Jump to content

Shimanto River

Coordinates: 32°56′02″N 132°59′45″E / 32.933847°N 132.995722°E / 32.933847; 132.995722
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shimanto River
The Shimanto River
Map Map
Native name四万十川 (Japanese)
Location
CountryJapan
Physical characteristics
Mouth 
 • location
32°56′02″N 132°59′45″E / 32.933847°N 132.995722°E / 32.933847; 132.995722
Length196 km (122 mi)

The Shimanto River (四万十川, Shimanto-gawa) is a river in western Kōchi Prefecture, Japan.[1] 196 km in length, it has a watershed of 2,270 km2.

Fisheries

[edit]

Since the river is remote from major cities and does not have any dams, it is sometimes referred to as "the last clear stream of Japan".[2][3] Fishing and production of nori is a thriving industry along the river.[citation needed]

Lack of dams

[edit]

Due to lack of damming of the river, it has been named one of the "Three Free-Flowing Rivers in Japan", along with the Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture and the Kakita River in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Sinking bridges

[edit]

The river also has 47 chinkabashi (沈下橋, sinking bridges), including those on its tributaries.[4] Chinkabashi are low-water crossings constructed without parapets in order not to be washed away by floods. The prefecture decided to preserve them as cultural heritage.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Nakayama, Keiko (2022-03-02). A Forest Environment Tax Scheme in Japan: Toward Water Source Cultivation. Springer Nature. pp. 120–121. ISBN 978-981-16-9352-6.
  2. ^ "Shimanto River Headwaters". Tourism SHIKOKU (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  3. ^ "Cool Summer Sights / The Government of Japan - JapanGov -". The Government of Japan - JapanGov -. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  4. ^ Association, Kochi Visitors & Convention. "Sada Chinkabashi (submersible bridge)". Visit Kochi Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-10-10.
[edit]