THE VOLCANO ASO AND ITS LARGE CALDERA 509 



its base on the opposite side. It is only from one of the peaks in the 

 range or from a distant mountain top that a conception of the whole 

 as a unit and as a single vast-caldera may be obtained. 



There are three main peaks, all along the eastern half of the range. 

 The western end is lower, has less bold outlines, and declines gradually 

 toward the west. The most striking of the peaks in the range is 

 Neko-dake at the very eastern end. (The word dake which forms 



Fig. 6. — Recent-looking lava with smooth flow structure, high on the south side 

 of Naka-dake. Looking south toward the southern wall, which shows dimly far across 

 the caldera. 



part of the name of many Japanese mountains means "peak.") Its 

 slopes have the graceful curving outlines characteristic of volcanic 

 cones and its summit is serrated with pinnacles of lava. Its eastern 

 flank drops down and ends the range by merging with the outer wall. 

 There is no sign of any continuation of the range beyond into the 

 outer region, it being distinctly a line of peaks belonging inside of 

 the caldera. The slopes of Neko-dake are steep, being in the main 

 25 to 30 degrees. A part of the summit is easily accessible, but the 



