GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JAPAN \\ 



1759 ni. ; Adataro-san, 1710 m. ; Adziiina-yama, 1949 m. ; Bandai-san, 

 1819 m. ; and Nasii-saii, 1917 m., and turns to the southwest and 

 then west tlirough Takahara-jama, 1795 m. ; Nantai-zan, 2484 ni., 

 the principal peak of the Nikko Group ; Nikko Shirane, 2578 m. ; 

 Akagi-san, 1828 m.; Haruna-san, 1448 m.; and Asama-yania, 2542 m. 

 Some of these are still' active. The great eruption of Asama-yan;a in 

 1783 and the explosion of Bandai-san, in 1888, were the most remark- 

 able. The great volcanic district of Kenashi and Iwasuge with the 

 extinct-, volcanoes of the same names stretches to the north of Asama. 

 Kusatsu-Shii-ane, 2161, m., and Adzumaja-san, 2333 m., are well 

 known in this district. 



The second range of the inner zone, Avhich runs parallel to the 

 central range and along the coast of the Sea of Japan, is similar in 

 geological formation to the central chain. These ranges are separated 

 from each other hy a series of low depressed lands such as the valleys of 

 the sister rivers Yoneshiro, Omono and Mogami, the basins of Yonezawa, 

 Aidzu and Inawashiro, etc. The range is divided into two parts by 

 the gorge of Mogami. The northern half, which is composed mostly 

 of hills or low tablelands, is generally comprised under the name of 

 the Dewa Hills. Recently the number of petroleum wells has been 

 increasing in these hill districts. The soul hern half is very moun- 

 tainous and is called the Echigo Kange. Asahi-dake, 2418 m., 

 and lide-san, 2105 m., are prominent peaks of granite mass in this 

 range. Tlie southern prolongation of the range stretches between 

 tlie Aidzu basin and Echigo plain and terminates in the Mikuni 

 Eange. 



A volcanic chain runs parallel to this western range. Commen- 

 cing at Iwaki-san, 1625 m., it passes through Moriyoshi-yanja, 1454 m., 

 Chokai-zan, 2230 m. and Gassan, 1924 m. Cliokai is well known 

 because of its gigantic proportions and therefore this chain takes the 

 name of this volcano. The coastal line of the Sea of Japan is mostly 

 flat and unbroken. Its monotony is disturbed only by the volcanic 

 peninsula of Oga, which encloses the shallow waters of the lagoon of 

 Hachiro-gata. The plain of Echigo on the same coast is one of the 

 largest plains in the country, and also one of the best rice producing 

 districts in Japan. Niigata at the mouth of the River Shinano is a 

 commercial town on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The hills in the 

 plains Akita and Echigo constitute the principal source of petroleum. 

 Akita, Nagaoka, Kashiwazaki, and Niidzu are centres of the oil 



