Geibikei

The gorge of the Satetsu River flows through Ichinoseki City in southern Iwate Prefecture. It is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty. The Palaeozoic limestone layers have been eroded by the Satetsu River, creating a folding screen-like pattern of 10-30 meter high rocks and cliffs that are reflected on the water's surface, stretching for 2 kilometers. The cliffs are decorated with mountain azaleas and wisterias, and are especially beautiful when the wisterias bloom and in the autumn leaves. One of the cliffs has a rock hump, a type of stalactite, that resembles the nose of a lion, hence the name Geibikei (Geibikei). It is a 2-minute bus ride from JR Ofunato Line Geibikei Station. There are also pleasure boats, and it is a special experience to explore the area while listening to the boatman's chanting as he operates his fishing pole.

[Tadashi Kawamoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

岩手県南部、一関市(いちのせき)を流れる砂鉄川(さてつがわ)の峡谷。国指定名勝。古生層の石灰岩層が砂鉄川に侵食され、高さ10～30メートルの奇岩、絶壁が屏風(びょうぶ)のように連なった姿を水面に映し、その延長は2キロメートルに及ぶ。断崖(だんがい)はヤマツツジやフジで彩られ、フジの咲くころと紅葉期はとくに美しい。岩壁の一つに一種の鍾乳石(しょうにゅうせき)である岩のこぶがみられ、猊（獅子(しし)）の鼻に似ていることから猊鼻の名がつけられた。JR大船渡(おおふなと)線猊鼻渓駅からバスで2分。遊覧船もあり、竿(さお)を操る船頭の追分(おいわけ)を聞きながら探勝するのは格別である。

［川本忠平］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例