Mashike Mountains

Mashike Mountains (増毛山地, Mashike Sanchi) are a group mountains on the western coast of Hokkaidō. The mountain range is divided into two regions by the Hamamasu River.[1] The northern region is a group of volcanic mountains called Shokanbetsudake Mountains.[2] The southern region is known as the Kabato Mountains.[1] The Mashike mountains lie between the Teshio Mountains to the north and the Ishikari Plain to the south. Mashikie mountains includes part of Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park.[2]

Mashike Mountains
View from Obira (April 2009)
Highest point
Peak	Mount Shokanbetsu, Mashike and Shintotsukawa, Rumoi and Sorachi Subprefecture, Japan
Elevation	1,491.6 m (4,894 ft)
Coordinates	43°42′57″N 141°31′23″E
Naming
Native name	増毛山地  (Japanese)
Geography
Country	Japan
State	Hokkaidō
Regions	Ishikari, Rumoi and Sorachi
Subdivisions	Kabato Mountains and Shokanbetsudake Mountains
Biome	alpine climate
Geology
Orogeny	island arc
Type of rock	Volcanic and fold

The highest peak of the Mashike mountains is Mount Shokanbetsu (1492m).[2]

Mount Minami Shokan, Mount Kunbetsu and Mount Etai define a triangle that surrounds the Uryū Wetlands (雨竜沼湿原, Uryūnumashitsugen).[2]

Flora and fauna

Unlike on Honshū, you can see alpine plants at altitudes as low as 1000 meters in the Mashike mountains.[3]

References

1. 厚田・浜益の自然 (PDF). 石狩ファイル No.0052-01 (in Japanese). 石狩市教育委員会. 31 March 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
2. "暑寒別天売焼尻国定公園　Shokanbetsu Teuri Yagishiri Quasi National Park". Mashike Town Web Site (in Japanese). 増毛町役場. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
3. 暑寒別岳. Mashike Town Web Site (in Japanese). 増毛町役場. Retrieved 3 May 2010.