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Welcome to Mombetsu City
Location and Geographical Features
Mombetsu is located in the northeast of Hokkaido, the northernmost area of japan. its north latitude ranges from 43゜59' (facing the Sea of Okhotsk) to 44゜24', and its east longitude from 143゜5' to 143゜34'. The shoreline spreads to the southeast in the shape of a bow. Its harbors are important not only to Hokkaido but also to japan. The habors are surrounded by gently sloping mountains and farmlands cover the region.
Area
830.70 Square kilometer
From east to west: 34.1km
From south to north: 40.6km
(The fifth largest city in Japan and the third largest in Hokkaido)
Population (as of nov.2014)
23,720(Number of households: 12,252)
Origin of the city's name
Moupetto(calm river)→Monbetsu
The name Mombetsu derives from "Moupetto" (calm river), a word of aboriginal Ainus of Hokkaido. The municipality adopted the name "Mombetsu" in 1869.
Climate
Although Mombetsu's climate is usually gentle - characteristic of the Okhotsk Oceanic climate - it is very cold in winter largely because drift ice moving south from Siberia touches its shores. In summer, the temperature sometimes exceeds 30℃ due to the Foehn phenomenon of the western wind. With an average temperature of 18.3℃ in August and - 6.9℃ in Feburuary, the annual average temperature is 5.9℃. Precipitation is less then in other parts of Hokkaido: The total annual amount is 888 mm and the deepest snow measures approximately 1 m to 1.2m. The annual duration of sunshine is 1,824 hours, representing a percentage of possible annual sunshine of 41%.
History
The indigenous Ainu and other peoples lived in Hokkaido in ancient times, and later the wajin (japanese) advanced into this is land and engaged in fishing. During the Meiji era (1868-1921), many people came from the mainland of Honshu and settled in Mombetsu as a result of full-scale political and economic reforms, and they engaged actively in agriculture in addition to the existing fishing industry. A village office was established in Mombetsu in 1889 and thus a modern administrative system was initiated in the Mombetsu district. In 1930, a vain of gold mine the largest of its kind in the Orient was discovered in Konomai, Mombetsu, and this vein greatly benefited the economy of Mombetsu for the ensuing 40 years. On july 1, 1954, Mombetsu town, Shokotsu village and Kami-Shokotsu village were consolidated and reorganized as the city of Mombetsu with a population of 36,000 Mombetsu has maintained steady growth since. With its "City Project for internaional Drift Ice Research" which seeks to create an enriched local community, Mombetsu is now steadily developing as an international city pioneering the future of the Okhotsk region.
MOMBETSU@CITY
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