Chomonkyo Gorge

A gorge in the middle reaches of the Abu River, stretching from the Ato district of Yamaguchi City to the Kawakami district of Hagi City in central-eastern Yamaguchi Prefecture. It forms the main part of Chotokyo Prefectural Natural Park and is designated as a national place of scenic beauty. It has deeply eroded the rhyolitic tuff, creating a succession of rapids and deep abysses, and is particularly known for its sweetfish and autumn leaves. Japanese painter Takashima Hokkai (1850-1931) named it "Chotokyo" and worked hard to develop it. A scenic trail can be found at Chotokyo Station on the JR Yamaguchi Line from Deai-buchi to Ryugu-buchi, and there is a radium hot spring at Yunose. There are many tourist pear orchards nearby.

[Hajime Miura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

山口県中東部、山口市の阿東(あとう)地区から萩(はぎ)市川上地区にまたがる阿武川中流の峡谷。長門峡県立自然公園の主要部をなし、国の名勝に指定されている。流紋岩質凝灰岩を深く侵食して、急流と深淵(しんえん)が相次ぎ、とくにアユと紅葉で知られる。日本画家高島北海（1850―1931）が「長門峡」と名づけて開発に努力した。JR山口線長門峡駅下車、出合淵から竜宮淵まで探勝路が整備され、湯ノ瀬にはラジウム温泉がある。付近には観光ナシ園が多い。

［三浦　肇］

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