Kanahama Fault Geopark, Nagasaki Prefecture

The Kanahama Fault is not the main fault on the Shimabara Peninsular, situated on the south east coast of Nagasaki Prefecture.  There are many faults located on the Peninsular, the main fault is the Chijiwa fault which subsides in the north whilst the Kanahama Fault subsided in the south and the trench  between the two faults is called the Unzen Trough Fault.  The Kanahama Fault with its throw of 150~200m shows the sedimentary layers from the old Unzen Volcano from approx 300 000 to 500 000 years ago.

Looking up the valley from the seaside you can see the deposits from the old Unzen Volcano on the right (south side) and the deposits from a midterm volcano  (approx. 150,000 to 300,000 years ago) on the left (north side). As the Unzen Trough Fault kept subsiding through volcanic eruptions, the deposits from the midterm volcano could not reach beyond the south of the Kanahama Fault.

It's amazing to see the effects of events that happened hundreds of thousands of years ago and how they still exist and create a huge impact today.  I used to enjoy the scenery and drive endlessly around the Peninsular but today with the knowledge I have obtained with the Geopark materials that are available I am able to enjoy in more detail the amazing places that are still within a stones throw away.  Please let me know if you would like more information on Nagasaki Geopark in English and I can help you obtain them.

Check out the Kanahama Fault Nagasaki Geopark on a map!

Here is a video of the Kanahama Fault Nagasaki Geopark: