Lake Towada, Mount Hakkoda (15143)
Japan, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Lake Towada, Mount Hakkoda
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.6167, Longitude: 140.8833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 400 to 1585
Area of KBA (km2): 486.04168
Protected area coverage (%): 80.95
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Towadako, which is located in the center of Aomori Prefecture, is a double caldera lake formed by repeated volcanic activities of Towada Volcano that started about 200,000 years ago. The Oirase gorge is the only river that originates from Lake Towadako. The valley is well developed, deeply eroding the tuffaceous ignimbrite floor. The Hakkoda Renpo (mountains) are roughly devided into two parts, Northern Hakkoda Volcanos with Mt Ohdake, Mt Takadaohdake and Mt Akakura and Southern Hakkoda Volcanos with Mt Kushigamine, Mt Komagamine and Mt Norikura. The Hakkodarenpo includes about twenty volcanos in the northern and southern areas. The Hakkoda Renpo (mountains) are roughly devided into two parts, Northern Hakkoda Volcanos with Mt. Ohdake, Mt. Takadaohdake and Mt. Akakura and Southern Hakkoda Volcanos with Mt. Kushigamine, Mt. Komagamine and Mt. Norikura. The Hakkodarenpo includes about twenty volcanos in the northern and southern areas. As for animals, those of southern lineages and northern ones are coexisting because the site is close to the Blakiston line. Particularly noted species are Japanese serow and stoat for mammals and Black Woodpecker and Rudy Kingfisher for birds.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |