Mount Haku


Mount Haku, or Mount Hakusan, is a dormant volcano. The stratovolcano is located on the borders of Gifu and Ishikawa prefectures in Japan. It is thought to have first been active 300,000 to 400,000 years ago, with the most recent eruption occurring in 1659. Along with Mount Tate and Mount Fuji, it is one of Japan's "Three Holy Mountains".

Outline

The mountain's tallest peak, Gozenga-mine, is the one that gives the mountain its height of. Along with Ken-ga-mine, which is, and Ōnanji-mine, which is, the three peaks are considered "Mount Haku's Three Peaks". Mount Bessan and Mount Sannomine are sometimes included and called "Mount Haku's Five Peaks".
Because it is very prominent and clearly visible from the nearby coast, even after the surrounding mountains have lost their snow, Mount Haku still appears white, which is one explanation for the mountain's name, which means "white mountain." It is also the westernmost mountain in Japan that is over in height.

History and culture

, a mountain Shugendo monk, first climbed Mount Hakusan in 717. For hundreds of years, people have come to Haku for prayers. A branch shrine of Shirayama Hime Shrine, which served as the supreme shrine for Kaga Province, is on the mountain. The Shirayama Hime Shrine is the main shrine of approximately 2,000 Hakusan shrines in Japan. In 1980 an area of 48,000 ha was designated a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve.

Nature

Mount Haku was designated as a quasi-national park in 1955. It became a national park in 1962 and was renamed Hakusan National Park. Because the central part of the mountain has much precipitous terrain, there are very few roads and, as a result, little human intrusion into the area. Also limiting human intrusion is the designation of the park as a Wildlife Protection Area, covering over 38,061 ha. The park stretches beyond the mountain's borders into Toyama Prefecture.

Geological features

The area surrounding Mount Haku is one of the few in Japan that contains outcroppings from the Jurassic period of the Mesozoic era. Many of Japan's typical examples of dinosaur fossils were found in this area. One of the major rock outcrops is in the Kuwashima area and is known as the "Kuwashima Fossil Wall".
Because the mountain is a dormant volcano, it is well known for its many onsen.

Flora

Mount Haku is known for its diverse plant life. Along the Sabō Trail, after passing the Jinnosuke Lodge, alpine plants are found, including the chocolate lily, which is Ishikawa's prefectural plant.
There are many alpine plants which have Hakusan in their name. These include Primula cuneifolia, Anemone narcissiflora, Dactylorhiza, Geranium yesoemse and Rhododendron brachycarpum. These plants can be found on many mountains throughout Japan, but they were first discovered and named along the older hiking trails leading to Hakusan Shrine.
Chocolate lily
Primula cuneifolia
Anemone narcissiflora
Dactylorhiza aristata

Fauna

The golden eagle, Ishikawa's prefectural bird, lives on the slopes of Mount Haku. The rock ptarmigan, Gifu's prefectural bird, used to live on the slopes as well. During the Meiji period, the entire population of ptarmigan on the mountain disappeared; however, sightings of the grouse have recently been recorded by local residents.

Hiking trails

The three most used hiking trails are the Kankō Trail, the Sabō Trail and the Hirase Trail. Both the Kankō Trail and the Sabō trail originate in the city of Hakusan, Ishikawa Prefecture, but the Hirase Trail starts from the Ōshirakawa Dam in Gifu Prefecture.
Because the area is protected as a national park, very few trails have been made on the mountain. Though the trails listed above are easy enough to hike up and down in one day, other trails can take two or three days because of the uncleared trails and rough terrain.

Gallery