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Mount Fuji

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Mount Fuji is a famous landmark in Japan.

Aerial panorama of Mount Fuji from Lake Saiko. June 2023
Aerial panorama of Mount Fuji from Lake Saiko. June 2023

It sits on the island of Honshu near the Pacific coast. The mountain is located southwest of Tokyo. You can see the peak from Tokyo on clear days.

It stands near the boundary of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures. Five lakes surround the mountain. These are Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Sai, Lake Motosu, and Lake Shōji. The mountain is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

This mountain is an active stratovolcano. A stratovolcano is a tall mountain built by layers of ash and lava.

Geologycal cross-section of Fuji
Geologycal cross-section of Fuji

The volcano sits where three tectonic plates meet. These are the Eurasian, North American, and Philippine Sea plates. The Pacific Plate moves under these three plates. This movement causes volcanic activity. The mountain has a very even, symmetrical cone shape. Snow covers the summit for about five months every year.

Mt Fuji NASA ISS002-E-6971 large
Mt Fuji NASA ISS002-E-6971 large

Scientists say the mountain grew in four different stages. First, a core called Sen-komitake formed deep inside. Next, the Komitake Fuji layer formed from basalt. Then, an "Old Fuji" was created about 100,000 years ago. Finally, the "New Fuji" we see today formed about 10,000 years ago. The last time the volcano erupted was from 1707 to 1708. This was called the Hōei eruption. It created a new peak called Mount Hōei on the side.

Hasshinpo of Mt.Fuji 40
Hasshinpo of Mt.Fuji 40

People have loved this mountain for a very long time.

In the past, the summit was a sacred place. Because it was sacred, women were not allowed to climb it. The government changed this rule in 1872. Tatsu Takayama was the first woman recorded reaching the top in 1832. In 1860, Sir Rutherford Alcock became the first foreigner to reach the summit. He climbed it in 8 hours.

Today, Mount Fuji is a huge part of Japanese culture.

Outer shrine of Fujisan Hongu SengenTaisha (富士山本宮浅間大社) - panoramio
Outer shrine of Fujisan Hongu SengenTaisha (富士山本宮浅間大社) - panoramio

It is a famous symbol in movies and art. Many people visit to hike and climb the mountain.

Mt Fuji Summit
Mt Fuji Summit

In 2013, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is because it has inspired many poets and artists. There are 25 sites of cultural interest near the mountain. One important site is the Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha shrine. It remains a very special place for people to visit.

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🖼️ Images & Media (15)
File:Aerial panorama of Mount Fuji from Lake Saiko. June 2023.jpg
Aerial panorama of Mount Fuji from Lake...
File:Aerial panorama of Mount Fuji with Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba in the foreground. June 2023.jpg
Aerial panorama of Mount Fuji with Saiko...
File:「富嶽三十六景 凱風快晴」-South Wind, Clear Sky (Gaifū kaisei), also known as Red Fuji, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) MET DP141062.jpg
「富嶽三十六景 凱風快晴」-South Wind, Clear Sky...
File:Mount Fuji from Omiya by Kusakabe Kimbei c1890.png
Mount Fuji from Omiya by Kusakabe Kimbei c1890.png
Fujisan-video-views-airplane-bullet-train2014.ogv
File:Mt_Fuji_NASA_ISS002-E-6971_large.jpg
Mt_Fuji_NASA_ISS002-E-6971_large.jpg
File:Geologycal cross-section of Fuji.png
Geologycal cross-section of Fuji.png
File:Hasshinpo of Mt.Fuji 40.jpg
Hasshinpo of Mt.Fuji 40.jpg
File:Mount Ashiwada and Mount Fuji.jpg
Mount Ashiwada and Mount Fuji.jpg
File:Fuji in the Mountains of Taisekiji LACMA M.2006.136.141a-b.jpg
Fuji in the Mountains of Taisekiji LACMA...
File:Mt.Fuji Shizuoka Airport.jpg
Mt.Fuji Shizuoka Airport.jpg
File:Fuji illustration.jpeg
Fuji illustration.jpeg

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