MOUNT Fuji in Japan (photo, story about it). Is Fuji a volcano active or extinct? Where is Mount Fuji located? What does Mount Fuji hide? Mount Fuji is the highest

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 even today in this country the mountain is considered a sacred national symbol. The ancient Japanese believed that this is where the Gods lived. In connection with all this, it is not surprising that her image is found not only in numerous paintings and photographs, but also on national Japanese banknotes. There is a legend that the mountain appeared on a completely flat area in just one night, the cause of which was a strong earthquake.

The volcano is owned by the Great Hongu Sengen Shrine, an important Shinto shrine. In one of its halls, the original deed of gift received from the shogun in 1609 is kept to this day. It should be emphasized that it was confirmed by the Japanese Supreme Court in our time.

Location

Mount Fuji on the map of Japan can be seen at 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 zone where three tectonic plates meet at once - the Philippine, North American and Eurasian. Now around the mountain there is a National Japanese Park called Fuji-Hakone-Izu. From any place on the island its smooth cone is visible. From a geographical point of view, the coordinates of Mount Fuji are designated as 35 degrees 21 minutes north latitude and 138 degrees 43 minutes east longitude. The chain of five lakes that surround the mountain on the north side makes the area especially picturesque.

Status

Nowadays, scientists around the world are debating what status the Fuji volcano should have: active or extinct? There are many arguments in favor of both one statement and the second, so it is not so easy to answer this question unequivocally. Now in Japan it is called an active volcano, the probability of eruption is very low.

Shape, size and age

The mountain has the shape of an almost perfect cone. The height of Mount Fuji is 3776 meters. Due to this, most of the time its peak is difficult to see due to clouds. The outline of the crater, which looks very similar to a lotus flower, deserves special mention. Its petals in this case are huge ridges, which were named by the locals as Yaxudo-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 one hundred thousand years ago. This process lasted a very long time and ended about ten thousand years ago. On the western slope there is the so-called Big Failure. There are a large number of different religious buildings located around it.

Origin of the name

Even in our time, many scientists find it difficult to answer why Mount Fuji was given this name. Judging by modern hieroglyphs, “Fuji” literally means abundance and wealth. At the same time, we must not forget that the name has existed for many centuries, so such an approach will not be entirely correct and, most likely, does not have the correct semantic meaning. Many researchers refer to one of the Japanese chronicles dating back to the tenth century. It states what "immortality" means.

One of the British missionaries (John Batchelor) already at the beginning of the twentieth century put forward a theory according to which the word “Fujiyama” is of Ainu origin and means a fire deity. However, the famous Japanese linguist Kyosuke later refuted this version. Research on this matter is still underway, but there is no single interpretation yet.

Conquering the peak

Among other things, Fuji is a volcano that attracts a huge number of tourists every year. Information about its first conquest dates back to 663. Then an unknown monk managed to climb the mountain. According to statistical information, now about five million tourists from all over the world come here every year. Moreover, on average, every tenth of them climbs to the crater itself. Its depth is about two hundred meters, which cannot but take the breath away of everyone who gets here.

Currently, there are three routes leading all interested tourists directly to the vent. An interesting fact about climbing the volcano is that previously only men were allowed to climb it. This happened until the Mendi reign (1868-1912). Much has changed since then, and now women make up the majority of pilgrims. You can climb the mountain from July 1 to August 31. This is the time that is considered the safest. In all other months the peak is covered with snow.

Eruptions

Statistics on the eruptions of this volcano have been kept for more than twelve centuries, starting in 781. During this period of time, only six of them were recorded with more or less significant force.

More than three hundred years have passed since the last strong eruption. It began on November 24, 1707 and lasted for two months. Halfway from the top to the foot of the mountain, a second crater appeared, from which lava and thick smoke burst out. The area where Mount Fuji is located, as well as most of the streets of Tokyo, were literally covered with a thick layer of ash. The resulting secondary peak, known as Heyzan, can still be seen today. Two more major eruptions occurred in 800 and 864.

Fuji in Japanese art

Nationally, Mount Fuji is usually depicted with snow-covered slopes, from the vent of which comes 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 there was a period of its volcanic activity. Fuji became famous all over the world largely thanks to the creativity of Japanese engravers who worked during the reign of Emperor Edo. The most popular of them are such works by Hokusai as “Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji” and “One Hundred Views of Fuji”.

