Territory- 377.8 thousand km 2

Population- 125.2 million people (1995).

Capital- Tokyo.

Geographical location, general information

Japan- an archipelago country, located on four large and almost four thousand small islands, stretching for 3.5 thousand km from northeast to southwest along the eastern coast of Asia. The largest islands are Honshu, Hokaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. The shores of the archipelago are heavily indented and form many bays and coves. The seas and ocean washing Japan are of exceptional importance for the country as a source of biological, mineral and energy resources.

The economic and geographical position of Japan is determined primarily by the fact that it is located in the center of the Asia-Pacific region, which contributes to the country's active participation in the international geographical division of labor.

For a long period, Japan was isolated from other countries. After the unfinished bourgeois revolution of 1867-1868. she embarked on the path of rapid capitalist development. At the turn of the XIX - XX centuries. became one of the imperialist states.

Japan is a country with a constitutional monarchy. The highest body of state power and the only legislative body is parliament.

Natural conditions and resources of Japan

The geological basis of the archipelago is underwater mountain ranges. About 80% of the territory is occupied by mountains and hills with a highly dissected relief of an average height of 1600 - 1700 m. There are about 200 volcanoes, 90 are active, including the highest peak - Mount Fuji (3776 m). Frequent earthquakes and tsunami.

The country is poor in minerals, but coal, lead and zinc ores, oil, sulfur and limestone are mined. The resources of its own deposits are small, so Japan is the largest importer of raw materials.

Despite the small area, the length of the country led to the existence on its territory unique complex Natural conditions: the island of Hokkaido and northern Honshu are located in a zone of temperate maritime climate, the rest of Honshu, the islands of Shikoku and Yushu are in a humid subtropical, and Ryukyu is in a tropical climate. Japan is in the active monsoon zone. The average annual rainfall ranges from 2 to 4 thousand mm.

About 2/3 of the territory is mainly mountainous areas covered with forests (more than half of the forests are artificial plantations). Coniferous forests predominate in northern Hokaido, mixed forests in central Honshu and southern Hokkaido, and subtropical forests in the south.

There are many rivers in Japan, full-flowing, fast, of little use for navigation, but providing a source for hydropower and irrigation.

The abundance of rivers, lakes and groundwater has a beneficial effect on the development of industry and agriculture.

In the post-war period, environmental problems worsened on the Japanese islands. The adoption and implementation of a number of environmental laws reduces the country's pollution level.

Population of Japan

Japan is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of population. Japan became the first Asian country to move from the second to the first type of population reproduction. Now the birth rate is 12%, the death rate is 8%. Life expectancy in the country is the highest in the world (76 years for men and 82 years for women).

The population is nationally homogeneous, about 99% are Japanese. Other ethnic groups include Koreans and Chinese. The most common religions are Shinto and Buddhism. The population is unevenly distributed over the area. The average density is 330 people per m2, but the coastal areas of the Pacific Ocean are among the most densely populated in the world.

About 80% of residents live in cities. 11 cities are millionaires.

Economy of Japan

The growth rates of the Japanese economy were among the highest in the second half of the 20th century. The country has largely undergone a qualitative restructuring of the economy. Japan is at a post-industrial stage of development, which is characterized by a highly developed industry, but the leading sphere is the non-manufacturing sector (services, finance).

Although Japan is poor in natural resources and imports raw materials for most industries, it ranks 1-2 in the world in terms of the output of many industries. Industry is mainly concentrated within the Pacific industrial belt.

Power engineering mainly uses imported raw materials. In the structure of the raw material base, oil is in the lead, the share of natural gas, hydropower and nuclear energy is growing, and the share of coal is decreasing.

In the electric power industry, 60% of the capacity comes from thermal power plants and 28% from nuclear power plants.

Hydroelectric power plants are located in cascades on mountain rivers. In terms of hydropower generation, Japan ranks 5th in the world. In resource-poor Japan, alternative energy sources are being actively developed.

Ferrous metallurgy. In terms of steel production, the country ranks first in the world. The share of Japan in the world market of ferrous metallurgy is 23%.

Largest centers, which now operate almost entirely on imported raw materials and fuels, are located near Osaka, Tokyo, in Fujiyama.

Non-ferrous metallurgy. Due to the harmful effect on the environment, primary smelting of non-ferrous metals is reduced, but factories are located in all large industrial centers.

Mechanical engineering. Provides 40% of industrial production. The main sub-sectors among the many developed in Japan are electronics and electrical engineering, the radio industry and transport engineering.

Japan firmly occupies the 1st place in the world in shipbuilding, specializing in the construction of large-capacity tankers and bulk carriers. The main centers of shipbuilding and ship repair are located in the largest ports (Yokogana, Nagosaki, Kobe).

In terms of car production (13 million units per year), Japan also ranks first in the world. The main centers are Toyota, Yokohama, Hiroshima.

The main enterprises of general mechanical engineering are located within the Pacific industrial belt - complex machine tool building and industrial robots in the Tokyo region, metal-intensive equipment in Osaka, machine tool building in the Nagai region.

The country's share in the world output of the radio-electronic and electrical engineering industry is exceptionally large.

By the level of development chemical industry in Japan is one of the first places in the world.

Pulp and paper, light and food industries are also developed in Japan.

Agriculture Japan remains an important industry, contributing about 2% of GNP; the industry employs 6.5% of the population. Agricultural production is focused on food production (the country provides 70% of its own needs in it).

13% of the territory is cultivated, in the structure of crop production (it gives 70% of agricultural production) the cultivation of rice and vegetables plays a leading role, horticulture is developed. Livestock raising is intensively developing (cattle breeding, pig breeding, poultry farming).

Due to the exceptional location, there is an abundance of fish and seafood in the diet of the Japanese, the country fishes in all regions of the World Ocean, has more than three thousand fishing ports and has the largest fishing fleet (over 400 thousand vessels).

Japan transport

All types of transport are developed in Japan, with the exception of river and pipeline transport. In terms of the volume of cargo transportation, the first place belongs to road transport (60%), the second place is to sea transport. The role of rail transport is declining, while the role of air transportation is growing. Due to very active foreign economic relations, Japan has the largest merchant fleet in the world.

The territorial structure of the economy is characterized by a combination of two different parts: the Pacific belt, which is the socio-economic core of the country, because here are the main industrial areas, ports, transport routes and developed agriculture, and the peripheral zone, which includes areas where the most developed timber harvesting, animal husbandry, mining, hydropower and tourism. Despite the implementation of the regional policy, the smoothing of territorial disparities is proceeding rather slowly.

External economic relations of Japan

Japan actively participates in the MGRT, foreign trade takes the leading place, capital export, production, scientific and technical and other ties are also developed.

The share of Japan in world imports is about 1/10. Mainly raw materials and fuel are imported.

