Mount Sobo
Encyclopedia
is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. The 1756 m (5,761 ft) high mountain lies on the border of Taketa
and Bungo-ōno
in Ōita Prefecture
and Takachiho
, Nishiusuki District
in Miyazaki Prefecture
. It is the highest peak in Miyazaki Prefecture. In Ōita Prefecture only the 1791 m (5,876 ft) middle peak of Mount Kujū is higher.
The Sobo Mountain range extends into three prefectures: Ōita, Miyazaki and Kumamoto Prefecture
.
Because of the volcanic activity which formed the mountain, huge rocks can be found everywhere in the mountain's environments. There is a great variety of mountain climbing routes, ranging from animal trails to well maintained routes. Courses suited to all kind of people are possible from relaxed hiking
for enjoyment to cliff climbing
routes aimed at advanced people. Steep rock climbing routes can be seen from all trails in the neighbourhood of the summit.
The surroundings of Mount Sobo abound in mineral resources which had been mined from the Edo period
to the mid-Shōwa period
.
and the , were formed in an eruption
accompanied by pyroclastic flow
. The two cauldrons formed at this time, were buried in the second period of volcanic activity leaving the caldera which can be seen today.
About 12.5 Million years ago, a cauldron opened up once more. During this time ore
was formed. Around 10 Million years ago the volcanic activity ceased. Erosion levelled off the mountain until 3 Million years ago when the large scale activity of the rising Mount Aso
system caused a pyroclastic flow which gave Mount Sobo its present shape.
is ubiquitous. In the valleys at the bottom of the mountain and at medium and high altitude rock-climbing fans are fascinated by the cliffs which can be found everywhere.
Miyama Kirishima (Rhododendron kiusianum), Japanese gentian
and the Japanese maple
are growing in great numbers in the wild and are visited by mountain climbers in all seasons.
and Tsuga
. Going up from the lowland, the vegetation changes from evergreen (glossy-leaved) forest over conifer
forest halfway up the mountain, to Suzu-take and beech close to the summit Angelica ubatakensis is only found on parts of Shikoku
and in the Sobo mountain range is a precious plant. The pseudonym of Mount Sobo, (uba meaning elderly woman in Japanese), goes back to the discoverer of the plant, Tomitaro Makino
, who called it this way.
lies in the mountain range. Even though sightings have been rare in recent years, the Asian Black Bear is believed to be living here as well. In addition Japanese Dormice
and Sika Deer
can be seen.
, tin
, lead
, Manganese
and Quartz
.
of the United States Air Force
on a supply flight crashed in bad weather in the neighbourhood of located south of Mount Sobo. All twelve crew members died in the incident. Part of the fuselage
and the Stars and Stripes
still lie among the mountains. A Prayer for Piece monument was erected on August 26, 1995 to commemorate this event.
Taketa, Oita
is a city located in Ōita Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 16,807 and a density of 83.69 persons per km². The total area is 200.83 km²....
and Bungo-ōno
Bungo-ono, Oita
is a city located in Ōita Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 2005 as a result of the merger between the municipalities of Asaji, Chitose, Inukai, Kiyokawa, Mie, Ogata and Ōno ....
in Ōita Prefecture
Oita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan on Kyūshū Island. The prefectural capital is the city of Ōita.- History :Around the 6th century Kyushu consisted of four regions: Tsukushi-no-kuni 筑紫国, Hi-no-kuni 肥国, and Toyo no kuni...
and Takachiho
Takachiho, Miyazaki
is a town located in Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.-Geography:Takachiho is located in the northernmost part of Miyazaki Prefecture, bordering Kumamoto Prefecture on its north and northwest sides and Oita Prefecture on its north and northeast sides. The Gokase River flows from the...
, Nishiusuki District
Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki
Nishiusuki is a district located in Miyazaki, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 25,479 and the density of 37.10 persons per km². The total area is 686.77 km².-Towns and villages:*Gokase*Hinokage*Takachiho...
in Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyazaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Miyazaki.- History :Historically, after the Meiji Restoration, Hyūga Province was renamed Miyazaki Prefecture....
. It is the highest peak in Miyazaki Prefecture. In Ōita Prefecture only the 1791 m (5,876 ft) middle peak of Mount Kujū is higher.
The Sobo Mountain range extends into three prefectures: Ōita, Miyazaki and Kumamoto Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
.
Because of the volcanic activity which formed the mountain, huge rocks can be found everywhere in the mountain's environments. There is a great variety of mountain climbing routes, ranging from animal trails to well maintained routes. Courses suited to all kind of people are possible from relaxed hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
for enjoyment to cliff climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
routes aimed at advanced people. Steep rock climbing routes can be seen from all trails in the neighbourhood of the summit.
The surroundings of Mount Sobo abound in mineral resources which had been mined from the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
to the mid-Shōwa period
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
.
