Japan's geography, climate, biome and vegetation

Ever wondered what the biome of Japan is, its geography or simply the vegetation of Japan? In this article, we will answer these questions by talking a little about Japan's biome, climate, geography and vegetation.

Geography, climate, biome and vegetation of Japan

Japan geography and VEGETATION

Japan is an archipelago made up of more than 6852 islands located in the Pacific Ocean. The largest islands in Japan are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku where it represents 97% of the Japan area.

Most of Japan is filled with mountains and forests, being considered one of the most wooded nations in the world. Japan's coastline is approximately four times longer than Brazil's.

The country is also marked by volcanic activities that generate numerous thermal and natural bathrooms. A country rich in magnesium and other minerals present in the water. The country has more than 100 volcanoes, but none of them pose any risks.

Geography, climate, biome and vegetation of Japan

The highest mountain and volcano in Japan is the famous Mount Fuji with an incredible 3,776 meters of altitude. The huge amount of volcanoes in the depths of Japan shows that the ground is unstable and full of energy, registered numerous earthquakes.

The territory of Japan covers an area of 372,000 square kilometers. The country is located on the Eurasian plate where several tectonic plates responsible for earthquakes and tsunami meet.

Japan is a mixture of subtropical, temperate and cold zones, in addition to having plenty of water. The flora of Japan has about 6000 native species of plants, some of which are striking and symbolic for the Japanese people such as the famous Sakura cherry tree.

Geography, climate, biome and vegetation of Japan

Japan suffers from a shortage of ores, making it resort to imports and becoming dependent on other countries. Although your country's 75% is made up of trees and forests, Japan prefers and needs to import wood for house construction and paper.

Japan biome and climate

Japan is one of the few countries in the world that follows the 4 seasons correctly. Winter occurs at the end of the year, followed by spring, summer and autumn. We can clearly notice the difference between the seasons in Japan.

These seasons are influenced by the cold air masses coming from Siberia in the winter, as well as the warm air masses from the Pacific in the summer, which is portrayed with lots of rain, a lot of heat and also strong typhoons until the beginning of autumn.

Geography, climate, biome and vegetation of Japan

Japan has 4 sub-regions where we can have a noticeable climate difference. In Hokkaido the climate is subarctic, that is, always colder. On the Pacific coast the climate is more temperate, on the coast of the Sea of Japan it is more rainy, and in the southwest it is subtropical.

Winter runs from December to February, the further north of the country you find more snow, while in the south it rarely gets below 0°C. Spring runs from March to May, when the country is all colorful and covered in flowers, where the famous Hanami.

Summer starts with three to four weeks of rain and then gets really hot. Autumn is cool, it can have rains in the beginning and it is usually quite pleasant. Both spring and autumn can cause allergy due to the amount of flowers.

Geography, climate, biome and vegetation of Japan

In Hokkaido in the north of the country temperatures have already reached more than 40 below zero. In the south and center of the country, temperatures have already exceeded 40 degrees in summer in prefectures such as Nagano and Yamagata.

Summarizing better:

  • Central (Honshu) – Temperate oceanic climate, high rainfall;
  • North (Hokkaido) – Cold climate, with long winter months, influenced by the cold Oya Shivo current;
  • South (Shikoku and Kyushu) – Subtropical climate, softened by the Kuro Shivo current;

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