Hidaka Mountains


Hidaka Mountains is a mountain range in southeastern Hokkaido, Japan. It runs 150 km from Mount Sahoro or Karikachi Pass in central Hokkaidō south, running into the sea at Cape Erimo. It consists of folded mountains that range from 1,500 to 2,000 metres in height. Mount Poroshiri is the highest at 2,053 m. The Hidaka Mountains separate the subprefectures of Hidaka and Tokachi. Most of the range lies in the Hidaka-sanmyaku Erimo Quasi-National Park. Since the mountain range lies so far north, the alpine climate zone lies at a lower altitude.

Geology

The Hidaka Mountains formed in the late Quaternary as part of the outer arc of the western end of the Kuril Island Arc. They were formed by the uplift resulting from the collision with the Kuril arc and the Northeast Japan Arc. The Hidaka mountains no longer appear to be uplifting.
The western end of the range is high P/T metamorphoseed Jurassic accretionary complex as part of the Kamuikotan belt. This is characterized by sedimentary rocks from the Cretaceous and Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous periods. The eastern end of the range is tertiary metamorphic rock as part of the Hidaka Metamorphic belt. This is characterized by low to medium pressure metamorphic rocks with sedimentary rocks from the Cretaceous-Lower Miocene. Plutonic rocks intrude into these structures. For the most part, the Hidaka mountains are composed of schists, migmatites, gneisses, and granites.

Glaciation

The Hidaka mountains are the only mountains in Hokkaido to show evidence of glaciation. This occurs above, where one can find moraines and more than 20 cirques from Mount Kitatottabetsu in the north to Mount Toyoni in the south.

Flora and fauna

is known for endemic alpine plant life, such as Callianthemum miyabeanum. The Hidaka Mountains are also one of the last refuges of the Hokkaido bear and Hokkaido deer.
The mountains can be divided into four zones. The topmost zone is colonized by Siberian dwarf pine and other alpine flora. From 1,200–1,300 m is occupied by Betula ermanii. The zone above 500 m is occupied by Picea jezoensis and Abies sachalinensis along with broad-leafed trees. The lowest zone below 500 m is occupied by broad-leafed trees, including Quercus mongolica, Acer pictum subsp. mono and Cercidiphyllum japonicum.
Resident bird species include hazel grouse, black woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, white-backed woodpecker, goldcrest, Eurasian treecreeper, and spotted nutcracker. Summer visitors to the Hidaka Mountains include Japanese accentor, Siberian blue robin, Japanese robin, red-flanked bluetail, Siberian thrush, Eastern crowned warbler, narcissus flycatcher, blue-and-white flycatcher, dark-sided flycatcher, grey bunting, and Eurasian bullfinch. Notable bird species that transit the Hidaka mountains are Arctic warbler and eyebrowed thrush.

List of passes and tunnels

The major passes and tunnels through the Hidaka Mountains are as follows:
Mountains of the Hidaka range in order of elevation:
NameHeight
Mount Poroshiri
Mount Kamuiekuuchikaushi
Mount Tottabetsu
Mount Pipairo
Mount Kitatottabetsu
Mount Esaoman-Tottabetsu
Mount Satsunai
Mount Chiroro
Mount Tokachiporoshiri
1839 Metre Summit
Mount Nukabira
Mount Namewakka
Mount Yaoromappu
Mount Fushimi
Mount Kamui
Mount Memuro
Mount Idonmappu
Mount Penkenūshi
Mount Pankenūshi
Mount Rubeshibe
Mount Petegari
Mount Oshiki
Mount Rubetsune
Mount Koikakushusatsunai
Pirika Nupuri
Mount Shikashinai
Mount Shibichari
Mount Soematsu
Mount Kamui
Mount Piratokomi
Mount Pekerebetsu
Mount Nakano
Mount Iwanai
Mount Toyoni
Mount Shunbetsu
Mount Tomuraushi
Mount Rakko
Mount Tokachi
Mount Futamata
Mount Saru
Mount Kyusan
Mount Ponyaoromappu
Mount Omusha
Mount Nishikawa
Mount Nozuka
Mount Rutori
Nakano Summit
Mount Kamitaki
Mount Karifuri
Mount Beppirigai
Mount Tomamu
Mount Hiroo
Mount Tsurugi
Mount Kumami
Mount Pirigai
Mount Toyoni
Mount Odasshu
Mount Obihiro
Mount Sahoro
Mount Pisenai
Mount Uchiichi
Pinneshiri
Mount Kannon
Mount Okishimappu
Mount Hakamagoshi
Mount Apoi
Mount Ruchishi
Mount Yoko
Mount Tengu
Mount Daimaru
Mount Maru