Volcano Science Museum

Volcano Science Museum http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/ Volcano Science Museum is a comprehensive learning facility of Mount Usu to introduce the mountain's volcanic history, the mechanism of eruption, the actual damages in the past, and disaster prevention measures in the local communities. ja Copyright 2008 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:25:48 +0900 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Temporary Closure Toyako Visitor Center and Eco Gallery will be closed on Wednesday July 9, 2008 at 9:00 am until 1:00 pm to be held Hokkaido Toyako Summit. Sorry for your inconvenience. http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/event/temporary_closure.html http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/event/temporary_closure.html event Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:25:48 +0900 Links http://www.env.go.jp/en/ Toyako Visitor Center http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/ Toya Takarada Narure Experience House http://www18.ocn.ne.jp/~toya/eng/ Hokkaido Seabird Center http://www.seabird.go.jp/index-e.html Shiretoko Nature Center http://www.shiretoko.or.jp/snc_eng/en_about.htm]]> http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/links/ministry_o.html http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/links/ministry_o.html links Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:30:30 +0900 Overview Through a wide range of audio-visual materials, exhibitions, and experience devices centering on the eruptions in 1977 and 2000, Volcano Science Museum introduces the history of Mount Usu.

Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Admissions: 600 yen for adults, 300 yen for children under age 15 (10% discount for groups of 15 or more) Closed: Dec. 31 - Jan. 1 Address: 142-5, Toyako Onsen, Toyako Town, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido Phone: +81-142-75-2555 (international calls) / 0142-75-2555 (domestic calls) ]]> http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/about_vol/post.html http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/about_vol/post.html about_vol Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:08:43 +0900 Recent Eruptions after the 19th Century

July, 1910

At this volcanic eruption started on July 21, 1910, Professor Fusakichi Omori of Tokyo Imperial University carried out observations of volcanic earthquakes using a seismometer for the first time in the world. He also conducted a deliberate survey to measure the land deformation. The chief of the police station, Seiichi Iida, had attended Professor Omori's lectures and predicted the eruption from the preceding earthquakes. He ordered the residents within 12 kilometers around Mount Usu to evacuate beforehand, and no casualties were caused.

August, 1977

At the hour before dawn on August 6, 1977, a series of small earthquakes began at Mount Usu. The earthquakes became noticeable around 3:00 a.m., and at 11:30 a.m., the Muroran Regional Meteorological Observatory announced an eruption alarm. The earthquakes further gained intensity, and at 9:12 a.m. on August 7, suddenly a white eruption column stood high from the top of Mount Usu. The smoke rising silently into the sky captivated many tourists who happened to be there, and some of them took pictures with the mountain and the smoke in the background.

March, 2000

The eruptions in 2000 started at the western foot of Mount Nishiyama at 1:10 p.m. on March 31, 2000. Although the eruption started at the western foot of Mount Nishiyama, various observation data indicated possible eruptions at the mountaintop. Eruptions at the summit were prone to generate massive pyroclastic flows, which destroyed the mountain foot four times in the past. The observatory squad remained highly alarmed. At 2:30 p.m. on March 31, the government established the regional disaster emergency center in Date City, and possible evacuation plans were examined in the first meeting on the assumption of explosions at the top of Mount Usu. Three municipalities had already issued an evacuation order, and on March 31, they expanded the region subject to evacuation, and the whole city area of Abuta Town (present Toyako Town) was added to the designated evacuation area. The residents temporarily moved to 30 shelter homes set up across six municipalities. At the beginning of April, the number of residents evacuated reached 16,000, and some of them were forced to stay in the temporary housing for about five months. On April 1, another crater opened at Mount Konpira. The danger of volcanic eruption at the mountaintop also continued. At the western foot of Mount Nishiyama, rapid land upheaval materialized. At 9:35 p.m. on April 5, the Coordinating Committee for Prediction of Volcanic Eruptions (CCPVE) announced that it was likely that the volcanic activities would be shifting to dome growth stage at the western foot of Mount Nishiyama, and that there was a possibility of massive volcanic eruptions within two weeks. Volcanic explosions and ground deformation continued at the western foot of Mount Usu in April, and damage continued to expand. Hot mudflows discharged from the crater of Mount Konpira reached its vigorous peak between April 7 and April 10. On April 7, the hot mudflow overflowed its running course and poured into Lake Toya. On April 9 and April 10, two bridges on Route 230 were washed away by hot mud flows, and a municipal hot spring bath facility and a library were also destroyed. By the crustal disturbances continued at the western foot of Mount Nishiyama for about five months, the land was uplifted by approximately 80 meters. Devastation of Route 230 and the buildings progressed due to the ground deformation. The volcanic activities at the western foot slowed down gradually from April to May. On May 22, CCPVE commented that multiple observation data suggests declines in the volcanic activities, and on July 10, the committee announced that cessation of activities was underway, which led to the lifting of the evacuation order for the residents of Lake Toya hot spring region. Thereon at the start of August, land upheavals at the western foot stagnated, and in September, upheavals subsided and reversed. At the eruption in 1977, a certain phenomenon was the decisive factor to conclude that the volcanic activity is coming to an end. And that is, the pace of the volcanic land upheaval becoming dramatically sluggish and the land slightly sinking reversely. A similar phenomenon was observed at the eruption in 2000, and the activities came to cessation. However, small geothermal activities still continue to the present day. ]]> http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/about_usuzan/test5.html http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/about_usuzan/test5.html about_usuzan Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:43:53 +0900 Points of Interest

