Iwate: Snowboarders disturb ‘Dragon Eye’
8:19 JST, July 6, 2022
HACHIMANTAI, Iwate — Snowboarders have reportedly disrupted a natural phenomenon at Kagaminuma pond in Hachimantai, Iwate Prefecture.
The circular pond located at the top of Mt. Hachimantai, which is 1,613 meters high and straddles Iwate and Akita prefectures, is nicknamed “Dragon Eye” as it resembles the eye of a massive dragon when the snow at the edge of the pond begins to melt.
On June 10, it was learned that snowboarders reportedly disturbed the still-frozen pond by sliding across the surface in May.
According to the city’s tourist association, the incident occurred at around 5 a.m. on May 25. An official of the association saw snowboarders cross the rope surrounding the pond. The snowboarders went toward the center of the pond, started hitting the snow with their boards and slid down the slope.
It was reported to the association that snowboarders were seen sliding down the nearby Gamanuma pond the same morning.
Both ponds are designated by the Environment Ministry as special conservation areas. Though it is not illegal to enter, the association reported the cases to the ministry.
As of mid-June, the snow on the edge of the pond was starting to melt and the dragon eye was about to “open.”
A spokesperson for the association said: “Many people are looking forward to seeing the dragon eye, so it’s regrettable that the phenomenon was artificially disturbed. Such actions are dangerous and could have led to an accident, so we’d like to discuss the issue.”
"Features" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Tokyo Meiji-era Station Bustles with Life Once More; Former Station Remodeled into Commercial Facility, Observation Deck to Watch Passing Trains Up Close
-
Colorful Summer Has Arrived; More than 1 Mil. Visitors Expected to Visit Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival
-
I Feel Resentment Toward My son’s Wife for Going Abroad on a Working Holiday
-
Wonder of Freezing Foods; Serving Sweets, Snacks Frozen Gain Popularity in Japan
-
My Co-Worker with a Child is Often Absent, Leaves Early
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Aviation Fuel Shortage Causes Problems at Regional Airports; Growing Demand, Lack of Workers to Transport
- Prices of over 10,000 Food and Beverage Items to Rise This Year; Figure is down from over 30,000 Last Year
- Sony Group to End Production of Blu-ray Discs; Market Has Shrunk Due To Growth Of Hard Disk Drives, Streaming
- Japan Ministry Concerned Over Same-Sex Couple Receiving City-Issued Resident Certificates Referring to ‘Common-Law Husband’
- Japan Court OKs Sex Change without Surgery