Shiretoko National Park

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Shiretoko*
UNESCO World Heritage Site

State Party	Japan
Type	Natural
Criteria	ix, x
Reference	1193
Region†	Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	2005 (29th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

Shiretoko National Park 知床国立公園
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Location	Hokkaidō, Japan
Coordinates	44°06′00″N 145°11′00″E / 44.1, 145.183333
Area	386.33 km²
Established	June 1, 1964

Shiretoko National Park (知床国立公園, Shiretoko Kokuritsu Kōen^?) covers most of the Shiretoko Peninsula at the northeastern tip of the island of Hokkaidō, Japan. The word "Shiretoko" is an Ainu word meaning "end of the earth".

One of the most remote regions in all of Japan, much of the peninsula is only accessible on foot or by boat. The park is best known as the home of Japan's largest bear population and for offering views of the disputed Kunashiri Island, occupied by Russia but claimed by Japan. The park has a hot springs waterfall called Kamuiwakka-no-taki. Kamui wakka means "water of the gods" in Ainu.

In 2005, UNESCO designated the area a World Heritage Site, advising to develop the property jointly with Kuril Islands of Russia as a transboundary "World Heritage Peace Park".

[edit] Features

Mount Rausu

[edit] See also

List of national parks of Japan

[edit] External links

Wikitravel: Shiretoko National Park
Shiretoko Peninsula (Japanese Wikipedia)
http://www.biodic.go.jp/english/jpark/np/siretoko_e.html

v • d • e World Heritage Sites in Japan

Buddhist Monuments, Hōryū-ji Area · Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu · Himeji Castle · Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) · Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) · Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara · Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama · Itsukushima Shinto Shrine · Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape · Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range · Shirakami-Sanchi · Shiretoko · Shrines and Temples of Nikkō · Yakushima

v • d • e National parks of Japan

	Akan National Park · Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park · Aso Kujū National Park · Bandai-Asahi National Park · Chichibu Tama Kai National Park · Chubu-Sangaku National Park · Daisen-Oki National Park · Daisetsuzan National Park · Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park · Hakusan National Park · Hiba-Dogo-Taishaku Quasi-National Park · Hidaka Sanmyaku-Erimo Quasi-National Park · Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park · Ise-Shima National Park · Joshinetsu Kogen National Park · Kirishima-Yaku National Park · Kushiro Shitsugen National Park · Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park · Minami Alps National Park · Nikkō National Park · Nishi-Chugoku Sanchi Quasi-National Park · Ogasawara National Park · Ōnuma Quasi-National Park · Rikuchu Kaigan National Park · Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park · Saikai National Park · Sanin Kaigan National Park · Setonaikai National Park · Shikotsu-Tōya National Park · Shiretoko National Park · Towada-Hachimantai National Park · Unzen-Amakusa National Park · Yoshino-Kumano National Park