Three
Possible Benefits That Geotourism Has in Aomori
Aomori, the most upper located prefecture of
Chou-bu, the biggest island of Japan is not that attractive place to most
people planning to visit Japan in their vacation. However, Aomori is one of the
most curious place in Japan with full of very well preserved nature. There are
many ways to enjoy Aomori, but the geotourism, which is one of efforts to
sustain or enhance of places’ geographical characters is the best way to travel
this interesting place even has some good effects on it. The possible effects
of geotourism in Aomori include contribution for better preservation of the
environment, helping to find some new scientific facts, and conservation of
historical heritage.
The
first and the most important effect of geotourism in Aomori is contribution to
preserve the nature that has remained for thousands of years. The very well
preserved environment is the most famous thing in Aomori. Shirakami mountain
hawk, the most popular tourist spot in Aomori, is the first place of UNESCO world’s
natural heritage in Japan. Therefore, Japanese government already have
recommended the travelers to travel here as geotourism. People only can hike
this mountain during June to November and also should pass a little test about
awareness of preserving the forest. Of course tourists need to be accompanied
with experting guide. The effort of the Japanese government recommending
geotourism for a long time made an alive 3000 years old tree still living
possible.
The
second effect of geotourism in Aomori is that it can help world’s scientists to
find new natural scientific facts. Geotourism, as mentioned a lot, is a great
way to prevent the environment being destroyed. Near 13,000Ha width of Aomori’s
enormous primeval forest has over 500 plants, more than 2000 wild life, and a
lot of endangered animals. Scientists still assert that they may be able to
find more unfound species in the forest. Also there is a lake seemed vivid blue
color called Aoi ike, that means blue lake in Japanese, then scientists have
not found the reason yet why it has such vivid blue color. Actually it is not
an only lake with this kind of blue color in Japan, so if scientists find the
reason, it will help to know the reason of other blue lakes’ color in different
places.
The
last possible effect of geotourism in Aomori is that it even contributes to
conserve Aomori’s historical sites. Aomori’s forests are considered as one of
the oldest forests in the world, and actually it has existed for more than 4000
years. It means that the land of Aomori has long-time history as age of the
forest. In 1990s, archaeologists found out the oldest prehistoric dwelling
sites in Aomori, that prove the site had been a big settlement for ancient
people for more than 1500 years. Furthermore, they found a lot of frame works
of ancient housing by a technology of erecting a pillar. It was a surprising
historical discovery because scientists had thought that people at that time,
about 3000 years ago, never had such a technology. It obviously can be one of
the best tourist attractions in Aomori. Japanese government, however, did not
try to dig up the forest to find more ancient monuments, but buried most of
them again and left at least of them on the ground not to ruin their heritage
spot and the nature.
Geotourism
is definitely not an easy way to enjoy a particular place. However, it deserves
to be tried. Aomori is one of the suitable places to be traveled as geotourism.
The enormous, still mysterious primeval forest should be saved from massive
traditional tourism that destroys the wonderful nature of the earth the most.
People can conserve the environment, help to find out new scientific evidence,
and prevent the Aomori’s prehistoric sites being ruined. To save this wonderful
place as it is, people should pursue geotourism when they visit here.
