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Mount Iwate has erupted about five times in its history. The Yakehashiri lava flow is said to have been formed by an eruption from the middle of the volcano in the 1700s, and is about 3km long and 1.5km wide
As it is a relatively new lava flow, it has hardly been weathered, and even now it remains an environment that is difficult for plants to grow
It is an extremely rare place where you can see the lava flows in the same state as when they were formed, and it has great academic value, so it has been designated a special protected area of the national park and a special natural monument by the national government
This time, we will introduce the Yakehashiri Lava Flow
As soon as you climb the stairs from the parking lot, a strange sight unfolds before your eyes
The parking lot for the Yakehashiri Lava Flow is about a 10-minute drive from Hachimantai City. Parking is free
There are stairs next to the parking lot, and once you climb them you'll see the lava flow spreading out in front of you. The whole area is covered in a rugged black, and you can really feel the power of nature
The thick, crimson lava flowed down the mountain slope with such force that it seemed to be running, hence the name Yakehashiri Lava Flow. When you imagine that the entire area of black was actually live red lava, it's enough to make you shiver with fear
The lava flow from Mt. Iwate has low viscosity and is fast moving
If you look closely at the black lava on the ground, you will see that it has many wrinkles. These look like the stripes of a tiger, hence the name "tiger-shaped."
The tiger shape indicates that the lava has very little viscosity. Even among the thick lava, the Yakehashiri lava flow was relatively smooth
That's why he ran down the slope at such a speed that it was called "Yakihashiri."
A lone pine tree that exudes a sense of solitary beauty
As mentioned above, the Yakehashiri lava flow has not weathered, making it a difficult environment for plants to grow in. However, there is one plant that grows fiercely in the midst of this black earth
This is the Miracle Pine Tree. Its appearance, standing alone and silently in the vegetationless earth, is both lonely and divine
Pine trees are said to have the strongest vitality of all plants, and this lone pine tree is a clear example of this
Summary of the Yakehashiri lava flow
The observation path is well maintained to some extent, but you can still feel the roughness of the lava as you walk. Therefore, high heels and sandals are not recommended. Wear comfortable shoes such as trekking shoes or sneakers
After walking about 1km along the observation path, you will arrive at the observation deck, where you can see the lava flow with the magnificent green of Mt. Iwate as a backdrop. It is a spectacular view that makes you feel the power of nature that can only be seen here
INFORMATION
Name: Yakehashiri lava flow
Address: 720-2 Hirakasa 24th District, Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture
Phone number: 0195-76-2013 (Iwate Yakehashiri International Exchange Village)