The country's share in world exports is also more than 1/10. Manufactured goods account for 98% of exports.

Send your good work in the knowledge base is simple. Use the form below

Students, graduate students, young scientists who use the knowledge base in their studies and work will be very grateful to you.

Posted on http://www.allbest.ru/

Abstract on the economic and social geography of the world on the topic:

Completed by a student of grade 10-11 "e"

secondary school 1287

with in-depth study of English

Prikhodko Maya

Moscow, 2003

Introduction

Territory, geographical location

Nature and nature management

Population and culture

Agriculture

Farm

Industry

Country problems

Conclusion

Bibliography

Introduction

Japan is the "land of the rising sun". The name of the country - Japan - is conveyed by two hieroglyphs. The first of these signs means "the sun", the second - "root, base" hence the allegorical name of Japan "the land of the rising sun".

Japan is an island state, stretching in a long arc for 3400 km from north to south along the eastern part of the Asian mainland. It occupies four large islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku) and about 900 large islands with a total area of ​​372.6 thousand sq. km. In the north it is washed by the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, in the east - by the Pacific Ocean, in the south - by the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea, in the west by the Korea Strait and the Sea of ​​Japan.

The population of Japan is 124.1 million (1992); 99.4% are Japanese, the rest of the population is Koreans, Chinese, Americans, Ainu (descendants of the country's ancient population), etc. The official language is Japanese.

The main religions are Shinto and Buddhism.

Currency - yen = 100 sen.

Japan has diplomatic relations with The Russian Federation(installed from the USSR on 01/20/1925, interrupted on 08/09/1945, restored on 10/19/1956).

Japan is a constitutional monarchy. According to the current since 1947. of the constitution, the emperor is “a symbol of the state and the unity of the people,” his status is determined by the will of the entire people, who owns sovereign power.

The supreme body of state power and the only legislative body is parliament, which consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives (512 deputies) and the House of Councilors (252 deputies). The term of office of deputies of the House of Representatives is 4 years, of the House of Councilors - 6 years (with re-election of half of the membership every three years).

Executive power is exercised by the cabinet of ministers headed by the prime minister.

Terry thorium, geographic location

Japan is a state in East Asia located on four large islands: Kyushu, Shikoku, Honshu and Hokkaido, the Ryukyu Islands and more than a thousand small islands. In the north it is washed by the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, in the east - by the Pacific Ocean, in the south - by the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea, in the west by the Korea Strait and the Sea of ​​Japan.

Japan's EGP is determined primarily by the fact that the arc of the islands on which it is located stretches for 3.5 thousand km at the junction of the continent of Eurasia and the Pacific Ocean and is located in the center of the Asia-Pacific region. This opens up very great opportunities for the country's participation in the international geographical division of labor.

The highest point in Japan is Mount Fuji (3776 m).

Borders: in the north - with Russia (Sakhalin, Kuriles), in the south - with the Philippines, in the west and north-west - with China and South Korea. All borders are maritime.

The area of ​​the country is 377688 square kilometers, which is one twenty-fifth of the territory of the United States, one-twentieth of the area of ​​Australia, but more than one and a half times more than Great Britain.

One of the lower mountain ranges of the island is called the Japanese Alps because of their scenic beauty. Another mountain range lies in the extreme south of the island. There is Mount Kita (3192 m) - the highest point in the region. The islands of Kyushu and Shikoku also have small mountain ranges, however, their height does not exceed 1982 m (Mount Isitsuki on the island of Shikoku).

There are about 188 volcanoes on the Japanese islands, more than 40 of them are active. In areas of volcanoes a large number of hot springs.

The longest river in Japan - Shinano, on the island of Honshu (367 km), among other large rivers in Honshu - Tone, Kitakami, Tenri and Mogami; in Hokkaido - Ishikari, Tesio, Tokachi; to Shikoku - Yoshino.

Most of Japanese lakes are mountainous and are usually nearby popular resorts... The most big lake Japan - Biwa (672 square kilometers) - is located on the island of Honshu.

Japan has 47 prefectures and over 3,000 municipal governments. Each region of Japan has its own history and culture. Tokyo, as the capital, contains a quarter of Japan's population: about 30 million people live within a 50-kilometer radius of Tokyo. In Japan, the problem of overpopulation in cities and de-population in villages is very acute. To revive the countryside, attempts were made to create technopolises.

Historical and geographical stages of development

The Japanese archipelago took its current shape 10,000 years ago. The Yomon era lasted for the next 8,000 years, when primitive hunter-gatherers lived. They eventually formed one tribe. Rice cultivation came from Eurasia in 300 BC during the Yayoi period. The Japanese nationality is believed to have developed during the Yamato period around the third century AD. According to legend, the Japanese Empire arose in 660 BC, when the first Japanese emperor, Jimmu, ascended the throne. During the first millennium (from 660 BC), Japan developed under the influence of Korea and China, which had a higher level of civilization. In 604, Prince Shotoku adopted the first constitution.

In the 7th century, Buddhism came from Korea to Japan, which later became the state religion of the country.

At the beginning of the eighth century (Nara period), Nara became the first capital, and then Kyoto.

From the 12th to the 19th century, the country was ruled by a military class of samurai. Since the 12th century, a military regime has actually been established in the country, and shoguns (military dictators) ruled Japan.

In the 15th century, a civil war broke out in Japan that lasted 100 years.

In the 17th century, Tokugawa Ieyasu came to power and declared a regime of isolation for 200 years, when relations continued only with China and the Netherlands. But with the arrival in 1853 of the American commander Matthew Perry, Japan began to improve relations with America and Europe.

The shogun rule lasted until 1867, when the last Tokugawa shogun Yoshinobu handed over power to Emperor Mutsuhito (Meiji).

Although the Portuguese and Dutch had trade relations with Japan as early as the 16th and 17th centuries, they were very minor, and the country remained virtually closed to foreigners until the middle of the 19th century, when the United States of America signed a treaty with Japan.

At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, Japan waged several wars, as a result of which, by 1910, the island of Taiwan, half of Sakhalin and Korea were annexed. After the end of the First World War, as a result of which Japan got the islands in the Pacific Ocean, which belonged to Germany, the country in the 30s waged several local wars with China and the Soviet Union.

Imperial Japan entered World War II by attacking the American military base Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. During the war, Japanese troops occupied many of the French and British colonies and protectorates in Southeast Asia. In August 1945, after successful operations by the Allied forces, Japan surrendered, and on September 2, it officially signed the act of surrender. As a result of defeat in the war, Japan lost its colonies, lost a significant part of its national wealth, and was thrown back several decades. The country was occupied by American troops. At the same time, Japan was given the opportunity to develop along the path of demilitarization and democratization, and the culture was effectively used. The 1947 Constitution, adopted with active influence from the Americans, proclaimed the sovereign power of the people, democratic rights and freedoms. The emperor lost his power. Japan refused to use armed force as a means of settling international disputes. The reforms laid the foundation for the subsequent rapid economic development of the country.