Disaster Monuments at Konpira Craters

The mudflows from the volcanic eruptions in 2000 carried away a bridge and damaged the public bath facility, and the remains of the structures are preserved. (not accessible during winter)

Konpira Craters

Two craters, formed in Mount Konpira in the 2000 eruptions, have ceased their volcanic activities and turned into caldera lakes. The lakes can be seen from the nearby hills. (not accessible during winter)

Craters at the Foot of Mount Nishiyama

About 30 volcanic craters created in the 2000 eruptions still remain active. These craters with rising steam can be observed from the promenade. (access permission required during winter)

1977 Volcano Remnants Park

1977 Volcano Remnants Park preserves the remains (ex. damaged hospital building) destroyed by the volcanic eruptions of Mount Usu in 1977. (closed during winter)

Showashinzan Iron Bridge Remnants Park

Climbing a stair of about 100 steps near Route 453 takes you to the ruin of the iron railway bridge footings lifted by the upheaval of Showashinzan. (closed during winter)

]]> http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/midokoro/test4.html http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/midokoro/test4.html midokoro Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:43:20 +0900 Highlights

Theater Mount Usu

In Theater Mount Usu, images mainly from the eruptions in 2000 are vividly played on the three different angle screens. Experience the dynamism of the eruptions. Show Time: 9:30 a.m. / 10:00 a.m. / 11:00 a.m. / 12:00 p.m. / 1:00 p.m. / 2:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m. / 4:00 p.m.

Volcanic Activities of Mount Usu

The impact of the eruptions in 1977 and 2000 are displayed through railroads, car and others that were actually damaged by the eruptions. By an experience device, you can experience the impact of the eruption in 1977.

The 2000 Eruptions

A wide range of exhibitions such as Mount Usu's terrain model, actual ash deposits, a diorama of a shelter home recalls the impact of the eruption in 2000.

]]> http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/about_vol/test3.html http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/about_vol/test3.html about_vol Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:42:54 +0900 Access

]]> http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/about_vol/test2.html http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/about_vol/test2.html about_vol Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:42:16 +0900 Mount Usu Does Not Tell Lies It was on August 7, 1977 - the 32nd summer from the emergence of Showashinzan (Showa New Mountain) - when Mount Usu initiated large-scale pumice eruption at the mountain top. Since its awakening from a long sleep of thousands of years in 1663, Mount Usu has erupted for nine times at an interval of 20 to 50 years. Each eruption was preceded by a series of noticeable earthquakes, and Mount Usu came to be called "the mountain that does not tell lies". However, eruptions can occur at any part of the mountain, and eruption sites cannot be foreseen. Another characteristic of Mount Usu's volcanic activities is massive ground deformations accompanying eruptions. The eruptions in 1977 were explosions at the summit, which people dreaded most as eruptions at the top used to damage massively until the 19th century. ]]> http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/about_usuzan/test1.html http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/about_usuzan/test1.html about_usuzan Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:41:21 +0900 Fish Watching At Sobetsu River Cherry salmon come back to Sobetsu River to spawn every fall. Where have they been, and what were they doing? Why are they returning to the river in shoals? Let's take a look at what is going on in the river! Date and Time: 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 23, 2007 Charge: 300 yen per person (free for children under five years old accompanied by adults) Items to Bring: Rain boots and a towel. Meeting Place: Center House of Takarada Camping Site Reservation and Inquiry: For further information, please contact Toya Takarada Nature Experience House (0142-82-5999). Reservations are required for this program. To make a reservation, please also contact Toya Takarada Nature Experience House no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 22, 2007. http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/event/events_and_programs.html http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/event/events_and_programs.html event Tue, 01 Jan 2008 08:22:31 +0900