Mount Eniwa

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This article refers to the volcano in the Ishikari, Hokkaidō. For other uses of Eniwa, see Eniwa.
Mount Eniwa
恵庭岳

Mount Eniwa from the shores of Lake Shikostu, March 2007
Elevation 1,320 metres (4,330 ft)[1]
Location Hokkaidō, Japan
Range Nasu Volcanic Zone
Coordinates 42°47′36″N 141°17′8″E / 42.79333, 141.28556Coordinates: 42°47′36″N 141°17′8″E / 42.79333, 141.28556
Topo map Geographical Survey Institute (国土地理院 Kokudochiriin?) 25000:1 恵庭岳, 50000:1 樽前山
Type Stratovolcano
Volcanic arc/belt Northeast Japan Arc
Age of rock Holocene
Last eruption 1707±30[2]
Easiest route Hike
Listing List of mountains and hills of Japan by height

Mount Eniwa (恵庭岳 Eniwa-dake?) is an active[3] volcano located in Shikotsu-Toya National Park in Hokkaidō, Japan. It sits opposite Mount Tarumae and Mount Fuppushi on the shores of Lake Shikotsu, the caldera lake that spawned the volcanoes. Mount Eniwa is the tallest of the three volcanoes.

[edit] Eruptions

The last eruption occurred around the start of the 18th century (circa 1700 ±30 years). There are no historical records of this, but tephrochronology indicates phreatic explosions with mudflows from crater 3. Two centuries before this eruption (circa 1550 ±75 years), radiocarbon dating indicates a similar eruption from crater 2. Around the same time (circa 1500 ±150 years), radiocarbon dating indicates another eruption, but from crater 1. This eruption included debris avalanches instead of mudflows. The oldest eruption that has been dated is an explosive eruption from the east side of the summit around 100 BCE ± 100 years according to radiocarbon dating. All these events were central vent eruptions with a volcanic explosivity index (VEI) of 2.[4]

[edit] Climbing Route

A single trail climbs the eastern side of the mountain. It gets progressively steeper as you climb. The trail starts in a forest about one 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) from Poropinai. The treeline is at about 800 metres (2,600 ft). From there the terrain is rocky and alpine. The climb takes 3-3.5 hours. [5] [6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Geological Survey of Japan website data from ASTER
  2. ^ Global Volcanism Program, Shikotsu, Eruptive History, last access 24 April 2008.
  3. ^ Paul Hunt, Hiking in Japan: An Adventurer's Guide to the Mountain Trails, pg. 179
  4. ^ Global Volcanism Program, Shikotsu, Eruptive History, last access 24 April 2008.
  5. ^ Paul Hunt, Hiking in Japan: An Adventurer's Guide to the Mountain Trails, pg. 181
  6. ^ Robert Storey, North-East Asia on a Shoestring, pg. 327
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