The has its source in
Mount Eboshi (烏帽子岳 ''Eboshigatake'') in the
Shōkawa-chō area of
Takayama,
Gifu Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Gifu Prefecture has a population of 1,991,390 () and has a geographic area of . Gifu Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture to the north; Ishikawa Prefecture ...
,
Japan. After flowing for through the northern part of Gifu Prefecture and the western part of
Toyama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Toyama Prefecture has a population of 1,044,588 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,247.61 km2 (1,640.01 sq mi). Toyama Prefecture borders Ishikawa Prefecture to th ...
, it empties into
Toyama Bay
is a bay located on the northern shores of the Hokuriku region of Honshu, Japan on the Sea of Japan. The bay borders Toyama and Ishikawa prefectures. The bay is known for the mirages on the horizon during the winter months and for being a spawn ...
.
River communities
The river passes through or forms the boundary of the communities listed below. The area through which the river flows in Gifu is referred to as
Shirakawa-gō, while the area in Toyama is referred to as
Gokayama. Both areas are
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. I ...
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
s because of their
''gasshō-zukuri'' houses.
;Gifu Prefecture:
:
Takayama,
Shirakawa (
Ōno District)
;Toyama Prefecture:
:
Nanto,
Tonami,
Takaoka,
Imizu
270px, Tonami-yotaka festival held in June
is a city located in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 93,447 in 37,734 households and a population density of 850 persons per km². Its total area was .
Geography
Im ...
Tributary
*Toga River
*Kotori River
Dams
The river is extensively developed for water storage, flood control and
hydroelectric power generation. There are 16 major dams in the basin, seven of them are on tributaries. The major dams collectively have an installed power generation capacity of 926 MW. Six other small hydroelectric plants total 30.6 MW in installed capacity. The 22 hydroelectric power stations in the Shō River basin have an installed capacity of 956.6 MW. The 16 major dams are listed below in order from downstream to upstream.
Toyama
*
Wadagawa Dam
The Wadagawa Dam is a gravity dam on the Wadagawa River (a tributary of the Shō River) in Tonami, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It was constructed between 1962 and 1967. The dam has an associated 7.4 MW hydroelectric power station which was commissio ...
– tall
gravity dam, 7.4 MW (on the tributary Wadagawa River in Tonami)
*
Shogawa Goguchi Dam – tall gravity dam, 23.4 MW
*
Komaki Dam – tall gravity dam, 90.2 MW
*
Toga Dam
The Toga Dam is a gravity dam on the Togagawa River (a tributary of the Shō River) near Omaki village about southeast of Shogawa in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It was constructed between 1941 and 1943. The dam diverts water to the 17.6 MW Omaki h ...
– tall gravity dam, 17.6 MW (on the tributary Togagawa River)
*
Soyama Dam – tall gravity dam, 128.1 MW
*
Senzoku Dam – tall gravity dam, 32.7 MW (on the tributary Togagawa River)
*
Togagawa Dam – tall gravity dam, 16.1 MW (on the tributary Togagawa River)
*
Ohara Dam
The Ohara Dam is a gravity dam on the Shō River in Ohara village about south of Nanto in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It was constructed between 1939 and 1942. The dam has an associated 97.6 MW hydroelectric power station which was built in two par ...
– tall gravity dam, 97.6 MW
*
Akao Dam
The Akao Dam is a gravity dam on the Shō River in Nishiakao village about south of Nanto in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It was constructed between 1974 and 1978. The dam has an associated 34 MW hydroelectric power station which was commissioned in ...
– tall gravity dam, 34 MW
Toyama/Gifu:
*
Narude Dam
The Narude Dam is a gravity dam on the Shō River about south of Nanto on the border of Toyama and Gifu Prefectures, Japan. It was constructed between 1950 and 1952. The dam has an associated 97 MW hydroelectric power station which was built in t ...
– tall gravity dam, 97 MW
Gifu:
*
Sakaigawa Dam
is a dam in Nanto, Toyama Prefecture and Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is named for the Sakaigawa River (a tributary of the Shō River), upon which it is built. The dam has an associated 27 MW hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity, or ...
– tall gravity dam, 27 MW (on the tributary Sakaigawa River)
*
Tsubawara Dam
The Tsubawara Dam, also known as the Tsubakihara Dam, is a gravity dam on the Shō River about north of Shirakawa in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It was constructed between 1952 and 1953. The dam has an associated 107 MW hydroelectric
Hydroelec ...
– tall gravity dam, 107 MW
*
Hatogaya Dam
The Hatogaya Dam is a gravity dam on the Shō River about south of Shirakawa in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It was constructed between 1954 and 1956. The dam has an associated 43 MW hydroelectric power station which was commissioned in 1956. Of the n ...
– tall gravity dam, 43 MW
*
Oshirakawa Dam
The Oshirakawa Dam is a rock-fill dam on the Oshirakawa River (a tributary of the Shō River) about southwest of Shirakawa in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It was constructed between 1961 and 1963. The dam has an associated 66.3 MW hydroelectric power ...
– tall
rock-fill dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, a ...
, 66.3 MW (on the tributary Oshirakawa River)
*
Miboro Dam
is a dam on the Shō River in Shirakawa, in Gifu Prefecture Japan. It supports a 256 MW hydroelectric power station. Of the nine dams on the Shō River, it is the furthest upstream.
The dam flooded several villages and shrines, submerging them ...
– tall rock-fill dam, 256 MW
*
Okurodani Dam
The Okurodani Dam is a rock-fill dam on the Oshirakawa River (a tributary of the Shō River) about west of Shōkawa in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It was constructed between 1969 and 1971. The dam has an associated 21.2 MW hydroelectric
Hydro ...
– tall rock-fill dam, 21.2 MW (on the tributary Okurodani River)
References
External links
(confluence with Ibi River)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sho River
Rivers of Gifu Prefecture
Rivers of Toyama Prefecture
Rivers of Japan