Yabakei

Japanese: 耶馬渓 - やばけい

A gorge formed by the erosion of Japan's largest lava plateau in northwestern Oita Prefecture by the Yamakuni River and other streams. It is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty. The lava plateau was formed by the deposition of thick layers of agglomerate rocks on top of the decomposed andesite caused by the activity of the Yabakei volcano in the late Neogene period, and then the inflow of the Shin-Yabakei lava, which has different properties, formed a large plateau in the east. A thin layer of Aso lava covers it. The main stream and tributaries of the Yamakuni River eroded along vertical joints and fragile, heterogeneous strata, creating a magnificent valley and rock beauty with a series of strangely shaped rocks and bizarre stones, which harmonize well with the red pine and broadleaf forests. It was introduced to the world by Rai Sanyo, and in 1950 it was designated as part of the Yaba-Hita-Hikosan Quasi-National Park along with the Hita Basin and Mount Hiko. The Aono Cave on the mountainside of Kyoushuho is particularly famous. These include Hon-Yabakei (mid-stream of the Yamakuni River), Fuka-Yabakei (Yamai River), and Ura-Yabakei (Kanyoshi River).

Yabakei

Formerly a town area in the central part of Nakatsu City, in the northwest of Oita Prefecture. Located in the midstream of the Yamakuni River. Established as a town in 1965. Incorporated into Nakatsu City in 2005. Most of the area is mountainous, with a narrow plain formed by the Yamakuni River and its tributaries. The main industries are agriculture and forestry, with rice, tea cultivation, and livestock farming. It is one of the centers of the national scenic spot Yabakei and has long been known as a tourist destination, with almost the entire area belonging to the Yaba-Hita-Hiko-san Quasi-National Park. The Tsukushi Rhododendron of Inugatake is a national natural monument.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

大分県北西部，日本最大の溶岩台地が山国川などに浸食されてできた峡谷。国指定名勝。溶岩台地は新第三紀末耶馬渓火山の活動による変朽安山岩の上に集塊岩層を厚く堆積し，その後，性質を異にする新耶馬渓溶岩の流入で東部に大規模な台地を形成。さらに，阿蘇溶岩がその上を薄く覆う。山国川の本流および支流は直立する節理と，もろく不均質な層理に沿って浸食し，雄大な渓谷美と奇岩怪石の連なる岩石美をつくりだし，アカマツや広葉樹の林とよく調和している。頼山陽によって世に紹介され，1950年日田盆地や英彦山とともに耶馬日田英彦山国定公園に指定された。競秀峰山腹の青ノ洞門は特に有名。本耶馬渓（山国川中流），深耶馬渓（山移川），裏耶馬渓（金吉川）などがある。

耶馬渓
やばけい

大分県北西部，中津市中部の旧町域。山国川の中流域にある。 1965年町制。 2005年中津市に編入。大部分が山地で，そのなかに山国川とその支流が形成した狭い平地がある。産業の中心は農林業で，米作，チャ (茶) の栽培，畜産が行なわれる。国の名勝耶馬渓の中心地の一つで，古くから観光地として知られ，ほぼ全域が耶馬日田英彦山国定公園に属する。犬ヶ岳のツクシシャクナゲは国の天然記念物。

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