Volcanic eruptions are common in Japan. More than any other nation, it boasts over a hundred active volcanoes, making up around 10% of all active volcanoes worldwide.
Why do earthquakes and volcanoes occur in Japan?
Japan has a long history of volcanism. The Japanese archipelago is situated where various oceanic and continental plates collide, resulting in regular earthquakes as well as numerous volcanoes and hot springs all around Japan. Thus, tsunamis may be caused by earthquakes that happen near or beneath the ocean.
What type of volcanoes are in Japan?
Japan has stratovolcanoes, lava domes, and cinder cone volcanoes. The former is the most common type that can be found in Japan.
Because they are composed of numerous layers of pumice, ash, hardened lava, and tephra (rock pieces released by a volcano during an eruption), stratovolcanoes are conical in shape and are also known as composite volcanoes. These mountains typically have a crater at the crest and have a significantly steeper slope than shield volcanoes. Calderas are collapsed peak craters seen on some stratovolcanoes.
Mount Suribachi, located in the Ogasawara Islands, is a cinder volcano, while Mount Niigata Yakeyama, found in the Niigata Prefecture, is a lava dome.
How many inactive volcanoes are in Japan?
There are 329 inactive volcanoes in Japan. Many of these volcanoes were formed in the last few thousand years, and a few are much older. Mt. Fuji is one of the dormant volcanoes in the country. It has the highest elevation in Japan and its last recorded eruption was in 1707.
What does the study of volcanoes tell about Japan?
Volcanoes are one of the most fascinating features of Japan. The Japanese have a long history of studying volcanoes and their effects on the environment. The study of volcanoes has also been important for understanding the history of Japan. For example, it has been shown that the eruptions of volcanoes influenced the development of civilization in Japan.
Volcanic activity created the majority of Japan’s mountains. While many volcanoes are tourist destinations for their picturesque scenery, hiking trails, and soothing hot springs, they also cause significant damage and annoyance when they erupt. The so-called “hell valleys” (jigokudani), also connected to volcanoes, are areas of volcanic activity that draw tourists with their stunning steam vents, boiling streams, and sulfurous air.
Where are the active volcanoes in Japan?
Hokkaido, the Tohoku, Kanto, and Chubu areas, as well as Kyushu, are home to the majority of Japan’s volcanoes, whereas Kansai, Shikoku, and Chugoku are home to considerably less.
About 600 miles southwest of Tokyo on the island of Kyushu sits the volcano known as Sakurajima. It’s one of the most active volcanoes in Japan. Here are other active volcanoes that can be found in different parts of the country:
- Mt. Shirane (Gunma Prefecture)
- Mt. Usu (Hokkaido)
- Mt. Hakone (Kanagawa Prefecture)
- Mt. Asama (Nagano Prefecture)
- Mt. Taisetsu (Hokkaido)
- Mt. Bandai (Fukushima Prefecture)
- Mt. Aso (Kumamoto Prefecture)
- Mt. Kuju (Oita Prefecture)
How do volcanoes in Japan affect people?
Given that tourism is one of the main drivers of economic growth, volcanic activity will have a huge impact on the economy. Volcanoes are troublesome and linked with destruction, yet they are also tourist destinations with beautiful scenery, hiking routes, and calming hot springs.
Volcanic activity can cause infrastructure and habitation damage by blasting ash very far and launching boulders into populated regions. The volcanic ash can also damage the two largest crop exports of the nation’s agriculture industry (tea and rice).