Himekawa

It is a first-class river that flows through the center of Itoigawa City, at the western edge of Niigata Prefecture. It originates from Mt. Shirouma in Kitaazumi County, Nagano Prefecture, crosses the mountain ranges on the border of the prefectures along the Fossa Magna Valley, which is said to be the seam of the Japanese archipelago, and flows into the Sea of ​​Japan southwest of JR Itoigawa Station. Its drainage area is 722 square kilometers, and its river length is 60 kilometers. In the foothills of the mountains on the border of the prefectures upstream, it joins the Oodokoro River, Kotaki River, and Nechi River. After World War II, the upstream area was developed for power generation, and four power plants generate over 100,000 kilowatts per hour. The Matsumoto Highway, once known as the "Salt Road," runs along the route, and the mountain passes on the border of the prefectures were crowded with people carrying luggage on their backs, known as bocca (porters). Currently, National Route 148 and the JR Oito Line have taken their place, and there are many hot springs and ski resorts near Hiraiwa Station. It is also the starting point for climbing Mt. Hakuba and is designated as part of the Hakuba Sanroku Prefectural Natural Park. The Kotakigawa River basin is famous for its jadeite production and is designated as a national natural monument.

[Hisao Yamazaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

新潟県西端、糸魚川市(いといがわし)の中央を流れる川。一級河川。源を長野県北安曇(きたあずみ)郡の白馬(しろうま)岳に発し、日本列島の継ぎ目といわれるフォッサマグナの谷に沿って県境山地を峡谷で横断し、JR糸魚川駅の南西で日本海に注ぐ。流域面積722平方キロメートル、流路延長60キロメートル。上流の県境山麓(さんろく)では大所(おおどころ)川、小滝(こたき)川、根知(ねち)川などをあわせる。上流は第二次世界大戦後電源開発が進められ、四つの発電所で10余万キロワット／時の発電量をあげている。沿線にはかつて「塩の道」とよばれた松本街道が通り、県境の峠越えはボッカ（歩荷）とよばれた背負子(しょいこ)でにぎわった。現在は、国道148号、JR大糸線がこれにかわり、平岩(ひらいわ)駅付近には温泉、スキー場も多く、白馬岳の登山口として、白馬山麓県立自然公園に指定されている。小滝川流域は硬玉（ヒスイ）の産地として有名で、国の天然記念物に指定されている。

［山崎久雄］

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