootka cypress
, and coastal areas have stands of tilia
and oak
. The area was designated a quasi-national park on July 22, 1968.
Like all Quasi-National Parks in Japan, the park is managed by the local prefectural governments.
Tohoku region
The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata....
of Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is rated a protected landscape (category V) according to the IUCN. The park, which covers most of Shimokita Peninsula
Shimokita Peninsula
The Shimokita Peninsula is the remote northeastern cape of the Japanese island of Honshū, stretching out towards Hokkaidō. Administratively the area is a part of Aomori Prefecture....
, includes the volcanic peaks
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
and caldera lakes of the Osorezan Mountain Range
Mount Osore
is a region in the center of remote Shimokita Peninsula of Aomori Prefecture, Japan.According to popular mythology, Mount Osore marks the entrance to Hell, with a small brook running to the neighboring Lake Usorisan that is equated to the Sanzu River, a river that deceased souls needed to cross of...
, the coastal rock formations of Hotokegaura
Hotokegaura
The Hotokegaura are a series of rock formations naturally carved from the cliffs in village of Sai on the west coast of the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori, Japan....
, Cape Shiriyazaki and its sand dunes, Cape Ōma, the northernmost point on Honshū, and surrounding forests. The park also encompasses a portion of the natural habitat of the Japanese macaque
Japanese Macaque
The Japanese macaque , historically known as saru , but now known as Nihonzaru to distinguish it from other primates, is a terrestrial Old World monkey species native to Japan....
. The mountainous interior is forested with Siebold's beech
Fagus crenata
Fagus crenata, known as the Japanese beech, Siebold's beech, or buna, is a deciduous tree of the beech family Fagaceae. It is native to Japan where it is widespread and often one of the dominant trees of Japan's deciduous forests. It is found from the Oshima Peninsula in Hokkaidō south to the Ōsumi...
and Nootka cypress
Callitropsis nootkatensis
Nootka Cypress , formerly Cupressus nootkatensis, Xanthocyparis nootkatensis or Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, is a cypress with a chequered taxonomic and nomenclatural history. This species goes by many common names including Nootka Cypress, Yellow Cypress, and Alaska Cypress...
, and coastal areas have stands of tilia
Tilia
Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The greatest species diversity is found in Asia, and the genus also occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but not western North America...
and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
. The area was designated a quasi-national park on July 22, 1968.
Like all Quasi-National Parks in Japan, the park is managed by the local prefectural governments.