NIPPONIA No. 37 June 15, 2006
Nature in Japan
Aso caldera
Below: Satellite image of the world's largest caldera, the remains of ancient Mount Aso, which exploded and collapsed upon itself. What was once the slope of the huge volcano is now the caldera's outer edge (circumference, 128 km). Later, more volcanic activity made five peaks inside the caldera. Today, the area is part of Kumamoto Prefecture, and a railway runs through the plain on the floor of the caldera, passing towns, hot spring spas, fields and pastureland. About 50,000 people live inside the caldera's walls.
(Photo: Tokai University Research and Information Center)
The Aso Peaks
Inside the Mount Aso caldera are the Five Aso Peaks. This aerial photo was taken from the west (which would be from the left side of the satellite image above). The white volcanic dust (mid-photo) is from Nakadake Peak (elevation, 1,506 m). Tourists get close to the top by ropeway or road, and then walk to the crater to see the volcanic action and sniff the sulfur. Eboshidake Peak (foreground) has an inactive crater with another tourist spot, Kusasenri Meadow, inside.
(Photo: Toyotaka Ryuzo)
