Shizunai River

is a river in Shinhidaka, Hokkaidō, Japan. The Shizunai River drains from the Hidaka Mountains into the Pacific Ocean.

Etymology

The Shizunai River was known as Shibuchari and Shibechari. This name was derived from ''Shipe-ichan'', meaning "a salmon spawning place" in Ainu.Nippon-Kichi
静内川　Shizunai-gawa　The Shizunai River, last access 26 May 2008

The name Shizunai is derived from the Ainu language and has three possible sources:,
* ''Shiputnai'' – A marsh at the origin of the Ainu.
* ''Shuttonai'' – A marsh with many grapes.
* ''Shutnai'' – A river at the foot of a mountain.

Course

The Shizunai River flows generally southwest from its headwaters in the Hidaka mountains at the confluence of the Koikakushushibichari and Koibokushushibichari rivers. It flows into , a reservoir created by the Takami Dam. Past the dam, the Shizunai river flows into . Past the Shizunai Dam, the river encounters Futa Dam before leaving the mountains for the flood plain. The river flows past the outlying communities of Shizunai before entering the Pacific Ocean just northwest of Shizunai harbor.

Natural history

The Shizunai River was designated as a wildlife protection area in 1965. Whooper swans overwinter on the Shizunai River.

History

The Shizunai River basin was the home of the Ainu leader who led Shakushain's revolt against the Shogunate-era Yamato people, especially the Matsumae clan, in the 1660s. In the Edo period the region was used for gold mining.

Lists

List of bridges and dams

From river mouth to source:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

List of (named) tributaries

From river mouth to source:
# Left —
# Right — Perari River
# Left — ''charcoal or coal mountain river''
# Left — Shunbetsu River
# Right — Poyoppusawa River
# Right — Pisenaisawa River
# Left — Penkeonikemushi River
# Left — Ponpanbetsu Creek
# Left — Penkebetsusawa River
# Left — Porokaunnai River
# Right — Ibetsusawa River
# Right — Abeunnai River
# Confluence Left — Koibokushuchchari, Right — Koikakushuppichari

References

* Brett L. Walker, The Conquest of Ainu Lands, University of California Press, Berkeley, 2001,
* , , , No year of publication.

Nippon-Kichi
静内川　Shizunai-gawa　The Shizunai River, 12 July 2007, last access 26 May 2008

{{Rivers of Japan

Rivers of Hokkaido
Rivers of Japan