Abashiri River

Abashiri River (網走川, Abashiri-gawa) is a Class A river in Hokkaido, Japan.^[1]

Abashiri River 網走川
Native name	Abashiri-gawa (Japanese)
Location
Country	Japan
Prefecture/Region	Hokkaido
Subprefecture	Iburi
District	Abashiri, Abashiri
Municipalities	Bihoro, Ōzora, Tsubetsu
Physical characteristics
Source	Mount Ahoro
• location	Tsubetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
• elevation	978 m (3,209 ft)
Mouth	Sea of Okhotsk
• location	Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan
• coordinates	44°1′30″N 144°16′30″E
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	115 km (71 mi)
Basin size	1,380 km2 (530 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	13.96 m3/s (493 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Population	49,000

Etymology

The name Abashiri is theorised to come from the Ainu words a-pa-siri (lit. "we found land") or apa-siri ("land of entrance").^[2]

History

Around 1,000 years ago, the Okhotsk culture settled the river basin and moved inland. Remains from the Jōmon period have been found on the bottom of Lake Abashiri.^[3] Pottery fragments from the Jōmon period have been found in caves in the area.^[2]

Flood control projects have been carried out in the basin since 1933.^[4]

Basin area

The basin of the Abashiri River has an area of 1,380 km² (530 sq mi).^[1] Approximately 49,000 people live in the basin area.^[1]

Course

The Abashiri River rises in Tsubetsu on the slopes of Mount Ahoro of the Akan Volcanic Complex. The river leaves the mountains and is joined by the Tsubetsu River and Bihoro River before flowing into Lake Abashiri. The river exits the lake and flows into the Sea of Okhotsk at Abashiri.^[3]