Region 2) 



(a) Principal mountain area is a series of parallel 

 ranges and intervening valleys. Slevations to 

 6 .OOOtf eet 



(5) Inner zone of southwestern Japan 



(a) Mountains of central Japan, including the Japanese 

 Alps, elevations to 10,000-feet near Matsumoto 



(b) Noto Peninsula and neighboring lowlands 



(c) Kinki basins (Biwa, Kyoto, Kara, and Osaka) 



(d) Low mountains of Chugoku; highest elevation about 

 4,000 feet 



(e) Hilly terrain; northern Shikoku and northern Kyushu 



(f) Inland Sea depression; a submerged block of low bat 

 hilly land, elevation to 2,000 feet 



c. Correlation between physiographic divisions and geology: 



(1) The "median dislocation line" separates two generally 

 different types of geologic structure. 



6. CLIMATIC RSQIONS (See Plate 4) 



a. Hokkaido (Plate 4, Region l) 



(1) Long, cold winters; snow from November to April 



b. Outer zone of northern Honshu and southern Hokkaido (Plate 4, 



(1) Summer warm; winter freezing. Precipitation moderate; 

 average annual 40-60 inches. 



c. Japan Sea Coast (Plate 4, Region 3) 



(1) Winter: Heaviest precipitation of year; much cloudiness; 

 snow cover of one foot or more. Snow accumulations 

 heavier in 3a than in 3b or 3c. Summer: warm in 3a and 

 3b; mild in 3c. Annual rainfall generally greater than 

 60 inches . 



d. Mountains and valleys of central Japan (Plato 4, Region 4) " 



(1) Continental-type climate in the internontane basins; 



high temperatures in summer, freezing in winter. Pre- 

 cipitation low; mean annual 44 inches at Matsumoto. 



e. Southeastern Honshu (Plate 4i Region 5) 



(1) Warm Kuroshio current brin^js mild winters and warm 



