Mount Sobo

Mount Sobo
Tổ mẫu sơn
Mt. Sobo in August
Highest point
Elevation	1,756 m (5,761 ft)
Listing	100 Famous Japanese Mountains
Coordinates	32°49′41″N131°20′49″E
Naming
English translation	grandmother mountain
Language of name	Japanese
Pronunciation	[sobosaɴ]
Geography
Mount Sobo Kyūshū,Japan
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike

Mount Sobo(Tổ mẫu sơn,Sobo-san)is one of the100 Famous Japanese Mountains.The 1,756-metre-high (5,761 ft) mountain lies on the border ofTaketaandBungo-ōnoinŌita PrefectureandTakachiho,Nishiusuki DistrictinMiyazaki Prefecture.It is within theSobo, Katamuki and Okue Biosphere Reserve.Mount Sobo is the highest peak in Miyazaki Prefecture and in Ōita Prefecture only the 1,791 m (5,876 ft) middle peak ofMount Kujūis higher.

The Sobo Mountain range extends into three prefectures: Ōita, Miyazaki andKumamoto. Because of the volcanic activity which formed the mountain, huge rocks can be found everywhere around the mountain. There is a great variety of mountain climbing routes, ranging from animal trails to well maintained paths. Courses ae available from relaxedhikingfor enjoyment tocliff climbingroutes aimed at advanced climbers. Steep rock climbing routes can be seen from all trails in the neighbourhood of the summit. The surroundings of Mount Sobo abound in mineral resources which were mined from theEdo periodto the mid-Shōwa period.

Formation

It is believed that the foundation of the Sobo mountain range occurred in two periods of volcanic activity. In the first period, around 13 million years ago, two cauldrons, theSobocalderaand the? caldera(Khuynh カルデラ),were formed in aneruptionaccompanied bypyroclastic flow.The two cauldrons formed at this time, were buried in the second period of volcanic activity leaving the caldera which can be seen today.

About 12.5 million years ago, a cauldron opened up once more. During this timeorewas formed. Around 10 million years ago the volcanic activity ceased. Erosion levelled off the mountain until 3 million years ago when the large scale activity of the risingMount Asosystem caused a pyroclastic flow which gave Mount Sobo its present shape.

Environment

Thanks to volcanic activity,graniteis ubiquitous. In the valleys at the bottom of the mountain and at medium and high altitude rock-climbing fans are fascinated by the cliffs which can be found everywhere.

Miyama Kirishima (Rhododendron kiusianum),Japanese gentianand theJapanese maplegrow in great numbers and are visited by mountain climbers in all seasons.

Flora

The mountain is covered byold-growth forest.Typical species includeJapanese beechandTsuga.Going up from the lowland, the vegetation changes from evergreen (glossy-leaved) forest overconiferforest halfway up the mountain, to Suzu-take and beech close to the summit.Angelica ubatakensisis only found on parts ofShikokuand in the Sobo mountain range is a precious plant. The pseudonym of Mount Sobo, Mount Uba(Mỗ nhạc,Uba-take)(ubameaning "elderly woman" in Japanese), goes back to the discoverer of the plant,Tomitaro Makino,who called it that.

Fauna

It is thought that the southern range limit of the Special Natural monument(Đặc biệt thiên nhiên kỷ niệm vật,tokubetsu tennen kinen-butsu),theJapanese serowlies in the mountain range. Even though sightings have been rare in recent years, theAsian black bearis believed to be living here as well. In additionJapanese dormiceandsika deercan be seen.

Mining

At the foot of Mount Sobo lie the remains of theObira mine.From its opening in 1617 until its closing in 1954, it had been flourishing as the leading Japanese mine. Apart from Obira, there are the Kyūsetsu mine(Chín chiết 鉱 sơn,kyūsetsu-kōzan)and the Kiura mine(Mộc phổ 鉱 sơn,kiura-kōzan)on the side of Ōita Prefecture as well as the Mitate mine(Thấy lập 鉱 sơn,mitate-kōzan)and Toroku mine(Thổ Lữ lâu 鉱 sơn,toroku-kōzan)on the side of Miyazaki Prefecture. The mines produce scarce minerals likecopper,tin,lead,manganeseandquartz.

History

On August 30, 1945, aB-29 Superfortressof theUnited States Air Forceon a supply flight crashed in bad weather in the neighbourhood of Mount Oyaji(Thân phụ nhạc,Oyaji-take)located south of Mount Sobo. All twelve crew members died in the incident.Part of thefuselageand theStars and Stripesstill lie among the mountains. APrayer for Peacemonument was erected on August 26, 1995 to commemorate this event.

See also

• 100 Famous Japanese Mountains

External links

• Topographic map