Japanese government system. Natural conditions and resources

JAPAN

Territory - 377.8 thousand square meters. km. Population - 125.2 million people. (1995). The capital is Tokyo.

Geographical location, general information.

Japan is an archipelago country located on four large and almost four thousand small islands, stretching in an arc of 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 bays. The seas and oceans surrounding 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, first of all, 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.

During the feudal period, Japan was isolated from other countries. After the incomplete bourgeois revolution of 1867-1868, it embarked on the path of rapid capitalist development. At the turn of the 19th - 20th centuries, it became one of the imperialist powers. In the 20th century, Japan entered and participated in three major wars (Russian-Japanese and two world wars). After the end of World War II, the armed forces were disbanded and reforms were introduced. In 1947, the emperor lost his powers (according to the constitution); Japan is now a constitutional monarchy. The highest body of state power and the only legislative body is parliament.

Natural conditions and resources.

The geological basis of the archipelago is underwater mountain ranges. About 80% of the territory is occupied by mountains and hills with highly dissected relief with an average height of 1600 - 1700 m. There are about 200 volcanoes, 90 active, including the highest peak - Mount Fuji (3,776 m). Frequent volcanoes also have a significant impact on the Japanese economy. earthquakes and tsunamis.

The country is poor in mineral resources, 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 in the meridional direction has determined the existence on its territory of a unique set of natural conditions: the island of Hokkaido and the north of Honshu are located in the temperate maritime climate zone, the rest of Honshu, the islands of Shikoku and Yushu are in the humid subtropical climate, and the Ryukyu Island is in the humid subtropical climate. tropical climate. Japan is in an active monsoon zone. The average annual precipitation ranges from 2 - 4 thousand mm.

The soils of Japan are mainly slightly podzolic and peaty, as well as brown forest and red soils. Approximately 2/3 of the territory, mainly mountainous areas, is covered with forests (more than half of the forests are artificial plantations). Coniferous forests predominate in northern Hokkaido, mixed forests in central Honshu and southern Hokkaido, and subtropical monsoon forests in the south.

Japan has many rivers, deep, fast and rapids, unsuitable for navigation, but a source for hydropower and irrigation.

The abundance of rivers, lakes and groundwater have 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 protection laws reduces the level of environmental pollution.

Population.

Japan is one of 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. Of other nationalities, the Koreans and Chinese are significant in number. The most common religions are Shintoism and Buddhism. The population is distributed unevenly across the area. The average density is 330 people per km 2, but the coastal areas of the Pacific Ocean are among the most densely populated in the world.

About 80% of the population lives in cities. 11 cities have millionaires. Keihin's largest urban agglomerations. Hanshin and Chuke merge into the Tokyo metropolis (Takaido) with a population of more than 60 million people.

Farming.

The growth rate of the Japanese economy was one of 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 highly developed industry, but the most growing area is the non-manufacturing sector (services, finance, R&D).

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

Electric power industry. Mainly uses imported raw materials. In the structure of the raw material base, oil leads, 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 power comes from thermal power plants and 28% from nuclear power plants, including Fukushima - the most powerful in the world.

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

Ferrous metallurgy. The country ranks second in the world in terms of steel production. Japan's share in the global ferrous metallurgy market is 23%.

The largest centers, now operating almost entirely on imported raw materials and fuel, are located near Osaka, Tokyo, and Fuji.

Non-ferrous metallurgy. Due to the harmful impact on the environment, primary smelting of non-ferrous metals is being reduced. Conversion plants are located in all major industrial centers.

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

Japan firmly ranks first in the world in shipbuilding, specializing in the construction of large-tonnage tankers and dry cargo ships. The main centers of shipbuilding and ship repair are located in the largest ports (Yokohama, Nagasaki, 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 the Osaka region, machine tool building - in the Nagai region.

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

Japan ranks one of the first in the world in terms of development of the chemical industry.

Japan also has developed pulp and paper, light and food industries.

