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.
The islands of Honshu and Hokkaido are the largest in Japan. Honshu occupies about a third of the entire territory of the country. There are many main objects on it, for example, the capital of Japan, Tokyo, as well as the pride and symbol of the state - Mount Fuji. Kyushu is the third largest, there is an assumption that the Japanese civilization originated on this island. It is home to the infamous city of Nagasaki, which is currently home to Peace Park.
Some islands are connected by railway tunnels, Honshu and Shikoku are connected by a system of bridges. The maritime space that 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
Across the area, which is 83,400 square meters. km, it is the second in the state. Its population is about 5.5 million inhabitants. The Japanese island of Hokkaido is the northernmost of the state's four largest islands. It is separated from Honshu by the Sangar Strait.
The whole territory is divided into 14 districts. Under the control of Hokkaido there are several adjacent islands, for example, Rishiri, Rebun and others. There are nine main cities on the island: Sapporo, Hakodate, Kushiro, Asahikawa, Ebetsu, Otaru, Tomakomai, Obihiro and Kitami. Sapporo is the administrative center, it is home to about 30% of the population of Hokkaido. There are 39 colleges and 37 universities on the island.
Hokkaido is a popular destination for tourists. Most often, it is reached by ferry or plane; only a railway tunnel connects it with other islands of the state, which leads directly to the island of Honshu. The tunnel called "Seikan" is located at a depth of 240 meters.
Hokkaido History
The first settlements arose 20 thousand years ago in Hokkaido. The islands of the central part of Japan are significantly different from the northern ones, 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-Jōmon. Jomon is considered the firstculture that originated in Hokkaido. On the basis of Satsumon, the Ainu culture arose in the 13th century, which still exists.
In the Middle Ages, the Japanese arrived on the island. Warring with the Ainu, they occupy the southern part of the territory. In the 17th century, the Japanese create a feudal principality that establishes control over the entire island without completely conquering the Ainu.
In the 19th century, the Hokkaido Administration was created, which performs the functions of a state body. The island is undergoing significant work to improve infrastructure. Railways and ports are being built, and a transport system between Hokkaido and Honshu is being established. There are steel, sawmills, paper mills, agriculture is developing. Since then, industry has been one of the important industries on the island.
Geography of Hokkaido
Japan's islands are mostly of volcanic origin, Hokkaido is no exception. The territory of the island is formed by ophiolites and sedimentary-volcanic rocks. From the northern coast is the Sea of Okhotsk. The island is also washed by the Sea of Japan and the waters of the Pacific Ocean. In the south, Hokkaido is represented by the Oshima Peninsula. On this island, there are two extreme points of the country at once: in the north it is Cape Soya, and in the east - Nosappu-Saki.
The terrain is mountainous and flat at the same time. Volcanoes and mountains stretch through the entire central part. The island is affected by seismic activity, and some volcanoes are considered active (Koma, Usu, Tokachi, Tarume, Mezakan). Asahi is the highest peak. Thismountain on the island of Hokkaido reaches 2290 meters in height. The plains are closer to the coasts.
Climate
Due to its length from north to south, the climatic conditions of Japan differ in different parts of the country. Cold temperatures are different in Hokkaido. The islands in the southwestern part, on the contrary, have warm conditions, as a subtropical climate has formed here.
Hokkaido has colder winters than other regions of Japan, with snow on the island for up to 120 days per season. On the mountain ranges closer to the northern part of the island, snowdrifts can reach 11 meters, and almost two meters near the Pacific coast. In January, the average temperature is from -12 to -4 degrees. Throughout the winter, many drifting ice floes are observed 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 averages up to 150, although this figure is much higher on other islands.
Animals and flora
The nature of Hokkaido is the main reason for tourists to visit it. Despite the large number of industrial enterprises, the government managed to preserve natural resources. Approximately 70% is occupied by forests. Coniferous trees grow in the northern part, they are represented by spruces, cedars, and firs. Broad-leaved trees grow in the southern part. Bamboo is also widespread in Hokkaido.
Animal worldquite varied. It is home to the largest population of brown bears in Asia. Stoats, sables, foxes live on the island. Local lakes are full of fish, and in spring many birds fly here. One of the locals is a flying squirrel called "ezo momonga", which can only be found in Hokkaido.
Attractions
The main attractions of the island, of course, are natural objects. 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 protection of the state. Akan National Park, which is located on the shores of the lake of the same name, is famous for its hot springs.
At the Tomita farm in Furano, you can observe stunning beauty. Hectares of the territory are planted with various varieties of lavender. From June to July, the fields are decorated with lilac, white and other flowers. Sunflowers, poppies, and daffodils grow here.
One of the most popular places on the island is Blue Lake. Gray trunks of withered trees peep out of the bright blue water, creating a truly bewitching 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, Biei. In addition, the island organizesinteresting festivals. In the main city of Hokkaido, the Snow Festival opens every year. At this time, huge snowdrifts become a real material for creativity. About two million people from all over the world come 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 "Drifting Ice Festival".
A Lavender Festival opens every summer at Furano Farm, already known to us. This action is dedicated, of course, 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 European harvest festivals, but everything happens near the seashores, and instead of gratitude for the fruit harvest, the locals thank nature for the generous catch.
Conclusion
Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku are the largest Japanese islands. Hokkaido is the second largest island. It is located in the northern part of the country, due to which its climate is colder and harsher than in the rest of Japan. Despite this, the island has a unique nature, which millions of people from different parts of our planet come to see.
