Sorachi River

A large tributary of the Ishikari River that flows through central Hokkaido. It originates south of Mt. Tokachi, creates an artificial lake at Kanayama Dam in Minamifurano Town, flows north through the Furano Basin, cuts through a gorge in the Yubari Mountains, is dammed again along the way to form Lake Kananko, passes through the coal mining areas of Ashibetsu and Akabira, and joins the Ishikari River in Takikawa City. It is 173 km long. It was used for hydroelectric power generation in the middle and upper valleys, for rice paddy irrigation in the Furano Basin and the rural areas of the river valley, and for coal washing water in the coal mining areas. The Nemuro Main Line that runs through the river connects Ishikari and Tokachi via Karikachi Pass, and is a major transportation route. In the past, the valleys of the Yubari Mountains acted as a barrier, and the Furano Basin was strongly connected to the city of Asahikawa to the north. This is why the upper and middle reaches of the basin are under the jurisdiction of the Kamikawa Regional Subprefectural Bureau, and the lower reaches are under the jurisdiction of the Sorachi Regional Subprefectural Bureau.

[Ichiro Kashimura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

北海道中央部を流れる石狩川(いしかりがわ)の大支流。十勝岳(とかちだけ)の南方に源を発し、南富良野(みなみふらの)町では金山ダム(かなやまだむ)で人工湖をつくり、富良野盆地を北流して、夕張(ゆうばり)山地を峡谷で貫き、途中でふたたびせき止められて野花南湖(のかなんこ)をつくり、芦別(あしべつ)、赤平(あかびら)の炭鉱地帯を経て滝川(たきかわ)市で石狩川に合流する。延長173キロメートル。中・上流の渓谷では水力発電に、富良野盆地や河谷の農村地帯では水田灌漑(かんがい)に、炭鉱地帯では洗炭用水に利用された。川筋を通る根室(ねむろ)本線が狩勝(かりかち)峠を経て石狩と十勝を結び、主要交通路線をなす。かつては夕張山地の渓谷が障壁となって、富良野盆地は北の旭川(あさひかわ)市と結び付きが強かった。上・中流部が上川(かみかわ)総合振興局管内に属し、下流部の空知総合振興局管内と別になっているのはこのためである。

［柏村一郎］

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