Sanriku Fukko National Park (1)
Sanriku Fukko (Reconstruction) National Park stretches about 250 kilometers north to south along the Pacific coast, from Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture to Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture. The park was created by merging three existing parks as part of efforts to help the region recover after the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. The northern section of the park is noted for coastal terraces and towering cliffs—the nickname of the area is “Alps of the Sea”—while the southern section is known for its convoluted ria coast. The convergence of ocean currents and weather patterns from the north and south has created an environment that supports a wide variety of marine and plant life. The easterly summer winds locally known as yamase bring cool, moist air to the region, making the climate ideal for alpine plants.