Foundation: Environment

Question 1

What latitudes does Japan span?

Answer 1

20°N to 45°N

Question 2

What does the large span of lattitude mean for Japan’s climate?

Answer 2

It is varied, with a number of different climatic zones

This leads to distinct rainfall, temperature, diurnal range, and growing conditions across Japan

Question 3

How many islands are there in the Japanese archipelago?

Answer 3

Almost 7,000

(6,852 to be precise)

Question 4

What are the main four islands of Japan, from North/East to South/West?

Answer 4

Hokkaidō

Honshū

Shikoku

Kyūshū

Question 5

What are the three primary plains in Japan?

Answer 5

Kantō

Nōbi

Kansai

Question 6

Roughly how much of Japan is forest / mountainous terrain?

Answer 6

70-75%

Question 7

What is the name given to the horseshoe-shaped band of volatile tectonic and volcanic acticity that encircles the Pacific Ocean?

Answer 7

The Ring of Fire

Question 8

How many active volcanoes are there in Japan?

Answer 8

110, including Mount Fuji

Question 9

What are many volcanic calderas today?

Answer 9

Lakes which serve as important water reservoirs and the source of rivers flowing out from the mountain ranges to the sea.

Question 10

What do mountains provide with respect to agriculture?

Answer 10

Ideal climatic conditions for rice cultivation

• ​Humidity is broadly good for wet rice cultivation*
• As warm air laden with moisture from the Sea of Japan climbs up and over Japan’s many alpine ranges, it cools and releases its water as precipitation.*

Question 11

The Kuroshio Current comes in from _______ and passes through ______?

Answer 11

The Kuroshio Current comes in from The Phillipines and passes through Kōchi

Question 12

The current which flows from the Korean Strait into the Sea of Japan, via Kyūshū and Honshū, is called what?

Answer 12

The Tsushima Current

Question 13

What is the world’s largest and oldest fresh lake located in Russia called?

Answer 13

Lake Baikal

Question 14

What is the Siberian High?

What impact does it have on Japan’s climate?

Answer 14

The Siberian High is a massive collection of cold air, which collects on Lake Baikal and moves toward Japan

This cold air mixes with humid air at Sea of Japan (warmed by the Tsushima Current), creating extreme cold, snowy conditions on Japan’s western side

Question 15

How much of the world’s fresh water is held in Lake Baikal?

Answer 15

20%