Shiretoko National Park

Shiretoko National Park*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Shiretoko National Park.jpg
View from the sea
State Party  Japan
Type Natural
Criteria ix, x
Reference 1193
Region** Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription 2005  (29th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.
** Region as classified by UNESCO.
Shiretoko National Park
知床国立公園
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Location ShiretokoPeninJp.jpg
Location of Shiretoko Peninsula in Japan
Location Hokkaidō, Japan
Area 386.33 km²
Established June 1, 1964

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 derived form an Ainu word "sir etok", 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, claimed by Japan. The park has 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.

The forests of the park are temperate and subalpine mixed forests; the main tree species include Sakhalin fir (Abies sachalinensis), Erman's birch (Betula ermanii) and Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica). Beyond the forest limit there are impenetrable Siberian Dwarf Pine (Pinus pumila) 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

See also

External links

World Heritage Sites in Japan
Hokkaidō

Shiretoko
Flag of Japan
Tōhoku

Shirakami-Sanchi
Kantō

Shrines and Temples of Nikkō
Chūbu

Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama · Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range1
Kansai

Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area · Himeji Castle · Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) · Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara · Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range1
Chūgoku

Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) · Itsukushima Shinto Shrine · Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape
Kyūshū

Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu · Yakushima
1 Shared with other region/s
National parks of Japan

Abashiri Quasi-National Park · Akan National Park · Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park · Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park · Aso Kujū National Park · Bandai-Asahi National Park · Chichibu Tama Kai National Park · Chūbu-Sangaku National Park · Daisen-Oki National Park · Daisetsuzan National Park · Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park · Hakusan National Park · Hiba-Dogo-Taishaku Quasi-National Park · Hidaka Sanmyaku-Erimo Quasi-National Park · Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park · Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park · Ise-Shima National Park · Jōshin'etsu Kōgen National Park · Kirishima-Yaku National Park · Kushiro Shitsugen National Park · Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park · Minami Alps National Park · Minami Bōsō Quasi-National Park · Nikkō National Park · Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park · Nishi-Chugoku Sanchi Quasi-National Park · Ogasawara National Park · Ōnuma Quasi-National Park · Rikuchu Kaigan National Park · Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park · Saikai National Park · Sanin Kaigan National Park · Setonaikai National Park · Shikotsu-Tōya National Park · Shimokita Hanto Quasi-National Park · Shiretoko National Park · Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park · Tanzawa-Ōyama Quasi-National Park · Tenryū-Okumikawa Quasi-National Park · Towada-Hachimantai National Park · Tsugaru Quasi-National Park · Unzen-Amakusa National Park · Yatsugatake-Chūshin Kōgen Quasi-National Park · Yoshino-Kumano National Park

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