Agatsuma River

Agatsuma River

Agatsuma River at Agatsuma Valley
Native name 吾妻川
Basin
Main source Torii Pass, border of Gunma with Nagano
2,362 m (7,749 ft)
River mouth Tone River
36°30′00″N 139°00′58″E / 36.5°N 139.016083°E / 36.5; 139.016083Coordinates: 36°30′00″N 139°00′58″E / 36.5°N 139.016083°E / 36.5; 139.016083
Size 1,366 km2 (527 sq mi)
Countries Japan
Physiognomy
Length 76.22 km (47.36 mi)

The Agatsuma River (吾妻川 Agatsuma-gawa) is a major river in the northern Kantō region of Japan. It is 76.22 kilometres (47.36 mi) in length and has a drainage area of 1,366 square kilometres (527 sq mi). Located entirely within Gunma Prefecture, it is one of the prefecture's major rivers. It is also a major tributary of the Tone River. The river is an important source of hydroelectric power, and 17 power plants are located on its banks.

Geography

The source of the Agatsuma River is Torii Pass (1,362 metres (4,469 ft) in altitude), on the border of Gunma and Nagano Prefectures. It gathers tributaries from Mount Asama and Mount Kusatsu-Shirane and flows into the Tone River in Shibukawa city. The Agatsuma River drains most of northwest Gunma Prefecture. The middle section of the river is known for its scenic beauty as it flows through the narrow Agatsuma Canyon. The controversial construction of the Yanba Dam would destroy this area.

Transportation

The East Japan Railway Company's Agatsuma Line (a single track line) runs along the river from Shibukawa Station in the east to the terminus at Omae Station in the west. Roughly divided into three sections, the river can be travelled by road using three National Highways: National Route 353 (in the east), National Route 145 (in the middle), and National Route 144 (in the west).

References

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Agatsuma River.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, March 04, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.