Volcanos are both creators and destroyers. They can
shape lands and cultures, but can also cause destruction and loss of life. Two
of the best-known examples are found at opposite ends of the world, separated
by the Pacific Ring of ire. Fuji: Japan’s Sacred Summit It’s almost sunrise
near the summit of Japan’s Mount Fuji.
Exhausted climbers, many of whom have hiked the 3,776
meters through the night to reach this point stop to watch as the sun begins
its ascent, spreading its golden rays across the mountain. For everyone, this
is an important moment: they have witnessed the dawn on Mount Fuji – the
highest point in the Land of the Rising Sun. Located in the center of Japan,
Mount Fuji, whose name means “without equal” is a sacred site. Japan’s native religion,
Shintoism, considers Fuji a holy place. Other people believe the mountain and
its waters have the power to make a sick person well. For many, climbing Fuji
is also a rite of passage. Some do it as a part of a religious journey; for
others, it is a test of strength. Whatever their reason, reaching the top in
order to stand on Fuji’s summit at sunrise is a must for many Japanese – and
every July and August, almost 400 000 people attempt to do so. Fuji is more
than a sacred site and tourist destination, however. It is also an active
volcano around which four million people have settled, and sits just 112
kilometers from the crowded streets of Tokyo. The last time Fuji exploded, in
1707, it sent out a cloud f ash that covered the capital city and darkened the
skies for weeks. Today, new data have some volcanologists concerned that Fuji
may soon erupt again. According to MotooUkawa and his associates at the
National Research Institute for Earth and Science and Disaster Prevention,
there has been an increase in activity under Fuji recently, which may be caused
by low frequency earthquakes. Understanding what causes these quakes may help
scientists predict when Fuji, the biggest of Japan’s 86 active volcanoes, will
come back to life. In the meantime, locals living near Fuji hold special
festivals each year to offer gifts to the goddess of the volcano – as they have
for generations – so that she will not erupt and destroy the land and its
people below.
Sacred-սուրբ
Equal-Միանման
Rite-ծես
Settle-
Ash-մոխիր
Erupt-Ժայթքել
