Mount Yake

Mount Yake (焼岳, Yake-dake) literally, "Burning mountain" is an active volcano in the Hida Mountains, lying between Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, and Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, reaching 2,455 m (8,054 ft) at the highest peak.

Mount Yake
焼岳
Mount Yake behind Lake Taishō
Highest point
Elevation	2,455 m (8,054 ft)
Coordinates	36°13′37″N 137°35′13″E
Naming
English translation	Burnt mountain
Language of name	Japanese
Geography
Mount Yake Takayama, Gifu Prefecture Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture Japan
Parent range	Hida Mountains
Geology
Age of rock	20,000 years
Mountain type	Active stratovolcano
Last eruption	February 1995
Climbing
Easiest route	Hiking

Geography

Mount Yake is the most active of all the volcanoes in the Hida Mountains. Its two main peaks are the northern and southern peaks, but visitors can only ascend to the northern peak, as the southern peak is currently a restricted area. A crater lake lies between the two peaks.

High viscosity lava flowing from the upper regions of Mount Yake has led to the build up of a lava dome.

The heat from the volcano produces many onsen in the surrounding area.

Eruptions

In 1911, 22 minor eruptions were recorded. In 1915, during the Taishō period, however, there was a major eruption. The flow of the lava blocked the Azusa River, which caused the river to form a lake that was named Lake Taishō.[1] The Azusa River is again flowing today, but the lake still remains.

In 1962, there was an eruption that killed two people staying at a small hut near the mouth of the volcano.[1]

In 1995, a tunnel was being constructed on the Nagano Prefecture side of the mountain, through Mount Akandana, which was thought to be part of Mount Yake. At 2:25pm on February 11, the workers encountered volcanic gases, which were quickly followed by a phreatic eruption on Mount Yake, leading to the death of four people. Later explorations have shown that Mount Akandana is an independent volcano.

There is still an active fumarole near the mountain's peak.

• 
  seen from Mount Hotaka
• 
  crater lake between the northern and southern peaks
• 
  northern peak and volcanic gases
• 
  sulfur

See also

• 100 Famous Japanese Mountains
• List of volcanoes in Japan

References

1. Mount Yake Volcano Disaster Prevention Archived 2011-10-02 at the Wayback Machine. (in Japanese) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Accessed June 30, 2008.

External links

• Yakedake - Japan Meteorological Agency (in Japanese)
• "Yakedake: National catalogue of the active volcanoes in Japan" (PDF). - Japan Meteorological Agency
• Yakedake - Geological Survey of Japan
• Yakedake: Global Volcanism Program - Smithsonian Institution