Period+7+Japan+Geography

=Geography of Japan=

written by Matt Large and Alec Foster





Japan contains more than 3,900 islands of which there are four main ones. The four main islands are called Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The total area of Japan is 377,835 square kilometers; with 374,744 sq km being land, and 3,091 sq km being sea. Of the four main islands Honshu is the largest and is considered the "heart" of Japan. On Honshu the longest river is Shinano and the largest lake is Biwa. Each island has a different climate that acts similar to a different season. Kyushu has a tropical climate and is called the "sunshine state of Japan", while Hokkaido has a cold climate and was a common place to send exiles. Japan has also been called "the land of volcanoes" because at least 80 volcanoes have been active during Japan's existence. One of the newer volcanoes that emerged from Hokkaido is the Showa volcano.

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