Mount Kunimi - Mount Kunimi

A mountain on the eastern edge of Kumamoto Prefecture, bordering Miyazaki Prefecture. It is a high peak (1,739 meters) in the northern Kyushu Mountains, made of gneiss, and forms the watershed of the Midorikawa River, Kawabe River, Mimikawa River, and others. It is the highest peak in Kumamoto Prefecture, and the summit is divided into Okunimi in the south and Okunimi, the main peak, and has a gentle mountain shape, but the deep V-shaped valley and dense forest have made it a hidden area for many years, with few people passing through. The forest changes from a beech zone near the summit to Tsuga and Fir that increase as the altitude decreases, and eventually to evergreen broad-leaved forest. The opening and extension of forest roads with the intention of developing forest resources has not only limited the survival areas of these primeval landscapes to the summit and ridges, but has also destroyed many of the colonies of Tsukushi Rhododendron and White-leafed Woodland, as well as the habitats of dormice and mountain hawk-eagles. Small villages nestled in the mountains are also becoming noticeably deserted due to integration and relocation, or entire families leaving the village.

[Yamaguchi Morito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

熊本県東端、宮崎県境にある山。九州山地北部に属する高峰（1739メートル）で、片麻(へんま)岩からなり、緑川、川辺(かわべ)川、耳川などの分水界をなす。熊本県の最高峰で、山頂は南の小国見と主峰の大国見に分かれ、穏やかな山容を呈しているが、深いV字谷、うっそうとした林相が長年にわたって人の往来を疎にさせ、秘境とされてきた。その林相は山頂付近のブナ帯から標高を下げるにしたがって増えるツガ、モミ、やがて照葉樹林へと変わる。森林資源の開発を意図した林道の開設、延長は、これらの原生景観の存続地域を山頂や尾根付近にとどめてしまっただけでなく、ツクシシャクナゲ、ハクウンボクの群落や、ヤマネ、クマタカの生息地の多くを破壊してしまっている。山懐に抱かれていた小集落も統合移転や挙家離村によって、廃屋化が目だっている。

［山口守人］

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