Agriculture Japan remains an important industry, although it contributes about 2% of GNP; the industry employs 6.5% of EAN. Agricultural production is focused on food production (the country provides 70% of its needs for food itself).

13% of the territory is cultivated in the structure of crop production (provides 70% of agricultural products). The leading role is played by the cultivation of rice and vegetables, and gardening is developed. Livestock farming (cattle breeding, pig farming, poultry farming) is developing intensively.

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

Transport.

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

Territorial structure of the economy

The territorial structure of the economy is characterized by a combination of two completely different parts. The Pacific belt is the socio-economic core of the country (the “front part”). Here are the main industrial areas, ports, transport routes and developed agriculture. The peripheral zone ("back part") includes areas where timber harvesting, livestock raising, mining, hydropower, tourism and recreation are most developed. Despite the implementation of regional policy, the smoothing out of territorial imbalances is proceeding rather slowly.

Figure 12. Territorial structure of the Japanese economy.
(to enlarge the image, click on the picture)

Foreign economic relations of Japan.

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

Japan's share 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. Industrial goods account for 98% of exports.

Leading ideas: show the diversity of cultural worlds, models of economic and political development, interconnection and interdependence of countries around the world; and also be convinced of the need for a deep understanding of the laws of social development and the processes that occur in the world.

Basic concepts: Western European (North American) type of transport system, port-industrial complex, "development axis", metropolitan region, industrial belt, "false urbanization", latifundia, ship stations, megalopolis, "technopolis", "growth pole", "growth corridors"; colonial type of industrial structure, monoculture, apartheid, subregion.

Skills and abilities: be able to assess the influence of EGP and GGP, the history of settlement and development, characteristics of the population and labor resources of the region, country on the sectoral and territorial structure of the economy, the level of economic development, the role in the MGRT of the region, country; identify problems and forecast development prospects for the region and country; highlight specific, defining features of individual countries and explain them; find similarities and differences in the population and economy of individual countries and give an explanation for them, draw up and analyze maps and cartograms.

Geographical location.

Japan (self-name - Nippon) is a large state located on almost 4 thousand islands in the western part of the Pacific Ocean.

As a result of the collision of the Pacific plate with the Eurasian plate and the resulting tectonic fault, a group of islands was formed - fragments of the continent. The Japanese islands are located on the Earth's Volcanic Belt and in close proximity to an oceanic rift

The main part of the country's territory falls on the islands of the Japanese archipelago itself, which includes the four largest - Honshu (231 thousand km 2), Hokkaido (79 thousand km 2), Kyushu (42 thousand km 2) and Shikoku (19 thousand km 2). In addition, Japan owns the Ryukyu Islands located south of Kyushu, as well as small islands in the Pacific Ocean (Nampo, Marcus, etc.). It also lays claim to the Russian-owned Kuril Islands, which lie north of Hokkaido. The country's area is 377,688 square meters. km, which is one twenty-fifth of the territory of the United States, one twentieth of the area of ​​Australia, but one and a half times larger than Great Britain.

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

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

The islands that are part of Japan form an arc along the eastern part of Asia with a total length of about 3400 km, stretching between 20°25" and 45°33" N. w. and 122 o 56” and 153 o 59” E. The length of the coastline is 29.8 thousand km.

Japan is separated from the mainland by the East China, Sea of ​​Japan and Sea of ​​Okhotsk, but the distance of the main Japanese islands from the Asian coast is small - the shortest distance through the Korea Strait is 220 km. From the east and southeast, Japan is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean; in the south of the Japanese archipelago between the islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu is the Inland Sea of ​​Japan (Seto-Nikai).

The island nature of the territory, proximity to the East Asian shores, significant length in the meridional direction, as well as the complexity of the relief and climatic differences between individual parts of the country formed a unique complex of natural and geographical conditions that had a huge impact on the history of the exploration and development of Japan.

Relief, climate and water resources.

