GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JAPAN 19 



projecting southwards into the Pacific. Fractural depression of Kii 

 Channel on the east and Bungo Channel on the wcpst, cut off Shikoku 

 from Kii Peninsula and Kyushu Island. There is great similarity 

 between the mountain formations of Shikoku and the others. The 

 Shikoku Range, which extends east and west through the island, is a 

 continuation of the mountains in Kii Peninsula and Kyushu Island. 

 The greater part of the island is very mountainous, and there are 

 several' lofty peaks, such as Tsurugi-san, 1955 m., and Ishidzuchi-san, 

 1981 m. The northern part of Shikoku, from which the two great 

 jieninsulas of Takanawa and Sanuki project into the Inland Sea, is 

 very similar in its geological and topographical features to the Chiigoku 

 and Setouchi islands. The peuinsula of Sanuki is nothing hut a 

 recently elevated tract of the same sea. Many isolated granite moun- 

 tains and hills stand like islands in the low plain. The so-called 

 mediaa dislocation line of south Japan runs along the Sanuki Eange 

 in the northern border of the Shikoku Range. It makes a distinct 

 tectonic boundary, separating the land and sea of Chugoku from 

 the very regular zones of the Shikoku Range, which is formed mostly 

 of crystalline schists and some other old sedimeniaries. Among many 

 rivers, the Yoshino-gawa is the most noted. In its upper course 

 it flows eastward, forming a valley in the Shikoku Range, then 

 cutting through the range, it forms the famous gorges of Oboke and 

 Koboke and turns again eastwards parallel to the range, flowing 

 through a wide plain until it empties into Kii Channel. A peculiar 

 development of the coastal line on the western . side of the island 

 shows many elongated peninsulas and promontories, such as Sada-no— 

 misaki. Awa-no-naruto, situated in the narrow strait between 

 Shikoku and Awaji, is very remarkable on account of its terrible 

 whirlpools, which are caused by tidal currents. 



The coastal plains along the Inland Sea are well cultivated and 

 densely populated. The mountains produce beautiful timber. The 

 well-known copper mine of Besshi is located in this island. Tchino- 

 kawa was once known for its magnificent crystals of antimony glance. 

 Fishing is very remarkable in the Inland Sea as well as in the 

 Pacific. Precious coral is dredged in the latter ocean near the coast 

 of Tosa, while multitudes of bonito are caught far off the coast of 

 the same province. 



iii. Ksmshii : — This is a large island with a very complicated 

 topography and geology. The Kyushu Range, which is a continuation 



