JP150Kirishima mountains and Lake Miike

Site Description

Forest

Kirishima mountain range is located on the border of Kagoshima Prefecture and Miyazaki Prefecture. The biggest eruption in the history of Mts. Kirishima occurred about 4,200 years ago. The intense eruption and explosion created a large crater, which was filled with water and became a lake, current Lake Miike in Miyazaki Prefecture. The area of about 115 ha including a part of Lake Miike, its surrounding forest and Lake Koike is "the National Miike Wild Bird Forest", which was designated as the Japan's first national wild bird forest in 1973. A large part of the trees in the Wild Bird Forest are forested ones, and a sizable forested land from around the end of Edo Era still remains. The forest is almost natural one with little artificial work carried out. So far, at least 18 fish species, at least 18 species of mammals and 147 species of wild birds have been observed there.

Area & Coordinates

8,500ha 31°55′N 130°53′E
region: Kyushu Region, Miyazaki; Kagoshima

Category

A1, A3

Designation Type

National Park, Wildlife Protection Area (government), Nature Consevation Area, Wildlife Protection Area (Local)

Protection Status

Protected

Conservation issues

• Recreation/tourism
• Consequences of animal/plants/ introductions
• Natural events