Natsui River

A river that flows through the southeastern part of Fukushima Prefecture and empties into the Pacific Ocean. It is 67 km long and has a drainage area of ​​615.2 square km. It originates on the southern slope of Mt. Otakineyama (1,192 m), the highest peak in the Abukuma Plateau, and flows slowly over an elevated peneplain at an altitude of about 450 m, collecting tributaries such as the Bonten River, the Ushi Natsui River, and the Toishi River. It forms a deep gorge about 15 km downstream from Kawamae Station on the JR Ban'etsu East Line (Iwaki City), emerges into lowland near Ogawago Station, and flows into the Pacific Ocean east of the Taira district of Iwaki City, developing river terraces and valley floor plains on both sides. It is the largest river in the Hamadori area. The gorge in the middle reaches of the river, along with Setogarou along the tributary Eda River, is designated as the Natsuigawa Valley Prefectural Natural Park.

[Yoshio Nakamura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

福島県南東部を流れて太平洋に注ぐ川。延長67キロメートル。流域面積615.2平方キロメートル。阿武隈(あぶくま)高地最高峰の大滝根山(おおたきねやま)（1192メートル）南斜面に発し、標高450メートル前後の隆起準平原上をゆっくり流れて梵天(ぼんてん)川、右支(うし)夏井川、十石(といし)川などの支流を集め、JR磐越東線川前(かわまえ)駅（いわき市）付近から下流約15キロメートルは深い峡谷となり、小川郷(おがわごう)駅付近で低地に出て、両側に河岸段丘や谷底平野を発達させながら、いわき市平(たいら)地区の東方で太平洋に入る。浜通りの河川としては最大規模。中流の峡谷部は支流江田(えだ)川沿いの背戸峨廊(せとがろう)とともに夏井川渓谷県立自然公園に指定されている。

［中村嘉男］

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