Part of the national park

As already noted, Fuji is an integral part. On its slopes you can find many signs warning about a strict ban on throwing garbage. Moreover, before the ascent, each pilgrim receives a package intended for his collection, if one was left by someone. At the same time, no one considers it shameful to contribute to maintaining the Japanese shrine in a clean condition. To ensure proper order, there are also many automatic dry closets on the slopes.

Tourism

Without a doubt, Fuji is a volcano that is the most popular and main tourist attraction in Japan. It is not surprising that most residents of the country consider it the most beautiful place on the entire planet. Starting in July, for three months, local rescue centers and small mountain huts are at the disposal of tired tourists and travelers. Trading of food and drinks is also very common here during this time.

Of the three trails to the summit, one main one has been identified. There are ten points intended for recreation. Here, each conqueror of the peak is given special staffs made of bamboo. They significantly help them when climbing. Moreover, at each of the stations a mark is applied to the staffs, which confirms that the tourist has actually overcome the stage. To simplify the ascent, a road has been built up to half the way (to the fifth point).

Religious and cultural significance

In Japan, the vast majority of residents profess Shintoism. For every adherent of this religion, Fuji is a sacred volcano. The ancient inhabitants of the country assumed that its crater was the forge of the fire god Ainu. This, in their opinion, was considered the reason why the slopes were strewn with debris and ash. Now the period from July to August is the period of greatest activity for religious pilgrims who seek to visit their main shrine. During this time, up to three thousand people stay here every night, who want to watch the vast expanses of the ocean and the sun rising from them. Every Japanese considers a pilgrimage to this mountain to be their sacred duty.

Japan is an island state located on an archipelago that was formed as a result of the activity of numerous volcanoes. The arc-shaped cluster of islands stretches from north to south for 3.5 thousand kilometers. All islands have predominantly mountainous terrain. The country's highest mountain, Fuji, is located 150 km from the capital. Fuji is a sacred mountain, a source of inspiration for poets and artists.
Japanese mountains are characterized by alpine jaggedness, with the exception of massifs with smooth outlines in the south of Kyushu. The highest mountains are called the Japanese Alps, they are located in the center of Honshu near Tokyo.

Geology

There is no consensus in the scientific community about what the cluster of Japanese islands is. Some scientists view them as a submerged microcontinent, since Japan is characterized by increased thickness of the earth's crust. The archipelago is located above a specific zone of thrust of the island crust onto the oceanic crust, which is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The core axis of Hokkaido is formed by sedimentary-volcanogenic processes. In the west there are additionally Upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic deposits. The northeast of Honshu, in the structure of which the main role is played by Paleozoic deposits represented by terrigenous strata, is separated from its southwestern part by a meridional graben. All these deposits are embedded in folds. The western coast of Honshu is formed by green Neogene tuffs. In the southwestern part of Japan there is a zonal structure with a general rejuvenation of zones. The most ancient Precambrian rocks make up the Hida zone. In the southeast of the country, volcanic-sedimentary deposits of the Paleozoic are developed, which have undergone folding deformation. The chalk belt extends along the border with the outer zones.

Almost every day, earthquakes occur on one of the many islands, which indicates the incompleteness of the mountain building process.

Climate in the mountains of Japan

The Japanese islands are located at several latitudes and are washed by four seas and the Pacific Ocean, which is the reason for the significant difference in climate in the north and south of the country. Conventionally, several climatic zones are distinguished in Japan.
The island of Hokkaido is characterized by long, frosty winters with an average temperature of -15°C and cold summers. Precipitation is moderate, up to 700 mm.
The islands washed by the Sea of ​​Japan are covered with heavy snowfalls in winter. Summer is usually warm.
In the Central Highlands, temperatures vary significantly throughout the day. The winter and summer seasons are clearly defined.
In the Pacific Islands, winters are cold with little rainfall, but summers are hot and humid.
The southwestern islands are characterized by a subtropical climate with warm winters with temperatures of +16°C and hot summers up to +35°C. There is a lot of precipitation all year round, up to 1200 mm.

