Shiretoko National Park

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Shiretoko National Park


State Party = JPN
Type = Natural
Criteria = ix, x
ID = 1193
Region = Asia-Pacific
Year = 2005
Session = 29th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1193Infobox_protected_area | name = Shiretoko National Park
知床国立公園
iucn_category = II

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caption = Location of Shiretoko Peninsula in Japan
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Hokkaidō, Japan
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 44
lat_minutes = 06
lat_seconds = 00
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 145
long_minutes = 11
long_seconds = 00
long_direction = E
area = 386.33 km²
established = June 1, 1964
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =

Nihongo|Shiretoko National Park|知床国立公園|Shiretoko Kokuritsu Kōen covers most of the Shiretoko Peninsula at the northeastern tip of the island of Hokkaidō, Japan.The word "Shiretoko" is an Ainu word meaning "end of the earth".

One of the most remote regions in all of Japan, much of the peninsula is only accessible on foot or by boat. The park is best known as the home of Japan's largest brown bear population and for offering views of the disputed Kunashiri Island, owned by Russia. The park has a hot springs waterfall called nihongo|Kamuiwakka Falls|カムイワッカの滝|Kamuiwakka-no-taki. "Kamui wakka" means "water of the gods" in Ainu.

The forests of the park are temperate and subalpine mixed forests; the main tree species include fir ("Abies sachalinensis"), Erman's Birch and Mongolian Oak. Beyond the forest limit there are impenetrable Siberian Dwarf Pine thickets.

In 2005, UNESCO designated the area a World Heritage Site, advising to develop the property jointly with Kuril Islands of Russia as a transboundary "World Heritage Peace Park".

Features

* Mount Rausu

ee also

*List of national parks of Japan

External links

* http://www.biodic.go.jp/english/jpark/np/siretoko_e.html
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