One of the most important features of Japan's nature is the combination of its coastal location with the predominance of mountain landscapes. About 3/4 of the country's territory is occupied by mountains and hills; on each large island there is either a mountain node or parallel mountain ranges. Under the influence of tectonic forces and intense erosion, the mountain ranges acquired a highly dissected and complex character. Japanese mountains are not very high (on average 1600-1700 m above sea level), but they are very steep - more than 15 degrees, which makes the economic use of many areas difficult.

Plains and lowlands occupy narrow strips along the sea coasts and river valleys in the interior. The largest of them are located on the Pacific coast - Kanto (with an area of ​​13 thousand km 2), bordering Tokyo Bay, Nobi (near Ise Bay), Kinai (in the Osaka Bay area). There are large plains in other areas of the country - in Hokkaido (Ishikari River valley), in Northern Kyushu (Tsukushi Plain), on the northwestern coast of Honshu (Echigo Plain), etc. Many small plains adjoin convenient and long-developed bays, bays, which abound in highly indented coastlines (especially in the south of the archipelago), the total length of which is almost 30 thousand km.

The growing shortage of suitable and accessible (including price and legal status) land, especially for new industrial construction, is forcing the Japanese to increasingly advance on the sea, like the Dutch, conquering more and more areas from it. For example, the world's largest metallurgical plant, Fukuyama, was built entirely on a reclaimed site. In general, about a third of the country’s coasts have become filled or reclaimed.

High seismicity and volcanism have a significant impact on the economic use of Japanese territory. Every year in Japan there are about 1.5 thousand earthquakes of varying strength, and one of the most earthquake-prone is the Tokyo Bay area, where the capital and a number of large cities are located and a quarter of the country's population lives. There are 67 “living” volcanoes in Japan, of which 15 are active, the rest, including the highest peak in Japan, Mount Fuji (3776 m), are classified as “dormant”, but quite capable of awakening. Seismic phenomena in deep-sea depressions located several tens of kilometers east of Japan are associated with seaquakes and the huge tsunami waves they cause, to which the northeast of Honshu and Hokkaido are most susceptible.

One of the island's lower mountain ranges is called the Japanese Alps because of its scenic beauty. And in the extreme south of the island lies another mountain range, where Mount Kita (3192 m) is the highest point in the region. There are also small mountain ranges on the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku, but their height does not exceed 1982 m (Mount Isitsuki on Shikoku Island).

Since the Japanese islands stretch over a width of 15° C, the climatic conditions are very diverse. At the end of March, you can sunbathe on the island of Okinawa in the south of Japan or ski on the island of Hokkaido in the north.

The climatic conditions of Japan are generally quite favorable for farming and human habitation. Typically there are 4 climate zones:

1. Temperate oceanic climate zone with cold summers - Hokkaido.

2. Temperate oceanic climate zone with warm summers - part about Honshu.

3. Humid subtropical climate zone - the southern part of Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, the northern part of the Ryukyu archipelago.

4. Tropical climate zone - the southern part of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Okinawa.

Japan is characterized by monsoon atmospheric circulation, which causes a significant amount of precipitation in the form of heavy summer rains, as well as winter snowfalls (in the north of the country). The mountain ranges of Central Japan, stretching in the meridional direction, serve as a kind of climatic barrier between the east and west of most of the country. In winter, cold air masses from the mainland have a much stronger impact on the west coast than on the eastern coast, protected by mountains. In the southern subtropical and tropical regions, conditions are particularly favorable for agriculture, where two crops can be harvested per year. The climate of Western Japan is moderated by the warm Kuroshio Current, while the cold Oyashio Current runs along the northeastern coast. The Japanese islands lie in the path of most typhoons that originate in the western Pacific Ocean. Japan receives more precipitation than neighboring parts of the mainland. The average precipitation level in most of the country is 1700 – 2000 mm, in the south up to 4000 mm per year.

