Mount Kirishima

Mount Kirishima
File:Shinmoe-dake Volcano Erupts on Kyushu Feb 2011.jpg Kirishima Volcano Group
Highest point
Peak	Karakuni-dake
Elevation
Coordinates
Geography
Country	Japan
States/Provinces	Kagoshima prefecture and Miyazaki prefecture

File:Kirishima Volcano Relief Map, SRTM-1.jpg

Relief map of Kirishima Volcano

File:Kirishima from Maruoka 3.jpg

View on the southern side of the volcano group.

Mount Kirishima (霧島山, Kirishimayama) is a 1700 meter high active volcano group in Kagoshima Prefecture and Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. Numerous eruptions have been recorded since 742. Very strong eruptions happened in 788, 1716 and 1717. Augite-hypersthene andesite is the dominant rock type.

The highest peak is Mount Karakuni (韓国岳, Karakunidake) (1700 m). Other peaks are Takachiho-no-mine (高千穂峰) (1573 m) and Shinmoedake (新燃岳), both active volcanos. They are part of Kirishima-Yaku National Park near Kirishima City. Upon the summit of Takachiho was stuck the mysterious spear Ama-no-Sakahoko, by the legendary Ninigi-no-Mikoto. Mount Kirishima is considered one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. The area is often foggy, and it is believed that the name Kirishima comes from the mountain looking like an island in the fog.

The Kongō-class battlecruiser Kirishima of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and the Kongō-class guided missile destroyer Kirishima of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force were both named after this mountain.

Shinmoedake erupted in January 2011 and again in March 2011.

• Kirishima Volcano Group
• Kirishima Takachihonomine 2.jpg

  Takachihonomine Volcano

• 1998 shinmoe takachiho.jpg

  Shinmoedake Volcano (front) & Takachihonomine Volcano

• Kirishima Ohachi.jpg

  Ohachi Volcano

• Koshikidake Rokkannonmiike.jpg

  Rokkan'nonmiike Volcano (front) & Koshikidake Volcano (background)

• 1998-12 Ohnami-ike.JPG

  Onamiike Volcano

• Kirishima Karakunidake 2.jpg

  Karakunidake Volcano

• 

  Hudouike Volcano

• Hinamoridake Miyazaki.jpg

  Hinamoridake Volcano

• Kurinodake Kagoshima.jpg

  Kurinodake Volcano

See also

• List of volcanoes in Japan

External links

• Kirishimayama - Japan Meteorological Agency (Japanese)
• Kirishimayama: National catalogue of the active volcanoes in Japan PDF - Japan Meteorological Agency
• Kirishima Volcano - Geological Survey of Japan
• Kirishimayama - Smithsonian Institution: Global Volcanism Program
• Kirishima Geopark - The Kirishima Geopark Council
  • Volcanoes & Craters
  • English Pamphlet PDF