Japan Geography

Image:ja-map.gif Map of Japan Location Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula Geographic coordinates 36 00 N, 138 00 E Area total: 377,835 sq km note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto) water: 3,091 sq km land: 374,744 sq km Area - comparative slightly smaller than California Land boundaries 0 km Coastline 29,751 km Maritime claims contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM; between 3 NM and 12 NM in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait exclusive economic zone: 200 NM Climate varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north Terrain mostly rugged and mountainous Elevation extremes lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m Natural resources negligible mineral resources, fish Land use arable land: 12.13% permanent crops: 1.01% other: 86.86% (1998 est.) Irrigated land 26,790 sq km (1998 est.) Natural hazards many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons Environment - current issues air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere Geography - note strategic location in northeast Asia (Article from/based on Wikitravel article and may be copied freely) | | |