Mount Asama
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Mount Asama 浅間山 |
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Mt. Asama in 2002 |
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Elevation | 2,568 metres (8,425 ft) |
Location | Honshū, Japan |
Coordinates | |
Type | Complex volcano |
Last eruption | 2004 |
Mount Asama (浅間山 Asama-yama?) is an active complex volcano in central Honshū, the main island of Japan. It stands on the border of Gunma and Nagano prefectures.
Standing 2,568 m above sea level, it erupted most recently on September 1, 2004. Previous noteworthy eruptions occurred in 685, 1108, 1783, and 1972; lesser activity has been recorded on dozens of occasions. The eastern slope has a volcano observation station run by Tokyo University.
Scientists from Tokyo University and Nagoya University completed their first successful imaging experiment of the interior of the volcano in April 2007. By detecting sub-atomic particles called muons as they passed through the volcano after arriving from space, the scientists were able gradually to build up a picture of the interior, creating images of cavities through which lava was passing deep inside the volcano.
It is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan.