Japan

Japan

Geographical Setting

Japan is an island country in the North Pacific Ocean. It lies off the northeast
coast of mainland Asia and faces Russia,Korea, and China. Four large islands and
thousands of smaller ones make up Japan. The four major islands-
Hokkaido,Honshu,Kyushu and Shikoku form a curve that extends for about 1,900
kilometres.

Topography

Japan is a land of great natural beauty. mountains and hills cover about 70% of
the country. IN fact, Japanese islands consist of the rugged upper part of a
great mountain range that rises from the floor of the North Pacific Ocean.
Jagged peaks, rocky gorges, and thundering mountain waterfalls provide some of
the country's most spectacular scenery. Thick forests thrive on mountansides,
adding to the scenic beauty of the Japanese islands. Forests cover about 68% of
the country's land.

Japan lies on an extremely unstable part of the earth's crust. As a result, the
land is constantly shifting. This shifting causes two of Japan's most striking
features-- earthquakes and volcanoes. The Japanese islands have about 1500
earthquakes a year. Most of them are minor tremors that cause little damage, but
severe earthqaukes occur every few years. Underseaquakes sometimes cause huge,
destructive tidal waves, called tsunami, along Japan's Pacific coast. The
Japanese islands have more than 150 major volcanoes. Over 60 of these volcanoes
are active.

Numerous short, swift rivers cross Japan's rugged surface. most of the rivers
are too shallow and steep to be navigated. Their waters are used to irrigate
farmland, and their rapids and falls supply power for hydroelectric plants. Many
lakes nestle among the Japanese mountains. Some lie in the craters of extinct
volcanoes. A large number of hot springs gush from the ground throughout the
country. The Japanese islands have a total land area of about 337,708 sqkm. The
islands , in order of size, are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. The sea of
Japan washes the country's west coast... [continues]

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