Hakusan National Park


Hakusan National Park is a national park in the Chūbu region of Honshū, Japan. Established in 1962, it spans the borders of Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, and Toyama prefectures. Its main geographical feature is Mount Haku. In 1980 an area of 480 km² corresponding to the national park was designated a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve.

History

The park was originally designated Hakusan Quasi-National Park, in 1955. It received full national park status in 1962.

Flora and fauna

The vegetation of the park ranges from warm temperate to alpine zones. The base of the mountains is covered by coniferous forests, dominated by firs, pines and Japanese cedar. Deciduous forests and woodlands, dominated by Mongolian oak and Japanese beech are present. At higher elevations there are open landscapes.
Hakusan is home to the golden eagle, the mountain hawk-eagle and several larger mammal species typical for the Japanese islands, like Japanese macaque, Asiatic black bear, Japanese serow and Sika deer.

Sites of interest

Mount Akausagi, Mount Haku, Heisen-ji Hakusan Jinja, Hyakuyojō falls, Kyō Mountains, Shiramizu falls

Neighboring municipalities