Takachiho Gorge, Japan

Takachiho Gorge

 The highlight of the day was a visit to the Takachiho Gorge. It is a narrow chasm cut through the rock by the Gokase River. The nearly sheer cliffs lining the gorge are made from slow forming volcanic basalt columns which resemble the scales of a dragon where the stone twisted and flowed as if formed. Waterfalls cascade down to the river below against a backdrop of dense green foliage and surrounding grey cliffs.

Japan lies on the intersection of four Pacific plates and is the world’s most geologically active zone. The islands themselves were pushed up from the ocean floor by earth movements. The sharply defined mountain ranges rising from the plains all along the route of Kyushu Islands, smoking volcanoes like Mt Aso and Kagoshima and hot mineral waters at Beppu well up from the ground. Mt. Aso is the largest active volcano 80 miles in circumference, 1,000 feet higher than Carrauntouhill in Kerry and higher than Ben Nevis the highest mountain in England. We traveled by rope-car to the misty summit and peered into the deep crater. We heard the thundering and rumbling sound of the lava below as poisonous gasses and sulphur fumes

Crater at Mt. Aso

billowed into the air. We wore mask as a protection. There are numerous rock shelters along the route acting as a protection against fallen rocks. Sulphuric acid blocks were on sale at the summit and are used in gardens to kill snails. Below the peaks of the volcanoes small towns and villages sit among the forests, grasslands, bamboo groves and hot springs. We visited two hot springs one the colour of cobalt blue the other blood red taking its colour from the dissolved particles of iron oxide at Yufuin village - a popular resort located on a flat river basin, surrounded by mountains, rice paddies and farmhouses.

Indeed it amazes me how Japanese take earthquakes, volcano eruptions, tsunamis and typhoons in their stride building and rebuilding their towns wherever they find flat land. All buildings must be earthquake proof.