The unfolding "cold war", as well as the war in Korea 1950-1953. for decades to come influenced the formation of Japan's foreign policy, its activities in the international arena. Simultaneously with the signed in September 1951. The San Francisco Peace Treaty concluded the Japanese-American Security Guarantee Treaty, according to which the United States received the right to maintain its armed forces on Japanese territory and establish military bases.

In 1960. The United States and Japan signed a new agreement on mutual cooperation and security guarantees, which since 1970. automatically renewed.

The alliance with the United States continues to be the core of Japan's foreign policy. At the same time, Japan maintains active ties with Western Europe, and is establishing coordination in developing a common strategy for the West. The participation of Japan in the annual meetings of the leaders of the seven leading developed countries of the world is becoming more and more significant.

Nature and nature management

About 70% of the country's surface is occupied by not very high, but inaccessible for human development, due to the steepness and strong dissection, the slopes of the mountains. They form part of a volcanic chain that stretches along the boundaries of the Pacific Ocean, and many of them are active or extinct volcanoes (out of 196 volcanoes in Japan, 30 are active). The highest mountain and symbol of Japan - Fuji, or Fuji (3776 m.), Located on the island of Honshu, refers to extinct volcanoes ( last eruption was in 1707). Its truncated cone rises 90 km from Tokyo, from where it can be seen in clear weather. The summit of Fujiyama is covered with snow for 10 months a year.

Plains and lowlands account for 30% of the country's territory. They then stretch along sea ​​coast then wedge between the mountains. The most significant of them - the Kanto Plain - is located in the east of the island of Honshu.

On the Japanese islands, about 1.5 thousand earthquakes occur annually. Most are weak, accompanied by subtle tremors and minor injuries various structures... But sometimes very strong earthquakes occur, and in the coastal areas there are giant sea waves generated by them - tsunamis.

The consequences of such disasters are sometimes dire. Thus, during the 1923 earthquake in the city of Tokyo, more than 140 thousand people died, and over 500 thousand buildings were destroyed.

The climate is mainly subtropical monsoon. In winter, winds blow from the northwest, from the mainland, and in summer, from the southeast, from the Pacific Ocean. Winter monsoons carry snow, which falls abundantly in the center, in the north, north-west of the country. The mountains do not allow the winds to penetrate the east and south of the country, so it is dry and dry in winter. sunny weather... In summer, with monsoons, rains and typhoons come - hurricane winds that sweep away everything in their path. The islands receive a large amount of precipitation: from 1000 to 3000 mm per year.

The country has a dense network of short, deep, mostly mountainous rivers (large: Shinano, Tone, Isikori). They are not suitable for shipping. Only flat sections of large rivers are accessible for shallow-draft vessels. On the rivers of the basin of the Sea of ​​Japan there is a winter-spring flood, on the rivers of the basin of the Pacific Ocean - a summer flood; there are floods especially as a result of the passage of typhoons. The waters of many rivers are used for irrigation - there are thousands of small and large reservoirs in the country.

Because of the abundance sunny days and moisture vegetable world Japan is very rich and varied. Forests cover 67% of the territory. In the north, these are coniferous (spruce and fir) forests of the temperate zone. When moving south, they are first replaced by deciduous forests (oak, beech, maple), then - coniferous forests from Japanese cryptomeria, cypress, pine (south Hokkaido and north Honshu), followed (in the south of Honshu and north of Kyushu and Shikoku) - evergreen broad-leaved forests (Japanese magnolia, scalloped oak). In the very south (south of Kyushu and Ryukyu), there are subtropical evergreen forests.

The national flowering trees of Japan are the cherry and plum, which bloom early and are loved throughout the country. In April, azalea blooms in Japan, in May - peonies, in August - lotus, and in November, the islands are decorated with blooming chrysanthemums - the national flower. Numerous flower festivals are held this month. Also common are gladioli, several types of lilies, bells, full-time color. The most widespread tree in Japan is Japanese cedar, reaching a height of up to 40 m; larch and several types of spruce are also often found. On Kyushu, Shikoku and in the south of Honshu subtropical plants grow: bamboo, camphor laurel, banyan tree. Deciduous trees are widespread in the central and northern parts of Honshu: birch, walnut, willow, as well as a large number of conifers. Cypress, yew, eucalyptus, myrtle, holly are often found in this area. In Hokkaido, the vegetation is very similar to Siberian: the most common are larch, several types of spruce, in some forests there are birch, alder, and poplar.

The Japanese are also very adept at growing dwarf trees (called "bonsai") when the pine, siva or cherry trees are no more than 30 centimeters high. In total, the flora of Japan has over 700 species of trees and shrubs, as well as about 300 species of grasses.

Cultivated land, 13% of the country's total territory, is mainly devoted to rice and some crops - from potatoes in the north to sugarcane in the south. Natural conditions in Japan are generally favorable for agriculture.

The fauna of Japan, on the contrary, does not differ in diversity, which is explained by the isolation and remoteness of the Japanese islands from the mainland. The country is inhabited by the Japanese macaque, brown bear, short-legged wolf, fox, sable, weasel, mountain antelope, various birds, including many migratory and sea birds. The seas, rivers and lakes of Japan abound in fish. In terms of fish catch, Japan ranks first in the world. There are more than 3 thousand fishing ports in the country. Fish and seafood occupy a very great place in the diet of the Japanese.

There are few useful minerals - coal, copper and lead-zinc ores. Therefore, the country is forced to import 80% of the raw materials and fuel it needs.

The soil cover of Japan is very diverse: in the south, red soils and yellow soils prevail, on the island of Honshu the slopes of local low mountains are covered with developed podzolic and brown forest soils, with sufficient fertilization, which give high yields. The coastal plains with their fertile alluvial soils have long been developed by farmers. There are swampy soils in the lowlands.

Japan's soil resources are very limited: more than one third of the soils are classified as poor. However, the total area of ​​cultivated land is 16% of the entire territory. Japan is one of the few countries in the world that has fully developed its land resources.

Virgin lands are preserved only on the island of Hokkaido; on the rest of the islands, the Japanese are expanding the territories of cities and suburban farms, draining swampy shores and river deltas, filling lagoons and shallow areas of the seas, for example, the Tokyo airport was built.

Urbanization

The high level of urbanization is manifested not only in more townspeople, but also in the fact that the bulk of them are concentrated in vast urban agglomerations. The strip of cities from Tokyo to Osaka has become a Japanese metropolis, similar to the Atlantic metropolis in the United States. The urban type of settlement prompted a change in the very definition of the city: not long ago compact settlements with a population of at least 30,000 people were referred to cities in Japan, and now cities are called settlements with 50,000 people and areas with a high population density, most of whose inhabitants are employed in urban forms activities. Small scattered (point) cities prevail in the deep, mountainous areas Japan.

