132 Yamasahi — Glaciation of Japan Mountains. 



in North Japan, but later observers are doubtful of their 

 character. 



Since that time no further investigations were reported, 

 not even from Milne, until recently some of our geogra- 

 phers took up the subject again. I have always been of 

 the opinion that there may be some traces of glaciers in 

 our mountains, especially the lofty ones of Middle Japan, 

 for there are several peaks 3,000 meters or more in height, 

 which have snow during nearly all of the year in conse- 

 quence of the heavy precipitation that results from the 

 oceanic climate. The winter snowfall is greater than that 

 of the European Alps. Moreover the temperature does 

 not differ greatly from that of the Alps. So believing the 

 possibility of the existence of glacial features in our lofty 

 mountains, I have visited them several times to investi- 

 gate the question more thoroughly. Fortunately I made 

 the discovery of topographic forms characteristic of 

 glaciated mountains with the supporting evidence of 

 moraines and striae which show the former existence of 

 an ice covering in these mountains. 



Now let us consider the topography of Middle Japan. 

 In the center of the main island of Japan, where the two 

 principal mountain arcs of North Japan and South Japan 

 meet, the terrestrial configuration attains its greatest 

 complexity. Several mountains, both tectonic and vol- 

 canic, stand side by side and upon one another. Indeed 

 the renowned volcanic chain of Fuji, with its numerous 

 gigantic cones, traverses the island and occupies the 

 depression zone between the precipitous scarps of the 

 two principal arcs. Especially esteemed for their prom- 

 inent features are the mountains that lie on the western 

 side of the Fuji chain and form the northern extremity of 

 the southern arc of the cordillera of our archipelago. 

 Their culminating peaks are 3,000 meters in elevation, or 

 even more. The ridges are sharp and ragged, forming 

 sometimes pointed needles, pinnacles, or steep rocky walls 

 facing gorges a thousand meters deep. These scenes are 

 of truly Alpine character, and some years ago these moun- 

 tains were given the popular name of "The Japanese 

 Alps." There are three principal mountains, namely 

 Akaishi, Kiso and Hida, which run parallel to each other 

 and trend southwest to north-northeast. Of these, Hida is 

 the highest and most characteristic. It forms the eastern 



