Shiretoko National Park
| Shiretoko National Park | |
|---|---|
| 知床国立公園 | |
IUCN category II (national park) | |
 View from the sea | |
| Location | Hokkaidō, Japan |
| Coordinates | 44°06′N 145°11′E / 44.100°N 145.183°E |
| Area | 386.33 km2 (149.16 sq mi) |
| Established | June 1, 1964 |
| Official name | Shiretoko |
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | ix, x |
| Designated | 2005 (29th session) |
| Reference no. | 1193 |
| State Party | Japan |
| Region | Asia-Pacific |
Shiretoko National Park (知床国立公園, Shiretoko Kokuritsu Kōen) is a World Heritage Site in Hokkaidō, Japan.[1] The park covers the Shiretoko Peninsula which faces the Sea of Okhotsk.[2]
The word "Shiretoko" is comes from an Ainu word "sir etok". It means "end of the Earth".[2]
History[change | change source]
Shiretoko National Park was established in 1964.[3]
In 2005, UNESCO named the area a World Heritage Site.[1] UNESCO also suggested that Japan should work with Russia to make an international "World Heritage Peace Park" including the Kuril Islands. Both Japan and Russia claim these islands as part of their countries.
Geography[change | change source]
Shiretoko is hard to get to. Visitors must go to most places on foot or by boat. There is a hot springs waterfall called Kamuiwakka Falls (カムイワッカの滝, Kamuiwakka-no-taki). Kamui wakka means "water of the gods" in Ainu.
Plants[change | change source]
The park forests are temperate and subalpine. There are several different types of trees. The most common trees here are Sakhalin fir, Erman's birch, and Mongolian oak.
Animals[change | change source]
The park has Japan's largest mammal species of Ezo brown bears.[3]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 UNESCO, "Shiretoko"; retrieved 2012-12-13.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Haggett, Peter. (2001). Encyclopedia of World Geography, p. 3076.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Japan Integrated Biodiversity Information System (JIBIS), Shiretoko National Park 38,633 ha.:(June 1, 1964) Archived July 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-12-13.
Other websites[change | change source]
Shiretoko National Park travel guide from Wikivoyage