Hydrography

The territory of the country is covered by an extensive network of large and small mountain rivers. The longest river in Japan is the Shinano, located on the island of Honshu. It is born in the Japanese Alps and flows into the Sea of ​​Japan. There are also two other large waterways: Kitakami (294 km), Tone (322 km), Kiso (229 km) and Tenryu (213 km).
Tesho and Ishikari are quite long, 268 km long, located on the island. Hokkaido.
There are many small freshwater lakes on the islands. At the same time, near Kyoto there is one of the most ancient lakes, Biwa, which has historical and cultural value. Its average depth is 41 km. The second largest lake in Japan (220 km?) is Kasumigaura. It is located in the east of the island of Honshu. Currently, Lake Kasumigaura is used for fishing, irrigation, and tourism.
A special feature of Japan is the presence of numerous crater lakes. The largest of them is Towada on the island of Honshu. Located at an altitude of 400 m above sea level.

Flora and fauna

Japan's flora is rich and varied due to high humidity and a wide range of climatic conditions. It has more than 17 thousand species of plants, the most famous of which are sakura and plum.
More than half of the territory is occupied by forests. Coniferous forests predominate on the northern islands. Moreover, in the north of Hokkaido, spruce and fir trees predominate, and in the south, cypress and pine trees predominate. The heart of the island is occupied by broadleaf forests of beech, maple and oak. Cypress and pine trees grow well in the north of Honshu. In the central part of the island, birch, willow, and walnut trees grow, but in the south they are replaced by evergreen forests of Japanese magnolia and jagged oak, which also spread to the north of the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku. Here you can also find bamboo and banyan trees, as well as laurel forests. Further south, tropical and subtropical forests extend across the archipelago. They are characterized by the presence of bananas, palms, tree ferns and ficus. In some places on the islands you can find thousand-year-old Japanese cryptomerias up to 50 meters high. The central mountain range of Hokkaido Island is characterized by thickets of rhododendrons and heather above the forest line, which then give way to alpine meadows. In spring, azaleas and peonies bloom everywhere, and in November, chrysanthemums bloom.

The fauna is less diverse, which is due to the isolation of the islands. For the same reason, there are many endemics here. Thus, some species of woodpeckers, pheasants, dragonflies, crabs, sharks, snakes, salamanders and marine mammals are not found anywhere else. In the north of the country, the forests are inhabited by brown bears, short-legged wolves, foxes, weasels, and mountain antelopes. Hares, martens, squirrels and flying squirrels are common. Among the birds you can often see swallows, cuckoos, sparrows, thrushes, and woodpeckers. Ducks, swans and cranes live on the lakes, and albatrosses and snipes live on the sea coasts.

Mountainous regions of Japan

Hokkaido

The island has several mountain ranges stretching from north to south. Hidaka has a length of 100 km, average heights are 1400-1800 m. The highest point of the mountain range is at 2025 m and belongs to Mount Hiroshiri. The western slopes of the ridge are more gentle. The attraction is the terraces located along the sea coast.
The Tokati massif stretches in the central part of the island for a distance of 100 km. The highest point is located on Mount Asahi. This volcano last erupted in 1739, so it is considered dormant. However, even now hot gases are actively released from crevices in its slopes. Translated from Japanese, the name of the ridge means Great Snowy Mountain. On its slopes there is the Daisetsuza'n National Park.

Near the northwestern coast of the island there is the Rishiri volcano with a height of 1721 m. The volcano’s outline resembles the most famous volcano in Japan, which is why it has the popular name Rishiri-Fuji. In good weather it can be observed from the Russian coast. Today this volcano is considered extinct.
Volcano Syari is located in the northwest of Hokkaido. Its height is 1547 m. It is also extinct.

Honshu

The country's highest mountain, Fuji (3800 m), is located on its territory. Numerous temples and other religious buildings are located on the slopes of the mountain. A distinctive feature of the volcano is its clear geometric shape in the form of a regular cone. The diameter of the volcano's crater is about 500 m, and its depth is 200 m. Mount Fuji and the surrounding area belongs to the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
There are three mountain ranges on the island: Hida, Kiso, Akaishi.
Hida has a length of 140 m and a maximum height of 3190 m on Mount Yarigotake. Belongs to the Tubu Sangaku National Park.
The length of the Kiso ridge is 150 m, and its height reaches 2956 m on Mount Komagatake. It has rather steep slopes along which numerous streams flowing into Kiso and Tenryu. Mount Komagatake attracts mountaineering enthusiasts and is part of Onuma National Park.
The highest point of the Akaishi Range is Mount Kita, reaching a height of 3193 m. Mount Kita is the second highest in Japan, but at the same time the country's highest mountain of non-volcanic origin. Hiking enthusiasts appreciate the presence of gentle slopes that allow them to climb and admire the local nature. Mountains Aino (3189 m), Arakawa (3141 m), Akaishi (3120 m), Shiomi (3047 m), Senjo (3033 m) and others have slightly lower altitudes.