With the agglomeration of the Big Three (Tokyo, Yokohama, Kawasaki), actually fused with each other, they form the Japanese metropolis Tokaido, which stretches along the southern coast of Honshu Island for about 600 - 700 km. The proximity of the sea and the winding coastline create very favorable conditions for the development of sea transport and the construction of ports. The second largest metropolitan area is Hanshin, which has developed around Osaka and also includes the cities of Kobe and Kyoto; its population is approximately 15 million. The third largest metropolitan area is Tyune, covering Nagoya and its satellites with a total population of 10.2 million.

Within the Tokaido, on an area of ​​70,000 sq. km is home to more than 70 million urban and rural residents, or 56% of the total population of Japan. The modern system of cities in Japan, which has evolved over many centuries, consists of cities of various origins. Here are also castle towns that arose around feudal castles, trade and craft towns, post towns that served post roads, religious centers, and port towns. City centers sprung up around castles or Buddhist monasteries, usually have a clear rectangular layout. Many cities are characterized by a very chaotic development and the absence of a single center. This primarily applies to Tokyo.

Usually city dwellers live very crowded, in small houses built from light materials due to the danger of earthquakes. But in the last two decades, construction of not only multi-storey buildings, but also skyscrapers has begun in Tokyo and other large cities. It is very typical for many cities to go underground, where not only individual retail outlets are located, but entire shopping streets. After World War I, Japan was a fairly typical rural country, with only 18% of the population living in cities.

After the Second World War, this share increased to 30..35%. Then a violent urban explosion began, and in a relatively short time the level of urbanization doubled.

However, one must take into account both the levels and processes of suburbanization that have developed in this country, as well as in other economically developed countries. With a high limit of urban rank, there are 650 cities in the country, of which there are large cities (with a population of over 100,000 inhabitants) - about 200, and millionaire cities - 12.

Population and culture

The population of the country (as of 1995) is about 125,879,000 people (seventh in the world), with an average density of about 334 people per square kilometer (also one of the first places in the world; for comparison, in the United States - 28 people per square kilometer, and in Great Britain 238). Ethnic groups: Japanese - 99%, Koreans - 0.5%, Chinese, Ainu. Over 100 years, the population of Japan has tripled. Average life expectancy (1992): 77 years - men, 82 years - women. Birth rate (per 1000 people) - 10. Mortality rate (per 1000 people) - 7. In NP per capita: 32,640 US dollars. Language: Japanese (state), many Japanese speak English. The Japanese language is very specific and does not belong to any language group. Religion: Shinto (a religious movement with about 200 sects), Buddhism, Christianity (Protestantism, Catholicism, Orthodoxy); almost all Japanese are Shintoists, but most Shintoists also profess Buddhism. The capital is Tokyo. Largest cities:

About 80 more cities have a population exceeding 250,000. Most Japanese people live in overcrowded cities located on the coastal plains. Metropolitan regions: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, are some of the most populated in the world. These cities have subways. The islands are interconnected by underwater tunnels, ferries and bridges.

In order to save space, the Japanese invented the so-called "capsule rooms", in which only one sleeping place is located. Hotels with such rooms are much cheaper than ordinary hotels, and they are used by businessmen who come for a short time on business.

Over the past decades, the nature of the natural movement of the population has changed dramatically. Japan became the first state in Asia to switch from the second to the first type of population reproduction. This “demographic revolution” happened in very short lines. It was the result of socio - economic transformations in Japanese society, advances in education and health care. Japan is the country with the lowest infant mortality rate in the world. Big influence also provided by the state demographic policy.

The ratio of men to women in the Japanese population is almost equal to one. In recent years, the process of "aging" of the population, as a result of a decrease in the birth rate and an increase in life expectancy, has become an acute problem in Japan. This process is happening here much faster than in other developed capitalist countries. The growth rate of the economically active population in Japan (which includes persons 15 years of age and older, employed in public labor, as well as the unemployed) decreased due to a decrease in the influx of young people into it, which in turn was associated with a decrease in the birth rate and an increase in the time required to obtain education. The unemployment rate in Japan is currently much lower than in other advanced capitalist countries.

In Japan, it is highest among men, mainly middle-aged and older. The aggravation of the problem of employment of the population was caused by the accelerated transformation of the production structure and the increase in the technical equipment of production. The Japanese state took a number of measures: with the help of tax breaks, it encouraged private companies to create new jobs, retrain their workers, use part-time labor, and attract capital to areas where there was a surplus of labor.

In addition, the state allocated its own funds to ensure the priority creation of enterprises in labor surplus areas, and also assumed the cost of moving labor from areas with surplus labor, labor where there is a shortage. On the whole, this government policy has proven to be very effective.

The Japanese desire for knowledge deserves special attention. There are about 50 universities in the country (more than in the whole of Western Europe). The capital is home to the Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Arts and Music, theaters and libraries. From an early age, children are taught curiosity and interest in nature. Firms sponsor the education of their employees' children, take care of housing, vacations, and medical care for their employees. The high intensity of work, where every minute is valued, is combined with obligatory group sessions to improve the quality of the manufactured product, as well as with obligatory trips of all employees of the company to some healing thermal spring or to an area famous for a particularly beautiful landscape.

Japan has long been respectful of nature. I began to admire flowers national tradition... The cherry blossom (sakura) holiday is the most beautiful national holiday. One of the most common Japanese traditions is to recreate nature in miniature - either in the form of a very small, dwarf garden at the house, or in the form of a kind of small landscape.

The Japanese steadfastly adhere to traditional family rituals, the observance of which is considered a prerequisite for decency and dignified social behavior. Wedding ceremonies are held in Shinto shrines.

Cultural artistic and everyday traditions include: ikebana - the art of making bouquets and arranging flowers and tree branches in vases, bansai - growing dwarf trees, calligraphy - beautiful brush and ink writing, music, painting on paper and silk, original temple and garden park architecture, shadow theater, tea ceremonies, women's kimono clothing, heavyweight sumo wrestling, judo, karate, chopsticks, as well as specific cuisine. Among the most important traditions are the veneration of elders, the conclusion of marriages by agreement of parents, belief in numerous omens, the rite of meditation, the use of various calendar systems, an abundance of official public holidays (including children's day, day of majority, days of the spring and autumn equinox, various kinds of festivals) ...

Japanese museums, with the exception of a few contemporary galleries in large cities, represent treasures and are located in temples and shrines. The most famous museum of this kind is the Myohoin Temple in Kyoto.

Tokyo is also home to numerous museums, including: the largest Art Museum countries - National Museum; museum of calligraphy; National Museum Western art; Museum of Japanese Folk Art; the Meiji Shrine Treasury Museum; National Science Museum.

