Kagamigawa

A river that flows southeast through central Kochi Prefecture. It is 31 kilometers long. It originates at Kuishiyama, located in the mountainous area to the north of Kochi City, flows south, turns east in the west of the city, flows east through the city center, and empties into Urado Bay. Small river terraces have developed in the middle reaches, and Kagami Dam supplies water for the city. In the west of Kochi City, it forms a small alluvial fan, and its underground water provided the location for the paper and silk industries during the Meiji period. The lower reaches formed the outer moat of Kochi Castle Town, and were also called Ushioegawa. Kochi citizens have enjoyed fishing and swimming here, but they have also been known to cause flood damage. In recent years, river improvement work has turned part of the riverbed into urban green space.

[Masaki Hisahito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

高知県中央部を南東流する川。延長31キロメートル。高知市北部の山間地に位置する工石(くいし)山に源を発して南流し、同市西部で向きを東に変え、中心市街地を東流して浦戸湾に注ぐ。中流域では小規模な河岸段丘を発達させ、鏡ダムは都市用水を供給する。高知市街地西部では小規模な扇状地を形成し、伏流水は明治時代に製紙、製糸業の立地条件をなした。下流部は高知城下町の外堀をなし、潮江川(うしおえがわ)ともよばれた。釣り、水泳にと高知市民に親しまれてきたが、一方では洪水災害ももたらした。近年、河川改修工事により河川敷の一部は都市緑地となった。

［正木久仁］

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