Journey to Fuji-san (XIII)

Posted by Alfredo J. Martiz J. (Panama City, Panama) on 31 August 2007 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.

Mount Fuji (富士山, Fuji-san), or Fuji-yama, is the highest mountain in Japan. A dormant volcano that last erupted in 1708, it straddles the boundary of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures just west of Tokyo, from which it can be seen on a clear day. It is located near the Pacific coast of central Honshū. Three small cities surround it, they are: Gotemba (East), Fuji-Yoshida (North) and Fujinomiya (Southwest). Mt. Fuji stands at 3,776 m (12,388 ft) high and is surrounded by five lakes: Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Sai, Lake Motosu and Lake Shoji.

Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and is frequently depicted in art and photographs, as well as visited by sightseers and climbers.

Scientists have identified four distinct phases of volcanic activity in the formation of Mt. Fuji. The first phase, called Sen-komitake, is composed of an andesite core recently discovered deep within the mountain. Sen-komitake was followed by the "Komitake Fuji," a basalt layer believed to be formed several hundred thousand years ago. Approximately 100,000 years ago, "Old Fuji" was formed over the top of Komitake Fuji. The modern, "New Fuji" is believed to have formed over the top of Old Fuji around 10,000 years ago.

The volcano is currently classified as active with a low risk of eruption. The last recorded eruption started on December 16th 1707 and ended about February 24th 1708 during the Edo period. At this time, a new crater, along with a second peak, named Hōei-zan after the era name, formed halfway down its side.

Mount Fuji is located at the point where the Eurasian Plate (or the Amurian Plate), the Okhotsk Plate, and the Philippine Plate meet. Those plates form the western part of Japan, the eastern part of Japan, and the Izu Peninsula respectively.
Source: Wikipedia

This is how Fuji-san looks like when you arrive to the top, so powerful. This is the only photo I have of this scene, at first I joined Marcel and Hanna to walk around the crater but minutes after starting I decided to go back to the place where Ana Teresa and Miguel were having a rest; I made this photo before going back, I was so tired and sleepy and we still had a long way down from the top.
I did some dodging & burning to the strong shadows on the left of this photo in order to reveal some details, I hope you like it!

Photo dedicated to my friends Ana Teresa, Miguel, Hanna and Marcel. Thank you very much for your support in the journey, God Bless you all!

Fuji-San. August 18th, 2007.
-Previously in the Journey to Fuji-san- Around 6:15 - We arrived to the top of Fuji-san
6:39 - I made a photo before starting a walk around the crater.

6:43 - Time when I made this photo. After making this photo I decided not to walk around the crater and take a rest. We still had a long way down from the top.

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