Among the historical and architectural sights of Japan, one can note in Tokyo - the Imperial Palace; many Buddhist temples, the main among which is the Rakanji temple; The Tokyo TV Tower, 333 meters high; the zoo, in Kobe - a large number of Christian churches and Buddhist temples; a magnificent art museum, in Kyoto (the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868) - more than 2,000 ancient temples and shrines; 24 museums; Nijo castle; the imperial palace; Katsura palace; ancient imperial tombs; magnificent gardens and parks, in Nagoya - Nagoya Castle (1612): the two main and oldest shrines of Shinto - Atsuta and Isha.

Agriculture

In terms of agricultural specialization, Japan differs markedly from other developed countries: the share of crop production is twice that of livestock.

Despite this, the country does not have enough grain, and Japan is forced to import crops from its closest neighbors: China and Korea.

The Japanese organization of agriculture is known all over the world as rather backward, this is due to a number of reasons: the predominance of dwarf peasant farms of the small-scale type, limited capital investments allocated to improving the land, the weakness of the agro-technical base, and enslaving peasants' indebtedness. Recently, the productivity of the land has decreased slightly.

Pasture lands make up only 1.6% of the total area, although the reason for such a small size is not the country's poor climate. The existing small pasture areas are gradually being phased out as imports of cheap meat and dairy products increase. In cities, abandoned arable land is overgrown with forest. These wild forests are growing more and more, because the timber industry is losing out in competition with imports of cheap timber.

The structure of agriculture has changed over the past decades, and although preference is given to growing rice - "Japanese bread" which is given about 50% of the cultivated land, along with this, cattle breeding, horticulture, and gardening have developed.

Fishing is developed in Japan; this is a traditional occupation of the Japanese. In terms of fish catch, Japan ranks first in the world (12 million tons). The main part of it is provided by marine and oceanic fisheries, but aquaculture plays a very significant role - over 1 million tons.

Before World War II, the Japanese practically did not eat meat, so the only source of animal protein was fish, and carbohydrates.

Inhabitants of coastal villages are engaged in coastal fishing; distant - large monopolies with a technically advanced fishing fleet. The northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean is the main area of ​​the world fishing, fish and seafood are caught here by Japan, China, Russia, the Republic of Korea, and some other countries.

The fishing fleet of Japan numbers tens of thousands of ships, and the number of fishing ports is hundreds and even thousands. Of the exotic crafts, pearl mining on the southern coast of Honshu should be noted; more than 500 million pearl shells are mined here every year. Previously, the shells extracted from the bottom were used to search for natural pearls, which, of course, were very rare. Now they are used for the artificial cultivation of pearls on special plantations. Over time, there were tendencies towards the depletion of national fish resources, therefore, artificial breeding of marine animals became widespread (in 1980, 32 fish species, 15 crustacean species, 21 mollusks were grown here).

Farm

In terms of industrial growth, Japan has overtaken all other countries. There are many reasons for this rapid economic growth in the country. First, the extensive renewal of outdated and worn-out factory equipment during the war years. 2/3 of industrial equipment in Japan is the latest technology. Secondly, one of the decisive factors was the bitter exploitation of the working class. Thirdly, the state assumed a significant part of the expenses for the reconstruction of enterprises and new construction, provided the monopolies with tax incentives and broad credit.

Fourth, until recently, the country's military spending was small, which made it possible to increase state investment in the economy. Recently, the development of the economy has slowed down. The contradictions in the economic system are becoming more and more apparent: unemployment persists and grows, prices for foodstuffs, consumer goods, fares for railways and buses, for higher education and medical services are rising.

Japan has an intensive and highly commercial agriculture. The high intensity of agriculture makes it possible, with relatively small cultivated areas, to meet the country's food needs by 70%, including almost completely in such food products as rice, vegetables, potatoes, fruits, eggs, milk and dairy products. The country produces 3/4 of all consumed meat.

Through purchases abroad, Japan satisfies its needs for wheat, barley, sugar, bananas, soybeans, leaf tobacco and some other fodder and industrial crops.

Japan ranks first in the world in shipbuilding, automobile production, and production of the main types of chemical products. The widespread use of industrial waste raw materials has led to the growth of Japanese industry. Japan has become a kind of giant workshop for the processing of industrial raw materials and the production of finished products. It cannot exist in isolation from world markets, which leaves its imprint both on the main directions of economic development and on the country's foreign policy.

An ever-growing place in the country's economy was occupied by the large-scale construction industry, its material and technical basis noticeably strengthened. This made it possible to carry out large-scale construction of high-rise buildings on the anti-seismic foundation of underwater tunnels, highways, power plants, including nuclear power plants, large ports and airfields. In the conditions of Japan, comparatively cheap labor was of particular importance.

The economic situation in Japan was further complicated by a sharp increase in dependence on imports of foreign raw materials. Especially the cost of oil imports increased.

Modern Japan is a country of monopoly capitalism, which is characterized by the struggle for the most profitable terms activities: receiving government laws, subsidies and all kinds of benefits.

The tonnage of the merchant marine fleet is 57 million registered tons (second place in the world (1991). The marine fleet, despite the large tonnage, cannot cope with the rapidly growing foreign trade traffic, and the country has to charter foreign ships. To avoid empty voyages, Japan has designed combined ships: on specially equipped decks they carry industrial goods exported by Japan (cars), and on the way back the hold is loaded with coal, ore or other goods. sailing ships, which account for a lot of cargo transportation in the inland sea.

The main mode of transport is road. The length of highways is 1.2 million km, of which about 5000 km are highways. (1991).

Length railways 30 thousand km. (1991). Most of the railways are owned by the state, half of them are electrified, the most important railways pass through the coastal lowlands, the longest in the world, 54 km, has been built. underwater tunnel under the Tsugar Strait; it connects the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu.

Industry

Recently, Japan has taken a course towards the priority development of science-intensive industries and containment of energy-intensive and material-intensive industries. New industries include electronic, precision and complex instrument making, optics, the production of cameras, medicines, scientific and laboratory equipment. For quite a long time, the basis of the country's energy sector was coal, water, wood.

Fuel imports played an additional role. Thermal power plants are the backbone of the Japanese power industry.

Japan's fuel and energy base is very limited. Its own coal resources provide no more than 1/2 of its needs, there are very few good coking coals. Oil is produced in a year as much as in the United States in half a day; few iron and manganese ores, no bauxite and many other types of mineral raw materials.

Despite the fact that 4/5 of energy is produced from imported raw materials, the country has a highly developed energy economy. The oil refining and petrochemical industry has grown in the production of oil, the enterprises of which are located in many cities of the urbanized strip of the islands of Honshu and Kyushu.

