Hakusan’s Landscape

Mt. Hakusan is an active volcano, and the evidence is everywhere: volcanic crater lakes, lava fields dotted with ancient bombs, and deep valleys carved by mountain streams into forested gorges. Its three summit peaks were formed by eruptions thousands of years apart. Snow from warm, moisture-laden air off the Sea of Japan covers the mountain for half the year, and when it melts it feeds rivers with noticeably clear water. The alpine zone above the snowline supports over 200 plant species. Golden eagles and serow, a shaggy antelope-like animal, are among the rarer residents.