Formation
It is believed that the foundation of the Sobo mountain range occurred in two periods of volcanic activity. In the first period, around 13 Million years ago, two cauldrons, the Sobo calderaCaldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
and the , were formed in an eruption
Types of volcanic eruptions
During a volcanic eruption, lava, tephra , and various gases are expelled from a volcanic vent or fissure. Several types of volcanic eruptions have been distinguished by volcanologists. These are often named after famous volcanoes where that type of behavior has been observed...
accompanied by pyroclastic flow
Pyroclastic flow
A pyroclastic flow is a fast-moving current of superheated gas and rock , which reaches speeds moving away from a volcano of up to 700 km/h . The flows normally hug the ground and travel downhill, or spread laterally under gravity...
. The two cauldrons formed at this time, were buried in the second period of volcanic activity leaving the caldera which can be seen today.
About 12.5 Million years ago, a cauldron opened up once more. During this time ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
was formed. Around 10 Million years ago the volcanic activity ceased. Erosion levelled off the mountain until 3 Million years ago when the large scale activity of the rising Mount Aso
Mount Aso
is the largest active volcano in Japan, and is among the largest in the world. It stands in Aso Kujū National Park in Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyūshū. Its peak is 1592 m above sea level. Aso has one of the largest caldera in the world...
system caused a pyroclastic flow which gave Mount Sobo its present shape.
Environment
Thanks to volcanic activity, graniteGranite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
is ubiquitous. In the valleys at the bottom of the mountain and at medium and high altitude rock-climbing fans are fascinated by the cliffs which can be found everywhere.
Miyama Kirishima (Rhododendron kiusianum), Japanese gentian
Gentiana scabra
Gentiana scabra is a species of flowering plant in the Gentian family , found in much of the United states and Japan...
and the Japanese maple
Acer palmatum
Acer palmatum, called Japanese Maple or Smooth Japanese Maple is a species of woody plant native to Japan, North Korea, South Korea, China, eastern Mongolia, and southeast Russia. Many different cultivars of this maple have been selected and they are grown worldwide for their attractive leaf...
are growing in great numbers in the wild and are visited by mountain climbers in all seasons.
Flora
The mountain is covered by old-growth forest. Typical species include Japanese beechFagus crenata
Fagus crenata, known as the Japanese beech, Siebold's beech, or buna, is a deciduous tree of the beech family Fagaceae. It is native to Japan where it is widespread and often one of the dominant trees of Japan's deciduous forests. It is found from the Oshima Peninsula in Hokkaidō south to the Ōsumi...
and Tsuga
Tsuga
Tsuga is a genus of conifers in the family Pinaceae. The common name hemlock is derived from a perceived similarity in the smell of its crushed foliage to that of the unrelated plant poison hemlock....
. Going up from the lowland, the vegetation changes from evergreen (glossy-leaved) forest over conifer
Pinophyta
The conifers, division Pinophyta, also known as division Coniferophyta or Coniferae, are one of 13 or 14 division level taxa within the Kingdom Plantae. Pinophytes are gymnosperms. They are cone-bearing seed plants with vascular tissue; all extant conifers are woody plants, the great majority being...
forest halfway up the mountain, to Suzu-take and beech close to the summit Angelica ubatakensis is only found on parts of Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
and in the Sobo mountain range is a precious plant. The pseudonym of Mount Sobo, (uba meaning elderly woman in Japanese), goes back to the discoverer of the plant, Tomitaro Makino
Tomitaro Makino
thumb|200px|Tomitaro Makino was a pioneer Japanese botanist noted for his taxonomic work. He has been called "Father of Japanese Botany", as he was one of the first Japanese botanists to work extensively on classifying Japanese plants using the system developed by Linnaeus...
, who called it this way.
Fauna
It is thought that the southern range limit of the , the Japanese SerowJapanese Serow
The Japanese serow , known in Japanese as the , is a goat-antelope found in dense woodland on Honshū, Japan....
lies in the mountain range. Even though sightings have been rare in recent years, the Asian Black Bear is believed to be living here as well. In addition Japanese Dormice
Japanese Dormouse
The Japanese Dormouse is a species of rodent in the Gliridae family. It is monotypic within the genus Glirulus. It is endemic to Japan....
and Sika Deer
Sika Deer
The Sika Deer, Cervus nippon, also known as the Spotted Deer or the Japanese Deer, is a species of deer native to much of East Asia and introduced to various other parts of the world...
can be seen.
Mining
At the foot of Mount Sobo lie the remains of the Obira mine. From its opening in 1617 until its closing in 1954, it had been flourishing as the leading Japanese mine. Apart from Obira, there are the and the on the side of Ōita Prefecture as well as the and on the side of Miyazaki Prefecture. The mines produce scarce minerals like copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
, lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
, Manganese
Manganese
Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
and Quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
.
Other
On August 30, 1945, a B-29 SuperfortressB-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
on a supply flight crashed in bad weather in the neighbourhood of located south of Mount Sobo. All twelve crew members died in the incident. Part of the fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
and the Stars and Stripes
Flag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
still lie among the mountains. A Prayer for Piece monument was erected on August 26, 1995 to commemorate this event.