Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood visited Northern most islands of Hokkaido. Due to the strong westerly wind during winter blowing from Siberia, the islands have no forest except wild grasses and flowers in summer. Those glasses are the remains of Siberian plant. The remote island preserved those species after their separation from the Eurasian continent some 11,000 years ago.
They flew to Asahikawa airport at the center of Hokkaido and moved to northern most port of Soya by bus. It took 6 hours to reach the port. Another 1 hour and 40 minutes were required to reach the Rishiri Island by ferry.
pink route
Turiganerou
 Risirihinageshi |
 Edselweiss |
 Rebunsou |
 Matsubatoudai |
 Unknown |
Rishiri Island is made by volcanic eruption and still has 1,721m high Mt. Rishiri. Next morning, they have made a short tour around the island and again voyaged to next Rebun Island which is the main destination of the trip.
Otadomari pond
Ooubayuri
Rebun island was formed by upheaval. It has no high mountains except hills. They walked around the island and found 72 wild fowlers including Edelweiss.
Motoji Beach
Chishimawaremokou
at Pt. Scoton northern most point of Rebun Island
Awabikotan Beach
Flowers at Awabikotan Beach
 Hamautsubo |
 Unknown |
 Unran |
 Hamabenkeisou |
 Hamahakobe |
 Kusafuji |
 Takanekourinka |
 Iwabenkei |
 Chishimaazami |
 Takanenadeshiko |
 Umebachisou |
 Ezonoshishiudo |
Hanaudo |
Gorota pt.
A Cove near Pt. Sukai reminded Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood of a Lulworth Cove they visited in 1973.
a Cove near Pt. Sukai
Mr. Greenwood found the similarity of the vegetation between Rebun Island and Mt. Tairappyou and Senokura. which has the height around 2,000 meter. The view of the Rebun also reminded Mr. Greenwood of Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales.
Hiking in Rebun Island seeing Mt. Rishiri far beyond
top of the hill
Edelweiss is a very small plant and grew in the slope of a hill exposed to strong westerly wind. I was very much disappointed to find Forestry Agency in Japan has started planting pine trees in the grass field. It is not reforesting, because historically, there has been no forest on the island due to strong wind. I think this activity is destroying nature just as agriculture did on the natural forest.
Edelweiss garden
Wild Edselweiss
When they visited Rishiri Island Mt. Rishiri was hidden in the clouds but from Rebun Island and from return ferry, it showed full shape. Mr. Greenwood does not wish to climb the mountain, because it is very steep.
Mt. Rishiri viewed from the deck of return ferry.
After the two island, they visited Sarobetsu Plane. This place was a inlet about 7,000 years ago. But lowering sea level and subsequent formation of sand hill separated the inlet from the sea. A peat formation started around 4,000 and filled up the lake. Because of this history, only wild grass grows here.
|
Nemurokouhone |
Hamanasu |
Sabobetsu Wild Flower Garden
July 25, 2003
Rev. June 22, 2008