Metallurgy has undergone strong changes in recent years, which has been completely reconstructed. Instead of many obsolete factories, powerful factories have been built, equipped with the latest technology. Not having enough of its raw material base, Japan focuses on imported iron and coking coals. Malaysia and Canada have been and remain major suppliers of iron ore. The main suppliers of coal are the USA, Australia, and to a lesser extent India and Canada.

Japan ranks second in the world for the production of refined copper, after the United States.

Deposits of polymetallic ores form the basis for the development of zinc and lead production. The range of machines and mechanisms produced in Japan is diverse and includes thousands of items.

The most developed industries include the energy industry, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, pumping and compressor and refrigeration equipment, transport, agricultural construction engineering.

Japan's shipbuilding industry is very diverse: the world's largest supertankers, various whaling ships, and small ships are leaving the shipyards of Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe, Nagasaki and many other shipbuilding centers. The automotive industry has become a rapidly developing branch of mechanical engineering.

Electronics has become one of the most important industries in Japan in a very short time. The main directions in Japanese electronics are the production of special electronic devices and apparatus, radios, televisions, tape recorders, radio communication equipment, navigation devices, automatic control systems, medical equipment... In terms of production of many types of chemical products, Japan is in third place after the United States and Germany.

Much attention is paid in Japan to biochemistry - the production of effective medicinal products, crop protection products, the production of vitamins and special acids. Chemicals are an important Japanese export; they export mineral fertilizers, inorganic chemicals, dyes, medicines, cosmetics, textiles and many other goods.

The two main branches of the textile industry - cotton and woolen - operate on imported raw materials delivered mainly from the USA (cotton) from Australia and South Africa (wool).

The demand for most types of mineral raw materials is met by imports: copper - by 3/4, iron ore by almost 9/10, and coal by 8/10. Great hopes are pinned in Japan on new energy sources. The Japanese islands have many sources of thermal water, and their energy is used to heat greenhouses and buildings.

Recently, thanks to new technologies, the use of the resources of the world ocean has become profitable: the extraction of manganese nodules from the ocean floor, the extraction of uranium from sea water, etc.

Country problems

In the 90s, the Japanese economy faced a number of serious problems that emerged during the 1993 economic crisis. The advantages of the Japanese organizational model began to disappear. Economic growth has long been supported by workers and consumers. The agreement between workers and entrepreneurs was based on a fairly rapid pace of economic growth, which in turn ensured an increase in living standards. The disagreements that arose were settled by various kinds of handouts, ranging from cash in envelopes to agrarian protectionism. Therefore, the relatively equal distribution of wealth contributed. However, in recent decades, economic growth has slowed down significantly, which has weakened the possibilities for a significant increase in the living standards of the population. The extremely sharp rise in property prices in the 1980s markedly divided the country into haves and have-nots.

The competitive position of Japanese entrepreneurs in international markets has changed. The trade surplus in relation to GDP decreased (2.5% in 1995). Over the past decade, wages have increased by almost a third. Labor costs have risen sharply, the level of which in the manufacturing industry in Japan is second only to Germany and Switzerland. The price competitive advantage of Japanese goods has weakened compared to many countries. Japan has not overcome the lag behind others Western countries in the field of social infrastructure. In particular, it is inferior to other countries in terms of the number of apartments per thousand inhabitants (almost by a hundred, in 1988 there were 342 apartments per thousand inhabitants), as well as in terms of the total average area of ​​apartments. Bridging this gap will require significant resources and can constrain the process of productive accumulation. The demographic situation is changing unfavorably for economic growth, determined by a sharp increase in the proportion of the elderly in the population. At the end of the century, the proportion of retirees aged 65 and over will reach 16% of the total population, compared with 13% in the United States and 15% in Britain. This trend can lead to a decrease in savings and an increase in consumption.

Despite the tremendous successes of Japanese companies in the development of a number of areas of microelectronics and other high-tech industries, there remains a significant dependence on American technology. More than half of the software used to design devices that make semiconductors and complex circuit boards comes from America. Moreover, the relationship between supply and demand in this area is quite complex. Japan lags behind a number of countries in terms of the level of computerization. In 1993. there were 10 computers per hundred people, in the USA - 29, Australia - 19, Canada - 18, Great Britain - 17, Germany, France - 14.

In Japan, property prices are high, especially land prices, which are holding back private consumption and thus causing a host of economic problems. They impede the accumulation process in small and medium-sized companies, which increases their dependence on external sources of funding. At the same time, the need for people to save nine times the national average for a small house has helped keep personal savings at the highest levels in the world.

Despite due to the large number of rivers and lakes, there is a shortage of water resources in Japan. Various waters are used more and more in Japan. A great threat to the water resources of surface waters and coastal sea areas is their pollution with industrial and agricultural waste, which has reached a critical level. The degree of pollution of rivers in the lowlands and in the estuarine parts, as well as coastal waters, is especially high. The transparency of sea waters has noticeably decreased.

Water pollution in the main fishing areas leads to a significant decrease in catches.

These and other problems affect the forest resources of Japan, because, as mentioned above, 2/3 of the area of ​​the Japanese islands is covered with forests - very rich and diverse in composition. The thicket is intertwined with lianas, evergreen oaks grow in the mountains, and there are many bamboo groves. And despite the abundance of forests, the country's forest resources are very limited. As a result of deforestation, unsatisfactory forest management, prolonged predatory exploitation, soil erosion and insect pests, forests are severely depleted.

Agricultural land in Japan is currently shrinking due to the growth of urban areas; the area of ​​which is twice the area of ​​arable land. Soil erosion causes significant damage to land resources.

In Japan, the problem of environmental pollution, largely generated by the consequences of urbanization, became especially acute at the turn of the 1970s.

There are also atmospheric problems in Japan. The main source of air pollution is industry - metallurgy, energy, chemical, petrochemical, forestry, building materials (ceramic, cement) - and automobile transport... Pollution of the atmosphere and surface waters has a detrimental effect on plant and soil cover and fauna.

The scale of environmental pollution in Japan makes the need for environmental protection especially acute. Of particular relevance is the fight against environmental degradation as a result of pollution of land, water bodies and the atmosphere with industrial and household waste, as well as the spread of noise, vibration, etc. Among the inhabitants of the most ecologically unfavorable areas, specific diseases caused by environmental pollution have spread. Under pressure from the public, the Japanese government was forced to take urgent measures to improve the environmental situation. The country's environmental legislation now includes a basic environmental protection law. A whole system of environmental authorities was created, headed by the environmental department. Much attention was paid to scientific and technical support for environmental protection. In Japanese mechanical engineering, a sub-industry has developed for the production of purification equipment and means of monitoring the state of the environment. In Japanese cities, measures are being taken to clean them: garbage is removed, penalties are imposed on polluting enterprises and citizens.