The rivers of Japan are numerous, but not long. The country has a dense network of short, deep, predominantly mountain rivers. The largest of them is the river. Shinano is 367 km long. On the rivers of the Sea of ​​Japan basin there is a winter-spring flood, on the rivers of the Pacific Ocean basin there is a summer flood; There are floods, especially as a result of typhoons. Most rivers are turbulent mountain streams, unsuitable for navigation, but quite important as a source of hydroelectric power and water for irrigation. Flat areas of large rivers are accessible to shallow-draft vessels; the largest is Lake Biwa, with an area of ​​716 sq. km. The central mountainous region of Honshu stands out in terms of the level of use of river hydropower potential. Many lakes in Japan are also of great importance as a source of fresh water. The waters of many rivers are used for irrigation; there are thousands of small and large reservoirs in the country.

Minerals.

In the depths of the Japanese islands there are numerous deposits of various minerals, which represent important mineral and fuel resources. But at the same time, Japan lacks a number of mineral resources that are very important for industry.

Of the fuel reserves, Japan is relatively provided only with coal, the total volume of which is about 16 billion tons. It is of low quality: bituminous coal predominates, containing a lot of ash. Approximately half of all Japanese coal reserves are located on the island. Hokkaido (mainly the Ishikari River valley). The second large coal basin is located in the north of the island. Kyushu. Coking coal reserves are small and scattered across a number of regions of the country.

Japan's oil reserves are estimated to be 64 million tons, which is quite small. They lie at considerable depths.

Of the ore minerals, the “Land of the Rising Sun” has in more or less significant quantities only low-quality iron ore, the reserves of which amount to 20 million tons. More than half of them come from the Kamaishi mines on the northeastern coast of Honshu. Magnetite iron ores and limonite predominate. In addition to iron ores, Japan has significant (up to 40 million tons) deposits of ferruginous sands (titanium-magnetite-limonite ores) with an iron content of 40 to 50% and pyrites (about 100 million tons), also containing 40-50% iron.

The probable reserves of manganese ores containing up to 35% manganese in Japan are estimated at 10 million tons. Reserves of molybdenum, tungsten, nickel, cobalt and other alloying metal ores are insignificant. Japan is relatively endowed with only chromites and titanium extracted from ferruginous sands.

Of the non-ferrous metal ores, the most typical for Japan is copper, the total reserves of which are about 90 million tons. Lead-zinc ores are also present. To produce aluminum, Japan uses alunites from deposits on the Izu Peninsula. In Japan, only raw materials for the production of metallic magnesium are unlimited, the starting material for which is lake brine (a solution saturated with magnesium salts) and sea water. In addition, small deposits of uranium ores have been discovered on Honshu.

Gold and silver are produced as a by-product of copper smelting in Japan. These metals are also mined in small quantities on the islands of Kyushu, Hokkaido, and Honshu.

Among non-metallic minerals, Japan contains large deposits of sulfur (Hokkaido Island) and sulfur pyrites, the reserves of which Japan ranks second in the capitalist world after Spain. Potassium and table salts here are extracted from sea water. In the northwest of the island. Honshu and the south of the island. Kyushu produces a small amount of phosphorites. At the same time, Japan has a lot of kaolin and various raw materials for the production of a variety of building materials, especially cement.

Soil cover, flora and fauna.

Japan has mainly slightly podzolic and peaty soils (in Hokkaido, the north and west of Honshu), brown forest soils (in the east of Honshu), and red soils (in the southwest of Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku), which allow the cultivation of many agricultural crops. In the lowlands there are swampy soils. Japan's soil resources are very limited, with more than one-third of its soils classified as poor. Nevertheless, 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 land remains only on the island of Hokkaido; on the remaining islands, the Japanese are expanding the territories of cities and suburban farms, draining swampy shores and river deltas, filling up lagoons and shallow areas of the seas; this is how, for example, the Tokyo airport was built. The country's industrial development has caused serious problems associated with large-scale acquisition of land for industrial and residential development, as well as environmental pollution, which has led to the development of an effective environmental protection system in Japan.

