Yōrō Mountains

Yōrō Mountains
Mount Yōrō from the foot in mountain; Yoro town
Highest point
PeakShōgatake
Elevation908.3 m (2,980 ft)
Coordinates35°17′01″N 136°30′40.3″E / 35.28361°N 136.511194°E / 35.28361; 136.511194
Dimensions
Length25 km (16 mi)
Width10 km (6.2 mi)
Naming
Native name養老山地 (Japanese)
Geography
Yōrō Mountains is located in Japan
Yōrō Mountains
Yōrō Mountains
CountryJapan
PrefecturesMie and Gifu

The Yōrō Mountains (養老山地, Yōrō Sanchi) are a mountain range straddling the border between Gifu and Mie prefectures in Japan. They form part of the western border of the Nōbi Plain.

Geography

The Yōrō Mountains are approximately 10 km (6 mi) wide and 25 km (16 mi) long, running primarily from south-southwest to north-northeast. The northern section's highest peaks reach 900 m (2,953 ft), and the southern section's reach 400 m (1,312 ft). The group's tallest point is Mount Shō (笙ヶ岳 Shō-ga-dake), but the main peaks are Mount Yōrō in the north and Mount Tado (多度山 Tado-yama) in the south.

Yōrō Mountains from Mount Fujiwara of Suzuka Mountains

Flora and fauna

A variety of beech and oak trees covers the Yōrō Mountains. The Japanese government has declared Mount Shō a natural monument for its diverse plant life.

Major mammals on the mountains include the Japanese macaque and sika deer.

Places of interest

On the Yōrō Line, between Mino-Yamazaki Station and Komano Station, on the side of Mt. Garyou, a Buddhist temple was built by Gyōki in 744 AD. It was originally called Temple of the Bodhisattva of Mt. Garyou. It was burned down in 1336 during a war. In 1705 it was rebuilt by the Matsudaira nobility as their private temple and renamed Gyōkiji (Gyōki's Temple).[1][2]

Near Yōrō town, on the side of Mount Yōrō, is the Yōrō waterfall[3] and a large park with two special areas for children.[4] There is also a hiking path to the top of the mountain.

Tado Shrine is near the town of Tado. There are hiking paths to the top of Mount Tado, which is 403 meters.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Priest Gyoki's temple". City of Kaizu.
  2. ^ "Garyouzan Gyōkiji" (in Japanese). Gyōkiji. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  3. ^ "The Yoro Waterfall and the Legend of the Dutiful Son".
  4. ^ "Places to Visit - Yōrō".
  5. ^ Steven Kenworthy. "Color Yoro World". SeekJapan. Retrieved April 5, 2012.