Mount Bandai
Encyclopedia
, also known as , , and , is a stratovolcano
Stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...

 in Fukushima Prefecture
Fukushima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region on the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Fukushima.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Fukushima prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....

, Japan.

In a major eruption on July 15, 1888 the north and east parts of the caldera
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...

 collapsed in a massive landslide, forming two lakes, Hibara-ko and Onogawa-ko, as well as several minor lakes called Goshiki-numa
Goshiki-numa
, is a cluster of five volcanic lakes situated at the foot of Mount Bandai in the center of the lake district of Bandai-kōgen, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan....

, or the 'Five Coloured Lakes'.

The lake district formed by this cataclysm became known variously as Urabandai or Bandai-kōgen, and has become a tourist destination.

This last eruption was particularly tremendous and completely reshaped its vicinity. All the surrounding villages were destroyed, killing 461 people and burning another 70. Volcanic debris blocking nearby rivers created lakes and ponds.

Climbing Mount Bandai

There are six major routes up Mount Bandai.
  • Inawashiro Tozankō (猪苗代登山口)
  • Okinajima Tozankō (翁島登山口)
  • Hapōdai Tozankō (八方台登山口)
  • Urabandai Tozankō (裏磐梯登山口)
  • Kawakami Tozankō (川上登山口)
  • Shibutani Tozankō (渋谷登山口)

See also

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