World Natural Heritage SiteYakushima is a small round-shaped island located in the southern part of Japan with an area of about 504 square kilometers. The center of the island has a range of mountains over 1,800 meters high and is fully covered with snow in winter. Yakushima is also known as “The Alps on the Ocean”. It is said to rain 35 days a month and this heavy rainfall is one of the characteristics of Yakushima. The annual rainfall is 4,000 mm in the lowlands and around 10,000 mm in the mountains. These abundant rainfalls are the results of the Kuroshio currents and topographical features of Yakushima. This is the source of the rich nature of Yakushima with its unique forest and vegetation. One feature of Yakushima’s nature is its diversity. There are many varieties of fauna and ora. The western coast of Yakushima is well-known for its vertical distribution of vegetation from the coastline to the mountain tops. Yaku-sugi cedars, the icon of Yakushima, are known for their unusual forms, growth process and longevity. In 1954 the Japanese Government designated this area as Yakushima prime-val cedar forest, a special natural monument.In 1993, 20 % of Yakushima was recognized and was registered as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO.The Vertical Distribution of Vegetation Yakushima is also called ‘the Alps on the Ocean’. The vertical distribution of vegetation of Yakushima is unique. A wide climatic range can be seen. The temperatures range from a subarctic climate of the high mountains （much like that of Hokkaido ‒ the coldest area of Japan）to a subtropical climate of the coastal areas. The areas on top of the mountains have many plants indigenous to Yakushima which makes Yakushima unique.Yakushima is blessed with many natural conditions, geographic, topographic, and climatic. For this reason, it has a rich biodiversity. It has over 1,900 varieties of plants and over 80 of them are indigenous to Yakushima. Yakushima is sometimes called the ‘Galapagos of the Orient’.→ World Natural Heritage sitecold temperate zoneSubtropical zone（6℃）2,000m1,500m1,000m500m0m（10℃）（13℃）（16℃）（20℃）▲ Mt. Miyanoura(1,936m)・Yakushima rhododendron・Yakushima gentian・Yakushimadake dwarf bamboo・Yaku-sugi cedar・Japanese r・Japanese hemlock・Japanese stewartia・Gajumare banyan・Japanese chinquapin・Japanese red oak● Hananoego(1,630m)● Yodogawa trail entrance(1,360m)● Jomon-sugi Cedar(1,300m)● Yakusugi Land(1,000m)● Arakawa Tozanguchi(600m)● Shiratani Unsuikyo(600m)Subalpine Plants zoneMixed Conifer(Cedar) Forest ZoneEvergreenBroad-LeavedForest zonecold temperate zoneHokkaidoOsakaKyushu regionYakushimaTokyo2,000m1,500m1,000m500m0m1.936mSubtropical zone★The Vertical Distribution of VegetationThe Vertical Distribution of Climate The Area Map of Yakushima World Natural Heritage site
元のページ ../index.html#4