is a Quaternary

stratovolcano A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile with a summit crater and p ...

located off the coast of Hokkaidō, Japan in the

Sea of Japan The Sea of Japan is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it h ...

. It rises out of the

forming Rishiri Island. Because its cone shape resembles

Mount Fuji , or Fugaku, located on the island of Honshū, is the highest mountain in Japan, with a summit elevation of . It is the second-highest volcano located on an island in Asia (after Mount Kerinci on the island of Sumatra), and seventh-highes ...

it is sometimes referred to as Rishiri Fuji. It is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan. Mount Rishiri's opening festival is held annually on July 2 and July 3. This festival officially opens the climbing season.

Geology

Mount Rishiri is made up of

alkali In chemistry, an alkali (; from ar, القلوي, al-qaly, lit=ashes of the saltwort) is a basic, ionic salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. An alkali can also be defined as a base that dissolves in water. A solution of ...

and non-alkali

mafic A mafic mineral or rock is a silicate mineral or igneous rock rich in magnesium and iron. Most mafic minerals are dark in color, and common rock-forming mafic minerals include olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, and biotite. Common mafic rocks includ ...

volcanic rock Volcanic rock (often shortened to volcanics in scientific contexts) is a rock formed from lava erupted from a volcano. In other words, it differs from other igneous rock by being of volcanic origin. Like all rock types, the concept of volcan ...

dating from the

Late Pleistocene The Late Pleistocene is an unofficial age in the international geologic timescale in chronostratigraphy, also known as Upper Pleistocene from a stratigraphic perspective. It is intended to be the fourth division of the Pleistocene Epoch within ...

, 130,000–18,000 years ago. Otherwise it is covered in Quaternary volcanic rock debris.

Climbing route

The ascent of Rishiri is not suitable for novice hikers, because it is challenging in places. There is a campsite partway up the mountain from the dock, and an unmanned hut located a short distance below the summit. There is also a small shrine at the summit. On clear days the view extends to Hokkaidō, the adjacent island of Rebun, and as far as

Sakhalin Sakhalin ( rus, Сахали́н, r=Sakhalín, p=səxɐˈlʲin; ja, 樺太 ''Karafuto''; zh, c=, p=Kùyèdǎo, s=库页岛, t=庫頁島; Manchu: ᠰᠠᡥᠠᠯᡳᠶᠠᠨ, ''Sahaliyan''; Orok: Бугата на̄, ''Bugata nā''; Nivkh: ...

Island in

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eigh ...

In popular culture

The package of Shiroi Koibito includes a picture of Mount Rishiri arranged in the centre.

Gallery

File:Rishiriislandairplane.jpg, Rishiri Island File:130726 Mount Rishiri view from Oshidomari Port in Rishiri Island Hokkaido Japan01s5.jpg, Mount Rishiri view from Oshidomari Port File:Mt. Rishiri peak.JPG, The summit of Mt. Rishiri taken from just below

References

External links

Rishirizan
- Japan Meteorological Agency * - Japan Meteorological Agency

- Geological Survey of Japan * Mountains of Hokkaido Stratovolcanoes of Japan Volcanoes of Hokkaido Highest points of Japanese national parks Pleistocene stratovolcanoes Holocene stratovolcanoes {{Hokkaido-geo-stub fr:Rishiri