Due to the abundance of sunny days and moisture, the flora of Japan is very rich and diverse. 67% of the territory is occupied by forests. In the north there are coniferous (spruce and fir) forests of the temperate zone. When moving south, they are first replaced by broad-leaved forests (oak, beech, maple), then by coniferous forests of Japanese cryptomeria, cypress, pine (southern Hokkaido and northern Honshu), followed (in the south of Honshu and the north of Kyushu and Shikoku) by evergreen broad-leaved trees forests (Japanese magnolia, sawtooth oak). In the very south (southern Kyushu and Ryukyu) there are subtropical evergreen forests. There are more than 17,000 plant species in the country. The national flowering trees of Japan are the cherry and plum, which bloom early and are loved throughout the country. In April, azaleas bloom 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. Gladioli, several types of lilies, bells, and flowers are also common. The most common tree in Japan is Japanese cedar, reaching a height of up to 40 m; larch and several types of spruce are also often found. Subtropical plants grow in Kyushu, Shikoku and in the south of Honshu: bamboo, camphor laurel, banyan. In the central and northern parts of Honshu, deciduous trees are common: birch, walnut, willow, as well as a large number of coniferous trees. Cypress, yew, eucalyptus, myrtle, and holly are common in this area. In Hokkaido, the vegetation is very similar to Siberian: the most common are larch, several types of spruce, and in some forests there are birch, alder, and poplar. The Japanese are also very skillful in growing dwarf trees (the so-called “bonsai”), when the pine, siwa or cherry tree does not exceed a height of 30 centimeters.

Compared to the rich flora, the fauna of Japan can be considered quite poor, although the islands have 1,199 species of vertebrates, 33,776 species of invertebrates, about 140 species of mammals, 40 species of birds, a large number of reptiles, amphibians and fish. The Japanese macaque or red-faced monkey lives on the island of Honshu. Among the predators, the brown bear, black bear and red bear stand out. Almost all islands are inhabited by foxes and badgers. Mink, otter, hare, marten, squirrels, flying squirrels, mice (although there are no domestic mice), and a large number of different species of bats are common. Of the two deer species, the Japanese sika deer is the most common. The most common bird species: swallow, sparrow, thrush, heron, duck, woodpecker, cuckoo, swan, snipe, albatross, crane, pheasant, pigeon. Among songbirds, two species, the nightingale and the bullfinch, are especially widespread.

Japan is a small archipelago state consisting of many islands. Japan's natural resources are quite scarce. This is due to the special geographical location, since Japan is mainly dominated by mountainous terrain.

Mineral resources

Japan has very few mineral resources. Small quantities of coal, sulfur, mercury, silver, chromium, copper, zinc, lead, manganese and iron are mined on the Japanese islands. However, this is barely enough to satisfy the most modest needs of local residents. Japan is also very poor in oil – there is practically none there. It is precisely because of the almost complete absence of minerals that the country is forced to buy them from neighboring countries that have huge reserves of natural resources.

Coal mining occurs in the two largest basins - on the island of Hokkaido and the island of Kyushu.

Rice. 1. Hokkaido Island.

The only thing that is available there in sufficient quantities is limestone, dolomite, quartz sand, and pyrite.

Just a few decades ago, Japan was the leader in copper mining. The largest mines were in Ashio and central Honshu. Now these deposits are depleted and closed.

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Despite the fact that Japan has few mineral deposits, the country is one of the leaders in iodine production.

Forest resources

Of the entire country's area of ​​372.5 thousand square meters. km of forest account for 70%.

Japan has a tropical and subtropical climate. Because of this, the main forest resources are broadleaf and coniferous forests. Not all trees grow naturally; most are planted by humans.

Rice. 2. Broad-leaved forests of Japan.

Japan stands for environmental safety. Paper and wood are used in the production of bags, containers, packaging and even houses. Therefore, the country lacks its own forest resources and has to import them from other countries.

