Mount Azuma

Japanese: 吾妻山 - あづまやま

A general term for a group of volcanoes located in the northern part of Fukushima Prefecture and on the border with Yamagata Prefecture. It is an active volcano that is constantly under observation. It consists of the highest peak, Nishi-Azumayama (2,035m), Issaikyoyama (1,949m), Higashi-Azumayama, Azuma-Kofuji, Takayama, etc. At the western foot of Azuma-Kofuji is Jodo-daira, an old crater floor at an altitude of 1,660m. The body of Issaikyoyama is made of granite and metamorphic rocks. Azuma-Kofuji has a well-developed crater, but Higashi-Azumayama lacks a crater due to the rise of lava. Small explosion craters (→ explosion craters) include Okenuma, Numanodaira, and Goshikinuma. Nishi-Azumayama is a mountain covered in virgin forest with gentle slopes and dotted with marshes. Issaikyoyama erupted violently in May 1893, and again in February 1950 and December 1977, and fumarolic activity continues to this day. In 1959, the Bandai-Azuma Skyline opened at the foot of Mt. Azuma-Kofuji, offering a magnificent view. Along the road are colonies of Yaehakusan Rhododendron. Subarctic forests such as Abies mariesii can be seen near Torikodaira, the highest point, and natural beech forests can be seen near Ainomi. There are old hot springs such as Azumajuto, and many remains of pilgrimages to Mt. Azuma can be found on the mountaintop. The area is part of Bandai-Asahi National Park.

Mount Azuma

Please see the "Azumayama" page.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

福島県北部，山形県境にある火山群の総称。活火山で，常時観測火山。最高峰の西吾妻山（2035m），一切経山（1949m），東吾妻山，吾妻小富士，高山などからなる。吾妻小富士の西麓に高度 1660mの古い火口底の浄土平がある。一切経山の山体は花崗岩，変成岩などからなる。吾妻小富士の火口は発達しているが，東吾妻山は溶岩の盛り上がりで火口を欠いている。小爆裂火口（→爆裂火口）として桶沼，沼の平，五色沼などがある。西吾妻山は緩斜面が続く原生林に覆われた山で，湿原が点在する。一切経山は 1893年5月大爆発，さらに 1950年2月，1977年12月に噴火し，今日も噴気活動が続いている。1959年吾妻小富士の山麓に磐梯吾妻スカイラインが開通し，雄大な展望が開けた。沿道にはヤエハクサンシャクナゲの群落がある。最高地の鳥子平付近にはオオシラビソなどの亜寒帯林，相ノ峰付近では，ブナの自然林が見られる。吾妻十湯など古い温泉場があり，山上には吾妻山参詣の遺跡が多い。磐梯朝日国立公園に属する。