The implementation of environmental protection measures and the restructuring of the Japanese economy have contributed to the fact that many traditional environmental problems are now being resolved. At the same time, the danger to the environment has increased, associated with the development of scientific and technological progress and such phenomena as electronic radiation, pollution with radioactive or rare chemical elements and their compounds. The second direction of nature conservation is activities aimed at preserving valuable natural objects, flora and fauna. These include regular, once every 5 years, conducting surveys of the state of nature, the creation of protected areas - natural parks. geography japan religion agriculture

Conclusion

Japan is undoubtedly a unique, incomparable and completely mysterious country, the equal of which in the world is almost impossible to find. And it's not just its rich and ancient heritage - Japan itself is a huge museum.

There is a common phrase: "Japan is a country of contrasts", and these are not just words. Here temples are adjacent to modern life, they do not violate the general flow, but form a single whole.

Nature and Japan are two inseparable concepts. For example, Naru is called the city of deer. More than a thousand noble spotted animals roam freely in the huge Nara Park and often wander into the city streets. Everywhere they sell salted biscuits specially for their feeding, which they take directly from their hands. The history of their appearance is connected with the foundation of the Shinto shrine of Kasuga, one of the buildings of which is dedicated to a deity brought from the mountains by a deer.

When I finished my work, I just fell in love with this country, although I had never been in it. And this is the best result that I could achieve.

Bibliography.

1. Big reference book: Geography. - M .: Publishing House "Drofa"

2. Small encyclopedia of countries / ed. Sirotenko N.G., Mendeleva V.A. - M .: publishing house "Torsing", 2001

3. Encyclopedia for children. T.13. Country. Peoples. / Chief ed. M.D. Aksenov. - M .: "publishing center" Avanta + "

4. Soviet encyclopedic dictionary. M., 1987.

5. Economic and social geography of the world. / Smooth Yu.N., Lavrov S.B., M., 1993

6. Textbook for grade 10 "Geography" / ed. V.P. Maksakovsky, publishing house "Education", M., 1996.

Posted on Allbest.ru

Similar documents

Geographical position of the Mongolian People's Republic, its administrative-territorial division, official language, capital, population, religion and state structure. Characteristics of natural resources, productive forces and their assessment.

test, added 09/13/2009


Coat of arms and flag of Japan, official language, form of government, area and population. The capital of the country is Tokyo. Geographical characteristics of Japan and its regions. Economic development of the country. National composition of Japan, main religions: Shinto and Buddhism.

presentation added on 11/14/2013


Capital. The size and density of the population. Urbanization. Square. The most high point... Official language. The main religion. Administrative divisions. Currency unit. National holiday. National anthem.

abstract, added on 07/10/2007


Germany on political map Europe. Capital, form of government, administrative-territorial structure. Economic assessment of natural conditions and resources. Features and population size, demographic situation, prevailing religion.

presentation added 01/15/2013


State structure of Ecuador. Administrative division of the country. Population, Natural resources... Ecuador is a country with the most even climate on the planet. Development of industry, agriculture, services.

presentation added 03/26/2017


Geographical location of Japan. Relief, climate and water resources... Minerals. Soil cover, flora and fauna. The history of the country's development, political structure, population and culture. General characteristics of the economy. Foreign economic relations.

term paper, added 12/04/2008


National flag and imperial seal of Japan. Geographical position and administrative-territorial structure of the country. Population: ethnic composition, size, density. State and political structure. Economy, minerals.

presentation added 09/09/2013


Location of Afghanistan on the eastern flank of Southwest Asia. Landlocked, closest neighbors. Population of the country, state language, dominant religion, administrative-territorial division. Main articles of export and import.

presentation added on 05/02/2011


Arab Republic of Egypt. Geographic location, population, capital, state structure, official language. Climate, animals and vegetation. Ethnic composition, religion. Average life expectancy. Pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops.

presentation added on 02/13/2015


Characteristics of modern Japan. Geographical position and territory. Features of the population, composition and size. State structure. The state of the economy in Japan. Economic policy of Japan. Sectoral structure of the economy.

Which is located on 4 large islands: Kyushu, Honshu, Shikoku, Hokkaido, as well as the islands of the Ryukyu archipelago and more than a thousand small islands. In the north it is washed, in the east - and, in the west - by the Korea Strait and. In the north, it borders with Russia (,), in the south - with, in the west and north-west - with and.

Administrative divisions of Japan... It is subdivided into 9 regions, 44 prefectures, a metropolitan area and 2 city prefectures.

Japan's form of government. .

Head of State Japan... The emperor is a symbol of the unity of the nation; he has no real power.

Supreme Legislature of Japan... Bicameral Parliament (House of Representatives, elected for 4 years, and House of Councilors, for 6 years).

The highest executive body of Japan... Cabinet of Ministers.

Major cities of Japan... Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kobe, Fukuoko, Kawasaki, Kitakushu.

Official language of Japan... Japanese.

Religion of Japan... Shinto, and Christianity.

Ethnic composition of Japan... 99% are Japanese, 0.5% are Koreans, 0.5% are Chinese and Ainu (remnants of the indigenous population).

Japanese currency... Yen = 100 sen.

Currency- Japanese yen (JPY or ¥). 1 US dollar equals approximately 91 yen. In Japan, all products are priced without tax, so if the price tag says 100 yen, be prepared to pay 105 yen.

Do not try to pay in Japan for goods or services in dollars: for this you can only use the local currency, that is, the yen. You can exchange your dollars for yen at any bank that works every day, except Saturday and Sunday, until 15:00. On weekends, you can exchange currency at bank branches located in major hotels and international airports.

Transport system Japan is developed and efficient enough. See Japan Transportation section

mobile connection... Please note that GSM mobile phones that you use in Russia in Europe cannot be used in Japan for technical reasons. If necessary, you can rent a phone for any period for a reasonable price. In Japan, the standard of cellular communication from the 3G group (W-CDMA 2GHz) has been adopted.

The whole territory of Japan is in one time zone GMT + 09:00 (UTC + 9), the time in Japan is 5 hours ahead of Moscow time in winter and 6 in summer. There is no winter / summer time conversion.

Electrical voltage in household networks in Japan is 100 V. The frequency of alternating current differs depending on the region: 50 Hz in Eastern Japan (Tokyo, Sapporo, Yokohama, Sendai), 60 Hz in Western Japan (Okinawa, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nagoya, Hiroshima ). Sockets - American, types and (there are two vertical flat pins on the plug). Be careful when buying electrical equipment and appliances: not many devices made for the Japanese market will be able to operate at 220 V.