Kyushu

The island's mountains reach a maximum height of 1788 m (the inactive Kuju volcano), and their average height is about 1000 m. There are several active volcanoes here. The country's most active volcano is Aso, 1,592 m high.
The island is home to the Kirishima Volcanic Group, which is formed by 23 volcanoes. The highest peaks are Karakunidake and Takachihonomine, reaching a maximum height of 1700 m. They belong to the Kirishima-Yaku National Park, which also includes caldera lakes.
The Sakurajima volcano is also active and one of the most dangerous in the country. The volcano has three peaks and each has a crater, the highest Kitadake reaches 1117 m. Ash emissions occur annually, indicating the continuation of its activity.
Kyushu is famous for its numerous thermal springs. The most famous of them are located near the city of Beppu, and their cause is the activity of the Aso volcano.

Shikoku

The main mountain system rising among the plains of the island is the Sanuki Range. Its highest point is Mount Ishizuchi (1982 m). Mounts Tsurugi (1955 m), Kamegamori (1896 m), Miune (1893 m), Sasagamine (1859 m) reach slightly lower heights.

An active stratovolcano on the Japanese island of Honshu, 90 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, attracts the attention of tourists and photographers at any time of the year. Legends have long been written about the mountain with a height of 3776 m (the highest in Japan), and its image has become one of the symbols of the country.

Currently, the volcano is considered weakly active, the last eruption was in 1707–1708.

The mountain has an almost perfect conical outline and is considered sacred, serves as an object of tourism, as well as religious pilgrimage of the Buddhist and Shinto cults. Fuji has been a popular theme in Japanese art for centuries.

Today, the summit of Fuji is home to a Shinto shrine, a post office and a weather station. The surrounding area of ​​the mountain is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The classic image of the sacred Mount Fuji is a smoking volcano with a sharp peak, forever covered with ice. The Japanese considered it the mountain of Taoist immortals; the rising smoke supposedly came from the elixir of immortality lit in the crater.

According to historian and Japanese scholar Alexander Meshcheryakov, this image of Fuji, glorified in literature and fine arts, is very different from the real one.

When the Edo period artist gave life to his panel painting "True View of Mount Fuji", he did not mean that his painting should closely resemble the real mountain. Rather, it was a "true view" depicting its beautiful form so that people could see what Mount Fuji should be like. In particular, the widespread idea of ​​Fuji as a mountain bound by eternal snow is not true: for two months of the year - in July and August - there is no snow.

The first written evidence of the summit dates back to around the 8th century, when Fuji was still an active volcano. It was from this time that the standard image of the mountain began to form among the metropolitan elite (who at that time lived approximately 450 km from it). Now the volcano is extinct, and the western part of the cone is cut through by a three-kilometer Great Failure.

The outline of Mount Fuji first became famous in the world thanks to Japanese ukiyo-e prints from the Edo era. The collections of engravings “Thirty-six Views of Fuji” by Hokusai, the collection of the same name by Hiroshige, and “One Hundred Views of Fuji” by Hokusai are widely known.

Fuji is still an active Shinto shrine and on its slopes there are religious buildings of the Japanese traditional religion of Shinto.

Many Japanese companies bear the name of the sacred mountain (including Fujifilm, Fuji Television, Fuji Heavy Industries and others). According to Russian journalist Vsevolod Ovchinnikov, the list of these companies takes up “eight pages of the telephone book.” Such speculation is considered blasphemy in the scientific community, and scientists have proposed a special tax that should be levied for the commercial use of this name.

Mount Fuji, which Europeans mistakenly like to call Fuji, in Japan bears the respectful name Fuji-san.

The mountain is a sacred place for many Japanese; at its top there is a Shinto shrine, which owns quite a large part of Fuji - the territory from the level of 3350 meters to the very top of the mountain. For comparison: the state controls here only the weather station, also located at the top, and hiking trails. The government tried to win ownership for itself for as long as 17 years, but to no avail.

Also, do not forget that Fuji is an active stratovolcano, although not particularly active at present: it last erupted in 1707-1708, and this was its most powerful eruption. In total, Fuji has erupted 12 times since 781. The height of the volcano is 3776 meters, and it is the highest point in Japan. In clear weather, the volcano can be seen from a distance of up to 90 kilometers. Fuji is approximately this distance relative to Tokyo.

