[O-04] Geoparks in Japan

[O04-P04] Introduction of the Kamui Geopark: The watered land of Kamikawa basin and Kamuikotan belt with deep forest of Taisetsu volcano

*Keiji Wada¹, Yoshihiro Nakatani², Asahikawa Geopark club² (1.Earth Science Laboratory, Hokkaido University of Education at Asahikawa, 2.Geopark club of Asahikawa)

Keywords:Kamui Geopark, Taisetsu volcano, Ishikari River, Kamikawa basin, Kamuikotan belt, Asahikawa

The Geopark club of Asahikawa, a voluntary organization, was launched in five members in 2012 for the purpose of contributing towards a certification with Japanese Geopark Network as Kamui Geopark.
Entitled “Kamui”, including the name of the geological heritage region of the Kamui-kotan belt and Taisetsu volcano (Kamui-mintara) is in honor of the indigenous people Ainu who love nature and has been living with nature. This area of Kamui Geopark concept contains the Ishikari River zone including Kamuikotan canyon and Kamikawa basin, and its source region of the Taisetsu volcano. In the municipality, the geopark concept area are contains Asahikawa city, and Takasu, Higashikagura, Higashikawa, Toma, Pippu, Aibetsu, and Kamikawa towns.