Landscape
Mountains
The islands are tremendously mountainous and experience
frequent volcanic activity. About 72 percent of the islands are covered with steep mountains that make the land practically inhabitable.
Mount Fuji
The highest mountain in Japan is named Mount Fuji and it is 12,389 feet tall. Mount Fuji is an exceptionally popular landmark and it is also a dormant volcano.
Volcanoes
Japan is located along the ‘Ring of Fire’, where nearly all of the world’s volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. Nearly 67 volcanoes are currently active or potentially active in Japan and many new volcanoes are still forming. These numbers of volcanoes could bring destruction to the country at any time.
National Parks
Several Japanese government bodies are in charge of conservation policies that help protect the environment and ecosystem. Through the efforts of these government agencies over 70 national and quasi-national parks have been created in the country.
Zao National Park (above), Shikotsu Toya National Park (below)
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Earthquakes
Seismicity Map - 1900 to Present
Earthquakes are another constant danger that could cause destruction in Japan. A large of amount of faults is located under the islands causing the earthquakes. One of the greatest earthquakes in recorded Japanese history occurred on September 1, 1923 near the major city of Tokyo. This earthquake claimed the lives of about 100,000 citizens and completely destroyed Tokyo.
Plate Tectonics
The islands are formed at a convergent plate boundary where the Pacific Plate and North American Plate are colliding. The Pacific Plate is being subducted below the North American Plate thus causing volcanic activity that formed the island arc.
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