According to seismologists, volcanic activity in this place began many hundreds of thousands of years ago. As a result of the first eruptions, the Komitake volcano first appeared, but even before it it was turbulent. Subsequent eruptions formed the “old Fuji”, which lies at the base of the “young Fuji”, which appeared more than 10 thousand years ago. In Japanese mythology, there is a different opinion regarding the formation of Fuji: supposedly the mountain appeared from the earth thrown out from the place where in 286 BC. Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan, appeared. Fuji has always been considered the habitat of the gods, the gateway to the underworld, as well as one of the earth's axes.

Pilgrims and tourists still strive to climb to the top of Fuji. This opportunity exists only in the summer, when there is no snow at the top. In the Edo era, about 800 organizations throughout Japan were involved in organizing such ascents. If in the Middle Ages the mountain had to be conquered on foot, today part of the journey can be done by bus - up to the level of 2300 meters, and then you still have to walk.

In July and August, there are rescue stations and yamagoya mountain huts on the slopes of Fuji, where you can buy provisions and spend the night. On the north side up to the fifth level (2300 meters) there are also restaurants and parking.

The area surrounding the mountain is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The Fuji Five Lakes resort is also located here.

The sacred volcano Fuji has long been an inspiration for artists, writers and poets.


Its perfectly smooth cone is a symbol of Japan, a place of pilgrimage for Zionist and Buddhist cults, as well as a popular tourist attraction attracting increased attention from fans of mountaineering and outdoor recreation. Where is this majestic peak located? And why is it so popular among tourists?

Where is Fujiyama located?

Fuji is the highest point in Japan and rises on the largest island of the state - Honshu. Those wishing to visit this beautiful volcano can find it approximately 90 km southwest of the Japanese capital, near the cities of Yokohama and Miyamae-Ku.

Due to its height of 3,776 meters and its location on flat terrain, the snow-capped peak is clearly visible from the southern outskirts of Tokyo in clear weather. Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park extends around Fuji, which, together with the volcano, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Fuji as a sacred mountain

For religious residents of Japan, Fuji is a sacred mountain and a popular place of pilgrimage. There is a legend that the souls of the dead live, and the peak itself acts as a connecting link between people and gods. At the top of the mountain there is a Zionist temple, where thousands of pilgrims from all over the country flock every year. In their opinion, the path leading to the sanctuary serves as a road to the other world.


Interestingly, Fuji is a private property owned by the temple. Inside the sanctuary, a deed of gift from the beginning of the 17th century is still kept, according to which the volcano was donated to the religious building by the Japanese ruler (shogun). In 1974, the authenticity of this document was confirmed by the state's supreme court.

Fuji as a tourist attraction

Despite the fact that there is a lot to see in Japan, any tourist coming to the country first of all strives to get to Fuji. It is not surprising, because both the mountain itself and its surroundings are of great interest to visitors. The safest period for climbing is considered to be the summer season. At this time, rescue services and hotels (the so-called yamagoya) operate along the hiking routes, where you can stay overnight and have lunch.

The surroundings of the volcano are no less attractive for tourists. In the national park surrounding the peak, you can see hot springs and numerous historical buildings. At the foot of Fuji lies the Five Lakes area, where in addition to resorts and clean beaches, there is the Fujikyu Highlands amusement park with the largest roller coaster in Japan.

Why is Fuji dangerous as a volcano?

For all its splendor, Fuji is a formidable volcano that can cause irreparable damage to the island of Honshu. Its last eruption occurred in 1854, but the mountain still remains active and causes serious concern among geologists. The reason for the volcanism of Fuji is its location at the junction of three tectonic plates, where hot magma rises through faults to the earth's surface.

Today's cone is located on the site of older volcanic structures formed during the Pleistocene. Initially, the Sen-Komitake volcano formed on the site of modern Fuji; later it was destroyed, and the Komitake cone grew on its remains. About 80 thousand years ago it was replaced by the so-called “Old Fuji”, after the destruction of which the volcano we see today was formed.


Many volcanologists do not rule out that a new eruption of Fuji will occur in the coming decades. This is evidenced by the increase in the number of earthquakes in the area of ​​the summit and the rising water level in one of the lakes at the foot. Scientists' forecasts are disappointing, because today the Japanese island of Honshu is overpopulated, so a giant eruption could have a negative impact on millions of people.