Water resources

There are many rivers and lakes in Japan. The country is covered by a dense network of rivers that flow into each other. They are deep and short. Most rivers are turbulent, fast and cold mountain streams. The main purpose of rivers is to irrigate agricultural land. Such rivers are practically unsuitable for ferrying ships, since they are mostly shallow and have a short length.

Large rivers are Sinano (367 km), Tone, Mimi, Gokase. The shores of Japan are washed on different sides by the Sea of ​​Japan and the Pacific Ocean. They produce fish, which they use for their own needs and also export abroad.

Rice. 3. Shinano River.

What have we learned?

Japan's main resources are water and forest resources. Due to the small area of ​​the country and its mountainous terrain, there are very small reserves of natural resources. But the country has a developed timber industry, because forests occupy more than half of the entire territory. Water resources are also important for the country's economy; fish are caught in the Sea of ​​Japan and the Pacific Ocean, and rivers are used to irrigate fields.

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Japan is a small Asian country located on islands. In terms of living standards, it ranks first in the world. How did Japan's resources influence this?

A little about the country

The state is located entirely on the Japanese archipelago, which consists of 6,852 large and small islands. All of them are of either mountainous or volcanic origin, some are uninhabited. The main part of the territory is made up of the four largest cities of Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku.

The state is washed by the Japanese, Okhotsk, and East China seas of the Pacific Ocean. Shares borders with the Russian Far East, South Korea, China and the Philippines. The local population pronounces the country's name as "Nippon" or "Nippon koku", which is often translated as the Land of the Rising Sun.

The area of ​​377,944 square kilometers is home to approximately 127 million people. The capital of Japan - the city of Tokyo - is located in Japan. It is a constitutional-parliamentary monarchy headed by the emperor.

Forest resources

Forests are Japan's natural resources, of which the country has plenty. They cover more than 65% of the territory. Approximately a third of forests are artificial plantations. More than 2,500 plant species grow in the country. Subtropical forests grow in the southern mountainous regions, coniferous species predominate in the north, and mixed forests are located in the central part.

Tropical vegetation is found on the islands: palm trees, ferns, fruit trees. Sweet potatoes and sugar cane grow on the Ryukyu Islands. Pine, fir, and evergreen oak trees grow in mountainous areas. The country has a large number of endemics, including Japanese cypress and cryptomeria. Here you can see the relict

At the foot of the mountains on the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido, such as Fuji, broad-leaved forests predominate. At an altitude of more than one kilometer, a zone of alpine bushes begins, which give way to alpine meadows. Vast areas are occupied by bamboo forests grown for furniture production.

Water resources

Japan's natural water resources are represented by an abundance of underwater waters, lakes and rivers. Numerous mountain rivers are quite deep, short and fast. Japanese rivers are not suitable for ferrying ships, but they have found use in hydropower. They are also used to irrigate agricultural land.

The largest rivers are the Shinano, 367 kilometers long, and the Tone, 322 kilometers long, both located on the island of Honshu. There are 24 major rivers in total, including Yoshino (Shikoku Island), Chikugo and Kuma (Kyushu) and others. Different areas are characterized by winter or summer high water, which often leads to floods.

The country has both shallow coastal and deep mountain lakes. Some of them, for example Cuttiaro, Tovado, are of volcanic origin. Saroma and Kasumigaura are lagoonal. Japan's largest freshwater lake Biwa (670 sq. km.) is located on the island of Honshu.

Minerals

Japan's natural mineral resources are represented in relatively small quantities. Mostly, they are not enough for the independent development of industry, so the state has to partially cover the shortfall by importing raw materials, such as oil, natural gas, and iron ore.

The country has sulfur deposits, small reserves of manganese, lead-zinc, copper, silver ore, gold, chromite, iron ore, and barite. Its oil and gas reserves are small. There are small deposits of vanadium, titanium, polymetallic, nickel, lithium, uranium and other ores. In the world, Japan is one of the leaders in iodine production.

