The lagoon with wetland forests and long sandbars in Japan’s coldest climate Furen-ko and Shunkuni-tai Brackish Lake, Seagrass/ Geographical Coordinates: 43°17’N, 145°21’E / Altitude: 1m / Area: 6139ha / Seaweed Bed, Sandbar Major Type of Wetland: Brackish lake, seagrass/seaweed bed, sandbar, low moor, tidal flat / Designation: Special Protection Zone of Na- tional Wildlife Protection Area / Municipalities Involved: Nemuro City and Betsukai Town, Prefecture / Ramsar Designation: No- vember 2005 / Ramsar Criteria:1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Shunkuni-tai

General Overview: to observe rare species such as the White- Furen-ko is a lagoon that used to be a tailed Sea Eagle, Steller’s Sea Eagle, Black part of the sea, developed on the base of Woodpecker, Blakiston’s Fish Owl and the Nemuro peninsula of Hokkaido, at the Japanese Cranes attracting both domes- northeastern end of Japan. The sandbars tic and international visitors all the year of Shunkuni-tai extend from the south, round. There are some facilities for visi- and those of Hashirikotan stretch from the tors such as Shunkuni-tai Nature Center north separating Okhotsk Sea and Furen- and nature observation trails. ko. The lake is connected to the sea via two Warmth Index: outlets. Furen-ko extends 20km from east The Nemuro Peninsula has the lowest to west with a circumference of 65km and warmth index in Japan. A warmth index an area of 5600ha. It is a shallow lake with is a year’s total of the difference between a depth of 11m and a large tidal flat on its 5 and the average temperature of each White-tailed Sea Eagle shore. Among the 13 rivers flowing into month that exceeds 5 degrees C. It indi- Furen-ko, the estuary of the Furen River in cates the correlation between dis- particular has developed into a salt marsh tribution and the temperature of an area. forming a vast unique landscape. The Nemuro Peninsula is cold throughout Shunkuni-tai is something like a lid on the year because of the influence of fogs Furen-ko lagoon. It consists of three rows formed by sea currents in summer as well of sand dunes formed with sands carried as the drift ice in winter. Such environ- from sea currents. Each sand dune was mental conditions shaped the unique and formed in different eras between 3000 diverse landscape of Furen-ko. and 1500 years ago. This is a habitat for [White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla] a wide variety of wildlife with an area of The large eagle has a brown body and a 600ha extending as long as 8km to em- pale brown head with a yellow bill and forest (Photo by M. Okada) brace sand dunes, grasslands, forests, salt legs. It measures 80cm in length with a 2m marshes, and tidal flats. In particular, the wingspan. A small number of them breed Rd. Okhotsk Sea Sakhalin Spruce Picea glehnii forest on the mainly in eastern and northern Hokkaido. Hashirikotan sand dunes has attracted international at- Many birds from Russia and the Far East Town ship tention for its uniqueness. visit Hokkaido in winter. Furen-ko and A Habitat for a Variety of Birds: Contact Information: Shunkuni-tai Nature Center Furen-ko’s amazing ecosystem diver- Nemuro City Office Furen sity includes approximately 280 species http://www.city.nemuro.hokkaido.jp/ River Shunkunitai of birds including shorebirds, swans and Betsukai Town Office Rd. geese. The lagoon is their resting spot http://betsukai.jp/ Attoko Sta. Nemuro City during the long migration. It is also one of Bettoga River Rwy the most popular places for birdwatchers

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