Sanriku Fukko National Park (2)
The land that forms the southern section of the park, including the Goishi Coast, was located near the equator before tectonic plate movement carried it north around 400 million years ago. The irregular contours of the ria coast form a series of inlets and peninsulas created when rising seas from melting glaciers inundated the river valleys. One feature of the ria coast is the calm water of the many bays, which makes them an ideal habitat for cultivating marine products such as seaweed, oysters, and certain species of fish. The narrow inlets can also be dangerous when earthquakes occur, as they tend to magnify the height and destructive power of tsunamis.