Hokkaido

Geography

Hokkaido Island is located at the north end of Japan, near Russia, and has coastlines on the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Pacific Ocean. The center of the island has a number of mountains and volcanic plateaus, and there are coastal plains in all directions. Major cities include Sapporo and Asahikawa in the central region and the port of Hakodate facing Honshu.

Related Topics:
Russia - Sea of Japan - Sea of Okhotsk - Pacific Ocean - Sapporo - Asahikawa - Hakodate - Honshu

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The prefecture of Hokkaid? incorporates several smaller islands, including Rishiri Island, Okushiri Island, and Rebun Island. (By Japanese reckoning, the prefecture also incorporates several of the Kuril Islands.) Because the prefectural status of Hokkaido is denoted by the d? in its name, it is rarely referred to as "Hokkaido Prefecture," except when necessary to distinguish the prefecture from the island.

Related Topics:
Prefecture - Rishiri Island - Okushiri Island - Rebun Island - Kuril Islands

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An earthquake of magnitude 8.0 struck near the island on September 25, 2003 at 19:50:07 (UTC).

Related Topics:
Earthquake - Magnitude 8.0 - September 25 - 2003

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It is divided into four parts:

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• Eastern Route (??):
• Abashiri (??)
• Shiretoko (??)
• Akanko (???)
• Kussharoko (????)
• Mashuko (???)
• Kushiro (??)
• Obihiro (??)
• Tokachigawa (???)
• Southern Circuit (??):
• Hakodate (??)
• Yunokawa (???)
• Noboribetsu (??)
• Touyako (???)
• Central Circuit (??):
• Sapporo (???)
• Otaru (??)
• Jozankei (???)
• Shikotsuko (???)
• Furano (???)
• Biei (??)
• Asahikawa (??)
• Sounkyo (???)
• Northern Circuit (??):
• Wakkanai (??)

There are still many undisturbed forests in Hokkaid?, including:

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• 6 national parks:
• Shiretoko National Park (??): On July 14, 2005, UNESCO designated the area a World Heritage Site.
• Akan National Park (??)
• Kushiro Marshlands National Park (????)
• Taisetsuzan National Park (???)
• Shikotsu-Toya National Park (????)
• Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park (????????)
• 5 quasi-national parks (?????)
• 12 circuital natural reserves