Nakatsu Plain - Nakatsu Heiya

A plain facing the Suo-Nada Sea, between the Kiku Peninsula and the Kunisaki Peninsula in the northeast of Kyushu. The foothills of the Hikosan volcanic group extend into the plain, which is divided into the Yukuhashi Plain and the Nakatsu Plain (narrowly defined). The central city is Nakatsu. It consists of alluvial lowlands of rivers such as the Ima River, Yamakuni River, Yakkan River, and Katsura River, which flow down from the Yabakei lava plateau, the tidal flats in front of them, and the raised alluvial fans and coastal plains that remain in the inter-river areas. The plateau is used for vegetable fields and orchards, the alluvial lowlands with their several small terraces and the reclaimed land are used for rice paddies, and seaweed, shellfish, and shrimp are cultivated on the shallow coastline. It is located on the periphery of the Kitakyushu Industrial Zone, with machinery and equipment, ceramics, and other industries located in Kanda Town, Yukuhashi City, Buzen City, and Nakatsu City. The JR Nippon Main Line and National Route 10 pass through the area.

[Shunichi Kaneko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

九州の北東部、企救半島(きくはんとう)と国東半島(くにさきはんとう)との間、周防灘(すおうなだ)に臨む平野。英彦山(ひこさん)火山群の山脚が延びて、行橋平野(ゆくはしへいや)と中津平野（狭義）に分けられる。中心都市は中津市。耶馬渓(やばけい)溶岩台地から流下する今(いま)川、山国(やまくに)川、駅館(やっかん)川、桂(かつら)川など諸河川の沖積低地とその前面の干潟(ひがた)干拓地、各河間地に残る隆起扇状地ないし海岸平野の洪積台地からなる。台地は野菜畑・果樹園に、数段の小段丘がみられる沖積低地と干拓地は水田に開かれ、遠浅海岸ではノリ・貝・エビ養殖が行われる。北九州工業地帯の外縁部をなし、苅田(かんだ)町、行橋市、豊前(ぶぜん)市、中津市に機械器具・窯業などの工業が立地する。JR日豊(にっぽう)本線と国道10号が通じている。

［兼子俊一］

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