Oirase River

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Oirase River
Oirase keiryuu.JPG
Oirase River gorge
Aomori-ken geolocalisation relief.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of the mouth in Japan
Japan natural location map with side map of the Ryukyu Islands.jpg
Red pog.svg
Oirase River (Japan)
Native name奥入瀬川  (Japanese)
Physical characteristics
Source Lake Towada
  location Aomori & Akita Prefectures, Japan
  coordinates 40°28′N140°52′E / 40.467°N 140.867°E / 40.467; 140.867
  elevation401 m (1,316 ft)
Mouth Hachinohe
  location
Pacific Ocean
  coordinates
40°36′28″N141°27′40″E / 40.60778°N 141.46111°E / 40.60778; 141.46111 Coordinates: 40°36′28″N141°27′40″E / 40.60778°N 141.46111°E / 40.60778; 141.46111
  elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length67 km (42 mi)
Basin size820 km2 (320 sq mi)

The Oirase River (奥入瀬川, Oirase-gawa) is a river located in eastern Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. The Oirase River is the only river that drains Lake Towada, a large caldera lake that lies on the border of Aomori and Akita Prefectures. The river flows in a generally eastern direction, through the municipalities of Towada, Rokunohe, Oirase, and Hachinohe before exiting into the Pacific Ocean. The upper reaches of the river form a scenic gorge with numerous rapids and waterfalls, and is one of the major tourist attractions of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. The lower reaches of the river are used extensively for irrigation.

Contents

In 1996 the sound of flowing water at the Oirase River was selected by the Ministry of the Environment as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan. [1]

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Lake Towada Lake in Aomori, Japan

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Oirase is a town located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2020, the town had an estimated population of 25,149, and a population density of 350 persons per km², in 10,423 households. The total area of the town is 71.96 square kilometres (27.78 sq mi).

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Matsumi Falls is a waterfall in the city of Towada, Aomori Prefecture, Japan, on a tributary of the Oirase River, which flows down from Lake Towada. It is one of "Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls", in a listing published by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment in 1990.

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