Quantity traditions and rituals, mandatory or recommended for observance, is simply enormous. Almost all spheres of the country's life are permeated with a network of traditions and ceremonies, this is especially noticeable in communication between people and public life. The Japanese treat nature with care and love, admire the natural beauty of the landscape, weather, flowers or the sea. Numerous ceremonies of contemplating flowering trees, full moon or autumn colors are integral parts of society. Traditional Japanese costume, national interior, literary Japanese language, tea ceremony, theater have remained practically unchanged since the Middle Ages. kabuki, but, bunraku and many other, no less peculiar traditions. And all this is surrounded by an ultra-modern technogenic civilization!

Handshakes are not accepted, they are replaced by bows, and bows must be “returned” with the same frequency and respect as the other side demonstrates. The Japanese are polite and helpful in communication. Hospitality is in the blood of the Japanese. An outright refusal is not accepted even if it is impossible to fulfill the request, so you should think in advance about the feasibility of your wishes. Also, the traditional smile of the Japanese, especially women, is often misleading under any circumstances - even a refusal or some unpleasant moment will be accompanied by a smile, which confuses many foreigners. At the same time, familiar relations (even too small a distance between the interlocutors) are completely unacceptable and cause a sharply negative attitude among the Japanese. It is also not recommended to look the Japanese directly in the eyes - this is perceived as aggression, and actively gesticulate. The Japanese passion for hygiene and cleanliness is also widely known.

Dishes, table setting and decoration of dishes are of great importance. Before eating, it is customary to wipe your face and hands with a special hot napkin oshibori... Each dish is served in a specially designed dish and occupies a strictly defined place on the table, and an individual table is allocated for each person. There is no change of dishes, the whole order (except for tea) is put on the table immediately, but it is accompanied by the obligatory devices for heating (braziers, spirit lamps are strictly subdivided into male and female. hasi there is a separate stand, and they are served in a special colorful paper case ( hasi bukuro). Hasi cannot be crossed or stuck into rice (this is associated with death), you cannot point with chopsticks or wave them while eating - this is considered a sign of bad taste. Also, you should not move food on the plate or utensils on the table. Drinking to the bottom and pouring yourself is not customary. It is recommended that you refill your neighbor's glass or bowl, and he in turn should do the same for you.

Japan is an island country, located on an arcuate archipelago, consisting of more than 6.8 thousand islands, which stretch along the eastern coast of Asia in a curved chain of about 3800 km.

Geographical position of the Japanese islands to the east of the mainland has also determined the figurative name of the country - the Land of the Rising Sun.

Its southern end is at the same latitude as the middle of the Sahara Desert, or southern point Cuba. The northern tip coincides with the latitude of Southern France, Northern Italy and Crimea. Capital of Japan - Tokyo is located at the same latitude as the southern tip of Turkmenistan.

Total area of ​​islands in Japan- about 378 thousand sq. km, which is only 0.3% of the earth's land and approximately corresponds to 2.2% of the territory of Russia or 4% of the area of ​​Canada, China or the United States. Only four islands of all can be called large. This, and - the Japanese do not even call them islands, but call them the main land, the main territory: they account for 98% of the entire country.

The bridges and underwater tunnels built between the four largest islands have made it possible to turn the disparate territorial space of the country into a single land formation. Hokkaido and Honshu islands connects the world's longest transport tunnel Seikan, laid under the Sangar Strait. Three bridges spanning the islands and waters of the Seto Naikai (Inland Sea of ​​Japan) united Honshu and Shikoku islands. Honshu and Kyushu islands connect two tunnels and one bridge.

Over the past few decades territory of japan although a little, but increased due to the creation artificial islands... So, in Tokyo Bay, it was dumped in 10 years Yumenoshima Island, on which a stadium, a museum, greenhouses are built, a park is laid out. Ohishima Island was created specifically to accommodate a metallurgical plant. For construction international airport an artificial island was also poured in the Osaka Bay.

Being island nation, Japan has a long coastline of about 29 thousand km and the seventh largest in the world

A 200-mile coastal economic zone, the area of ​​which is 10.5 times larger than the actual territory of the country.

Shores of japan heavily cut. For every square kilometer of Japanese territory, there is twice the coastline of England. Schematic generalization coastline, which is visible on an ordinary map, gives only some idea of ​​the complexity and ruggedness of the shores of Japan - the abundance of bays and coves, lagoons and seaside terraces, peninsulas, rocky ledges and mountains, sometimes coming close to the coast. The southern islands are bordered by coral reefs.

Mountains are a characteristic feature of the Japanese archipelago, they cover 71% of the land, and only some areas along the coast or channel big rivers- plains and lowlands that border mountain systems.

Looking at the archipelago from ocean depths- from the bottom of the Japanese depression, the islands reach a height of 10-14 thousand m, rising above the ocean level by 3 km and higher (16 peaks are more than 3000 m, 532 - over 2000 m).

Relief of Japan- these are not yet healed wounds of numerous faults, subsidences, folded bending of layers, volcanic formations. The relief is dominated by low and medium-altitude mountains, elongated almost meridianally, although some areas of the island are characterized by an intricate, labyrinthine arrangement of ridges. Most of Japan's tallest mountains are located on the island. The most the famous mountain range of Japan is called the Japanese Alps and consists of three separate parallel ridges. The peaks of the Japanese Alps rise to an altitude of 3000 m above sea level. This is about twice as high Ural mountains... Mountains with jagged sharp ridges, peaked peaks are separated by deep, up to 2 km, river gorges, glacial formations.

The most famous mountain Of Japan-. It rises on the border of the prefectures Shizuoka and Yamanashi. Mount Fuji height - 3776 m making it the highest peak in Japan. More than half a million people commit annually.

A significant part of Japan's mountain peaks are volcanoes, there are about 200 of them here, 67 are considered "alive" (active or dormant). Among the volcanoes are especially active Asama, Miharayama, Asosan and Sakurajima.

Acting Asosan volcano located in the middle of the island Kyushu... This fire-breathing mountain is widely known not only within the country, but also abroad. By the number of eruptions Asosan occupies one of the first places among the volcanoes in the world (more than 70 eruptions have been recorded), its crater is one of the largest in the world.

It is also diverse, although poorer than vegetable. It is characterized by some features caused primarily by island isolation.

Many migratory birds winter on the islands of the archipelago, which arrive from Siberia, China and other territories adjacent to Japan. Among them are cranes, herons, geese.

The central islands are inhabited by wolves, foxes, deer, hares, squirrels. Honshu Island is the most northern place habitat of such southern species as Japanese macaques, Japanese black bears, gigantic (up to 1.2 m) salamanders.

For southern islands Ryukyu is characterized by tropical fauna, many monkeys - macaques and gibbons, squirrels and bats.

The most common freshwater fish are carp and crucian carp. The reservoirs are inhabited by turtles, crayfish, crabs. The Pacific Ocean is also very diverse: numerous species of perch, salmon, herring, cod, as well as tuna, saury, eel and much more, which is simply impossible to list.