Discovering the Volcano
Mt. Iwate has many faces. From a distance, it rises majestically above the plains; up close, the mountain’s alpine flowers and vegetation become the focus of visitors’ attention. But it must be remembered that this mountain is a volcano. Here are five facts about the volcanic aspect of Mt. Iwate.
Caption: Mt. Iwate seen from the east
Point of Interest No. 1
The Lost Summit
Mt. Iwate was originally a conical volcano, like the iconic Mt. Fuji, but repeated eruptions caused the summit to collapse into the large western Nishi-Iwate caldera. For an idea of how the mountain appeared in the past, take a look at the artist’s depiction.
Caption: An artist’s depiction of the Mt. Iwate stratovolcano before the summit collapsed.