Waga River

The Waga River (和賀川 / 和華川, Waga-gawa) is a river in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. From its headwaters near Mt. Waga in the Ōu Mountains it flows from north to south through the entire length of Nishiwaga Town before turning east through Kitakami City. The River enters the Kitakami River on the south side of the city opposite Mt. Otoko.

Waga River
Aerial view of the Waga River with Ishibane Dam in the center and Yuda Dam and Lake Kinshu visible in the distance
Location of the mouth in Japan
Waga River (Japan)
Native name和賀川 / 和華川
Location
CountryJapan
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationMount Waga, Ōu Mountains, Iwate
 • elevation1,200 m (3,900 ft)
MouthKitakami, Iwate
 • location
Kitakami River
 • coordinates
39°16′15″N 141°07′24″E
 • elevation
52 m (171 ft)
Length75.3 km (46.8 mi)
Basin size952 km2 (368 sq mi)

The headwaters of both the Waga River and its major tributary the Geto River (夏油川, Geto-gawa) are located in geologically active areas that provide hot springs for numerous onsen. Located at the head of the Geto River is Geto Onsen and Geto Ski Area, both popular attractions.

History
The Waga River and its tributary Geto River in Iwate Prefecture

In prehistoric times the Waga River valley was occupied by the Jōmon people whose artifacts can be found in many places. One of the more famous sites is at Kunenbashi (九年橋, Kunenbashi) where the Waga River meets the Kitakami River. Stone "swords", tablets and tools as well as clay figurines, earrings, potsherds and even a shark's tooth were found from the Final Jōmon Period (1,300 - 300 BC).

In 1945 a small prisoner of war camp was established on the south side of the river in the area now known as Lake Kinshu. In the same year a small aircraft factory was built in some caves on the north side of the river near the Ishibane Dam.

Ishibane Dam was completed in just two years in 1954 on the Waga River in western Kitakami. While this construction was underway in 1953 work started upriver on the Yuda Dam in the town of Nishiwaga. It was completed in 1964 creating a much larger reservoir, Lake Kinshu (錦秋湖, Kinshū-ko). On the Geto River construction of the Irihata Dam lasted from 1974 to 1990.

  • The Waga River (left) empties into the Kitakami River on the south side of Kitakami City. View from Otoka-yama
  • Lake Kinshu as seen from near the JR Hottoyuda train station
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