Limestones, sands, dolomites and pyrites are contained in significant quantities. The state is rich in iron sands, which have long been used in the manufacture of the famous Japanese steel for blades, knives and swords.

Climate and energy resources

Japan's weather conditions have a favorable effect on the development of agriculture. The length from north to south means that the climate on different islands can vary significantly. In the northern regions it is more severe, in the southern regions, on the contrary, it is soft.

And Kyushu, thanks to the humid monsoon winds and warmth, has a tropical and subtropical climate. Here the harvest period occurs twice a year. Air masses and currents often contribute to heavy rainfall, and in winter they bring snowfall. In the northern regions the climate is temperate.

A large number of sunny days, mountainous terrain, the presence of winds and fast mountain rivers create conditions for the development of alternative energy. The nuclear power plant accident in 2011 further pushed the country to take this step. Recently, in addition to hydropower, the country has been developing methods for producing photovoltaic, solar thermal, and wind energy.

Natural resources of Japan (table)

Conditions and natural resources of Japan (briefly)

Japan is an amazing and picturesque country. There are mountains, forests, rivers and minerals. Nevertheless, economic assessments of Japan's natural conditions and resources usually sound disappointing. The thing is that most of the country's existing resources are difficult or even impossible to use for industrial purposes.

Japan's natural mineral resources are very diverse, but their quantity is too small. Two-thirds of the state's territory is not suitable for agriculture due to its rugged terrain. Many forests growing in the mountains are inaccessible for logging due to the danger of landslides and avalanches. The rivers are completely unsuited for the development of navigation.

It's all relative. Indeed, despite its poor supply of natural resources, Japan manages to skillfully overcome the situation. Large exports of timber, seafood and fish, livestock farming, rice and vegetable production, the development of mechanical engineering and high technology, and alternative energy sources do not allow the country to leave the world's leading position in terms of economic level.

Japan is a prime example of how the absence or scarcity of natural resources is not an obstacle to economic development and prosperity. The country mainly develops in the non-manufacturing sector, for example, in finance or in the service sector, and achieves enormous success in these areas. But despite this and many stopping factors, Japan uses the few natural resources it has very skillfully.

Water resources

Japan is cut by many rivers flowing through its territory. They are not suitable for navigation, but are an indispensable source for artificial irrigation of agricultural lands and for their use in hydropower needs. In Japan, you can find a large number of lakes and groundwater, which have a beneficial effect on the development of the agricultural and industrial sectors.

Land resources

Despite the fact that 80% of this island state is covered with mountains, agriculture is quite well developed thanks to the proper use and care of the land. The country cultivates only about 15% of the territory, which is not so little, given the mountainous terrain of the islands. Japan independently meets 70% of its food production needs.

Forest resources

The southern islands of Japan are covered with subtropical forests. The central part of the country is occupied by mixed forests, and the northern part of the country is planted with coniferous forests. About 65-70% of the territory is occupied by forests, half of which were planted artificially. The country is not able to fully provide itself with wood, so here too it resorts to importing goods. Over the past decades, forest boundaries have been significantly pushed back for agricultural purposes, which is why the government has resorted to the solution of artificial tree planting.

Mineral resources

The amount of minerals mined and stored in the country is extremely small. Japan can only boast a small number of mines for the extraction of lead and zinc ores, limestone, coal, and sulfur. There are also small oil reserves and production is underway. It is precisely because of the small amount of mineral resources that Japan is one of the largest importers of raw materials.

Alternative energy sources

In an attempt to reduce dependence on imported raw materials, Japan is becoming more active in the development and use of alternative energy sources. The country has all the necessary data for this. The number of sunny days per year makes up the vast majority, and, given the geographical location, there is no shortage of winds. The country's ecology has noticeably deteriorated since the industrial boom, so the Japanese are trying in every possible way to restore it, resorting to the use of solar and wind energy. These resources are endless and dispersed throughout the country.