Higashimatsuura Peninsula

A peninsula in northwestern Saga Prefecture that juts out into the Iki Channel (Genkai Sea) in northern Kyushu. The Genkai Nuclear Power Plant is located at Cape Chikazaki, at the northwestern tip. Karatsu Bay is in the east, and Imari Bay penetrates deep into the west. Except for the area around Nodakayama (260 meters) in the southern part of the peninsula, the area is generally below 200 meters above sea level, and forms a hilly plateau of basalt. Commonly known as the Uwaba Plateau, it has not traditionally been blessed with water resources, and field crops such as fruit trees, potatoes, and tobacco have been prominent, but land improvement projects are underway. The coast is a ria coast with many inlets, capes, and small peninsulas, and is home to fishing ports and sea bream and pearl farms. In the past, it was known as the base of the Matsuura clan in the Middle Ages. Offshore lie Madara Island, Karaka Island, and other basalt islands, and the entire coastline is part of the Genkai Quasi-National Park. The area has a mild climate washed by the warm Tsushima Current, and the northernmost area where the Takakushi Ako grows naturally is a nationally designated natural monument, along with the sea cave Nanatsugama. Close to the Korean Peninsula, the area is home to the remains of Nagoya Castle, a special historic site. National Route 204 runs through the area, and a ferry boat runs between Karatsu East Port and Iki (Indoji) Port.

[Shigeru Kawasaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

九州北部、壱岐水道(いきすいどう)（玄界灘(げんかいなだ)）に突き出した、佐賀県北西部の半島。北西突端の値賀崎(ちかざき)に玄海原子力発電所がある。東に唐津湾(からつわん)を抱き、西には伊万里湾(いまりわん)が深く入り込む。半島南部の野高(のだか)山（260メートル）付近を除けばだいたい標高200メートル以下で、玄武岩の丘陵性台地をなす。俗に上場台地(うわばだいち)と称し、従来水利に恵まれず、果樹のほか、いも類、葉タバコなどの畑作が目だったが、土地改良事業が進む。海岸は多くの入り江や岬、小半島の入り組むリアス式海岸で、漁港やタイ、真珠などの養殖場が立地する。古くは中世松浦党(まつらとう)の根拠地として知られた。沖に馬渡島(まだらしま)、加唐島(かからじま)ほか玄武岩の島々が浮かび、海岸一帯は玄海国定公園。対馬(つしま)暖流の洗う温和な風土をなし、高串(たかくし)アコウ自生北限地帯は、海食洞の七ツ釜(ななつがま)とともに国指定天然記念物。朝鮮半島に近く、特別史跡の名護屋城(なごやじょう)跡などがある。国道204号が通じ、唐津東港―壱岐（印通寺(いんどうじ)）港間にフェリーボートが通う。

［川崎　茂］

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