Aoyama Plateau

A plateau on the southern peak of the Nunobiki Mountains in the mid-west of Mie Prefecture. From its highest point at Mt. Kasatori (842 meters), the mountain gradually decreases in altitude and continues south for 16 kilometers. The average altitude is 600 to 700 meters. Its widest point is 6 kilometers. Along the way, there are saddles such as Aoyama Pass, Shiomi Pass, and Nunobiki Pass. The mountain range, which was created by mountain building at the end of the Paleozoic era, was eroded and turned into a peneplain, and it is thought that it rose again from the end of the Tertiary Period to the Pleistocene (Pleistocene Epoch), leaving a peneplain on the mountain peak. There are no tall trees, and the area is covered with shrubs such as andromeda, boxwood, and azalea, as well as kumazasa, and offers a panoramic view of Ise Bay. It is included in Muro-Akame Aoyama Quasi-National Park. Known as the "Karuizawa of Kansai," villas, tennis courts, and golf courses have been developed, and the Aoyama Kogen Road and Tokai Nature Trail are also located here. The Air Self-Defense Force base is also located here, and a large wind power generation facility (Aoyama Kogen Wind Farm) has also been established.

[Tatsuo Ito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

三重県中西部、布引山地(ぬのびきさんち)の南部山頂の高原地形。笠取山(かさとりやま)（842メートル）を最高点として、緩やかに高度を減じながら南へ16キロメートル続く。平均高度600～700メートル。幅は広い所で6キロメートル。途中に青山峠、塩見峠、布引峠などの鞍部(あんぶ)がある。古生代末期の造山運動によって生じた山地が侵食されて準平原化したのち、第三紀末から更新世（洪積世）にかけてふたたび隆起し、準平原が山頂に残ったと考えられる。高い樹木はなくアセビ、イヌツゲ、ツツジなどの低木とクマザサに覆われ、伊勢(いせ)湾を一望できる。室生赤目青山国定公園(むろうあかめあおやまこくていこうえん)に含まれる。「関西の軽井沢」として別荘、テニスコート、ゴルフ場が開発され、青山高原道路、東海自然歩道も通じている。航空自衛隊の基地が置かれ、また大規模な風力発電施設（青山高原ウインドファーム）が設置されている。

［伊藤達雄］

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