Mount Fuji

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Mount Fuji
Image:FujiSunriseKawaguchiko2025WP.jpg Mt. Fuji at sunrise from Lake Kawaguchi
Elevation:	3,776 metres (12,388 feet)
Location:	Honshu, Japan
Prominence:	3,776 m
Coordinates:	35°22′N, 138°44′E
Type:	Stratovolcano (active)
Age of rock:
Last eruption:	1707
First ascent:	{{{First ascent\|}}}
Easiest route:	{{{Easiest route\|}}}

Image:IMG 0899.JPG Image:MountfujiNASA.jpg Image:Hokusai-fuji7.png Image:Fuji From An Airplane.JPG Image:Shadow of Fuji 1974.jpg Image:MtFujiTorii.jpg Image:Mt Fuji Summit.jpg

Mount Fuji (富士山 Fuji-san, IPA: [ɸɯʥisaɴ]) is the highest mountain in Japan. It straddles the boundary between the prefectures of Shizuoka and Yamanashi just west of Tokyo, from which it can be seen on a clear day. It is located near the Pacific coast of central Honshu.

Mount Fuji is a well-known symbol of Japan and is frequently depicted in art and photographs, as well as visited by sightseers and climbers.

1 Geography
2 Geology
3 History
4 Climbing Mount Fuji
5 Aokigahara
6 Trivia
7 See also
8 External links

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Geography

Mt. Fuji has five lakes around it: Lake Kawaguchiko, Lake Yamanakako, Lake Saiko, Lake Motosuko and Lake Shojiko. They, and nearby Lake Ashi, provide excellent views of the mountain. It is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

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Geology

Scientists have identified four distinct phases of volcanic activity in the formation of Mt. Fuji. The first phase, called Sen-komitake, is composed of an andesite core recently discovered deep within the mountain. Sen-komitake was followed by the "Komitake Fuji," a basalt layer believed to be formed several hundred thousand years ago. Approximately 100,000 years ago, "Old Fuji" was formed over the top of Komitake Fuji. The modern, "New Fuji" is believed to have formed over the top of Old Fuji by around 10,000 years ago. [1]

The volcano is currently classified as active with a low risk of eruption. The last recorded eruption occurred in 1707 during the Edo period. At this time, a new crater, along with a second peak, named Hōei-zan after the era name, formed halfway down its side.

Mt. Fuji is where the Eurasian Plate (or the Amurian Plate), the Okhotsk Plate, and the Philippine Plate meet. They form the western part of Japan, the eastern part of Japan, and the Izu Peninsula respectively.

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History

It is thought that the first ascent was in 663 by an anonymous monk. A sacred mountain since ancient times, Mt. Fuji's summit was forbidden to women until the Meiji Era. Today, it is a popular tourist destination and common destination for mountain-climbing (see below).

Mt. Fuji is an attractive volcanic cone and a frequent subject of Japanese art. The most renowned work is Ukiyo-e painter Hokusai's masterpiece 36 views of Mt. Fuji. It is also mentioned in Japanese literature throughout the ages and the subject of many poems.

Mt. Fuji also houses a warrior tradition: ancient samurai used the base of the mountain as a remote training area, near the present day town of Gotemba. As of 2005, the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the United States Marine Corps operate military bases near Mount Fuji

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Climbing Mount Fuji

The most popular period for people to hike up Mt. Fuji is from July 1 to August 27. An estimated 200,000 people climb Mount Fuji every year, 30% of which are foreigners. The ascent can take anywhere between 3 and 7 hours while the descent can take from 2 to 5 hours. The hike is divided into ten stations and there are paved roads up to the fifth station, which is about 2300 meters above sea level. Thousands climb Mt. Fuji during this two-month period. Most climb during the night to watch the sun rise in the morning. The sheer number of climbers each year has created something of a trash problem on the road to the summit, but this has not decreased the mountain's popularity.

For more on climbing Mt. Fuji, see this Japan Times article, Getting to the top in Japan, and Wikitravel, below.

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Aokigahara

Aokigahara is a forest that lies at the base of the mountain. Many legends surround it. According to one legend, the rock of the mountain contains large iron deposits that cause compasses and even GPS to stop functioning, making it extremely easy to get lost. However this myth is completely false. Japan's Self Defence Force and the US Military regularly run training practices throughout the forest, during which compasses have been verified to function properly. While magnetic fields are generated by iron deposits, they are way too weak to disturb compasses. Of course, vehicles, GPS equipment, and other electronic devices function properly as well. The caverns found in this forest are of rock and ice, even if it is summer on the surface. Legends of monsters, ghosts, and goblins haunt the forest, adding to its sinister reputation. The most terrifying part is that Aokigahara Jukai (The Sea of Trees) is the top suicide area in Japan. Over seventy-eight bodies have been discovered, supposedly confining the spirits of these individuals to forever haunt the area.

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Trivia

Singer Kyu Sakamoto once had bearers carry a grand piano to the summit for a concert.
The Atari and Infiniti logos are both stylized representations of Mount Fuji.

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