Ariake Sea

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A NASA satellite image of the Ariake Sea in 2007 Aqua 2007-09-18 0440UTC.jpg
A NASA satellite image of the Ariake Sea in 2007

The Ariake Sea (有明海, Ariake-kai) is a body of salt water surrounded by Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, and Kumamoto Prefectures, all of which lie on the island of Kyūshū in Japan. It is the largest bay in Kyūshū. Its deepest point is only about 50 meters (165 ft) deep, and extreme tides exceed 4 meters (13 ft), covering roughly 1,700 square kilometres (660 sq mi). Isahaya Bay is a branch of the Ariake Sea. Across the Amakusa Islands lies the Yatsushiro Sea.

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Many harbors are located on the coast of the Ariake Sea. Among them are Misumi (in the city of Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture), Shimabara (Shimabara, Nagasaki), Taira (Unzen, Nagasaki), Nagasu (Nagasu, Kumamoto), Kumamoto (Kumamoto, Kumamoto), Miike (Omuta, Fukuoka), Kuchinotsu (Minamishimabara, Nagasaki), and Oniike (Amakusa, Kumamoto). Five ferry routes cross the Ariake Sea.

Various species of fauna, including mudskippers, pen shells (Atrina pectinata), and fiddler crabs, live in the Ariake Sea. In autumn, the Suaeda halophyte shichimenso ( Suaeda japonica ) grows along the shore.

The Ariake Sea has an extensive network of tidal flats, which are replenished with volcanic ash carried from Mount Aso and Mount Kujū to the sea by the Chikugo River. [1] In addition to being used for fishing, every year around the end of May, the flats at Kashima serve as the venue for the Gatalympics, a novelty sports event.

Mount Unzen overlooks the Ariake Sea; the Arie River, which has its source on the volcano, flows into the Ariake Sea.

The Ariake Sea is used for aquaculture, with nori being a major product. Recent years have brought increasing pollution, with resultant red tides. There is ongoing land reclamation, as evidenced by satellite imagery, despite government attempts to dissuade farmers from carrying out the activity.

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amakusa</span> Group of islands

Amakusa (天草), which means "Heaven's Grass," is a series of islands off the west coast of Kyushu, the southernmost of the four main islands of Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saga Prefecture</span> Prefecture of Japan

Saga Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. Saga Prefecture has a population of 809,248 and has a geographic area of 2,440 km2. Saga Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the northeast and Nagasaki Prefecture to the southwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumamoto Prefecture</span> Prefecture of Japan

Kumamoto Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Kumamoto Prefecture has a population of 1,748,134 and has a geographic area of 7,409 square kilometres (2,861 sq mi). Kumamoto Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the north, Ōita Prefecture to the northeast, Miyazaki Prefecture to the southeast, and Kagoshima Prefecture to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nagasaki Prefecture</span> Prefecture of Japan

Nagasaki Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Nagasaki Prefecture has a population of 1,314,078 and has a geographic area of 4,130 km2. Nagasaki Prefecture borders Saga Prefecture to the northeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kashima, Saga</span> City in Kyushu, Japan

Kashima is a city located in the southern part of Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. As of 31 May 2024, the city had an estimated population of 27,360 in 10949 households, and a population density of 240 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 112.12 km2 (43.29 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shimabara, Nagasaki</span> City in Kyushu, Japan

Shimabara is a city located on the north-eastern tip of the Shimabara Peninsula, facing Ariake Bay in the east and Mount Unzen in the west, in Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. As of October 1, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 44,936 and a population density of 540 per km2. The total area is 82.77 km2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isahaya, Nagasaki</span> City in Kyushu, Japan

Isahaya is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on September 1, 1940. As of November 1, 2022, the city has an estimated population of 132,385 and a population density of 389 persons per km2. The total area is 341.79 km2 (131.97 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amakusa District, Kumamoto</span>

Amakusa is a district located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tara, Saga</span> Town in Kyushu, Japan

Tara is a town and peninsula located in Fujitsu District, Saga Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2024, the town had an estimated population of 7973 in 3215 households, and a population density of 750 persons per km². The total area of the town is 74.30 km2 (28.69 sq mi)

Ariake may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shimabara Peninsula</span> Peninsula of Kyushu in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

Shimabara Peninsula is a peninsula located in Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. The peninsula incorporates the cities of Shimabara, Minamishimabara, and Unzen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unzen-Amakusa National Park</span> National Park in Kyūshū, Japan

Unzen-Amakusa National Park is a national park in Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima Prefectures, Japan. Established in 1934, the park derives its name from Mount Unzen, an active volcano at the middle of the Shimabara Peninsula, and the Amakusa islands in the Yatsushiro Sea. The area is closely connected to the early history of Christianity in Japan, and the park encompasses numerous areas related to Kakure Kirishitan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ōmuta, Fukuoka</span> City in Kyushu, Japan

Ōmuta is a city in Fukuoka Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan. As of 31 December 2023, the city had an estimated population of 106,393 in 55,373 households, and a population density of 1,300 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 81.45 km2 (31.45 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hizen-Kashima Station</span> Railway station in Kashima, Saga Prefecture, Japan

Hizen-Kashima Station is a passenger railway station located in the city of Kashima, Saga Prefecture. It is operated by JR Kyushu.

The Kashima Gatalympics is an event held in the mudflats of the Ariake Sea off Kashima city in Saga Prefecture, Japan. The event takes place every year at the end of May. Participants compete in novelty games such as the mud sumo tournament, the 25m dash and the surf board race. The Ariake Sea has a tidal range of six metres, which on a low tide, exposes the mudflats on which the games take place. It has become a well known event throughout the Saga Prefecture with around 300 athletes participating each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isahaya Station</span> Railway station in Isahaya, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

Isahaya Station is a railway station in Eishō-chō, Isahaya, Nagasaki, Japan. It is owned by Kyushu Railway Company, and is the junction between three lines: the Nagasaki Main Line, Ōmura Line and the private Shimabara Railway Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1792 Unzen landslide and tsunami</span> Natural disaster in Japan

The 1792 Unzen landslide and tsunami resulted from the volcanic activities of Mount Unzen on 21 May. This caused the collapse of the southern flank of the Mayuyama dome in front of Mount Unzen, resulting in a tremendous tsunami, killing 15,000 people altogether. It was also called Shimabara erupted, Higo affected (島原大変肥後迷惑), since many people were killed by this tsunami in Higo.

Shimoshima is the largest island in the Amakusa archipelago. Its coasts are washed by Ariake Sea, Amakusa-nada sea, East China Sea and Yatsushiro Sea. Most of Shimoshima Island is administered as part of Amakusa city, with 67 km2 patch on north-west coast belonging to the town of Reihoku. The island's highest peak is Mount Tenjiku 538.4 m (1,766 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Kyō</span> Mountain in Kashima, Saga Prefecture, Japan

Mount Kyō, located in Kashima, Saga Prefecture, Japan, is the highest mountain in Saga Prefecture, with a summit elevation of 1,075.7 m. It is a volcano and the highest mountain of the Tara volcanic mountain range. The highlands around Mount Kyō and Mount Tara have been designated as a prefectural park, the Mount Tara Natural Park.

References

  1. "A Theater Company with 3 Players: Ariake Sea Tidal Flats | People, Wetlands, Wildlife" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-04.

32°54′25″N130°22′20″E / 32.90694°N 130.37222°E / 32.90694; 130.37222