Kushiro River

The river originates from Lake Kussharo in eastern Hokkaido, flows almost south, and empties into the Pacific Ocean. It is a first-class river. It is 154 km long and has a drainage area of ​​2,510 square km. It enters the Kushiro Plain near Gojikoku in Shibecha Town, and joins with tributaries such as the Kuchoro, Setsuri, and Hororo before flowing into the Pacific Ocean in Kushiro City. In 1921 (Taisho 10), construction of a diversion channel connecting Iwabokki in Kushiro Town and Shinfuji in Kushiro City was started to prevent sedimentation in Kushiro Port, which had developed at the river mouth, and to prevent flooding in Kushiro City. Water began flowing in 1931 (Showa 6). This section was called the New Kushiro River, but in 1967 the diversion channel was renamed the main Kushiro River, and the old main stream was renamed the Old Kushiro River. In 2001, the artificial river was renamed the New Kushiro River, and the old main stream was returned to the Kushiro River. The New Kushiro River is one of the water sources for the water supply of Kushiro City, which has a population of 180,000. The section downstream from Shibecha was used as a waterway for transporting cargo and passengers until the opening of the railway between Higashi-Kushiro and Shibecha in 1927.

[Furukawa Shiro]

"Kushiro River" (1969, Kushiro City, Kushiro Collection) " Kushiro River Travelogue by Sato Hisashi (1977, Kushiro City, Kushiro Shinsho)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

北海道東部、屈斜路湖(くっしゃろこ)を水源とし、ほぼ南流して太平洋に注ぐ川。一級河川。延長154キロメートル、流域面積2510平方キロメートル。標茶(しべちゃ)町五十石(ごじっこく)付近から釧路平野に入り、久著呂(くちょろ)、雪裡(せつり)、幌呂(ほろろ)などの支流をあわせ釧路市で太平洋に入る。1921年（大正10）河口に発達した釧路港内の堆砂(たいさ)防止、釧路市街の浸水防止を兼ねて、釧路町岩保木(いわぼっき)と釧路市新富士(しんふじ)を結ぶ分水路建設に着手、1931年（昭和6）通水を開始した。この区間を新釧路川とよんだが、1967年分水路を釧路川本流、旧本流を旧釧路川に改めた。さらに2001年（平成13）人造河川を新釧路川、旧本流を釧路川に戻した。新釧路川は人口18万を数える釧路市上水道の取水源の一つ。標茶から下流は1927年の東釧路と標茶間の鉄道開通までは貨客輸送用の水路として利用された。

［古川史郎］

『『釧路川』（1969・釧路市・釧路叢書）』▽『佐藤尚著『釧路川紀行』（1977・釧路市・釧路新書）』

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