Rich Ecosystems Linked by Ice Drifts and Majestic Landscapes of Mountains and Coastal Cliffs Created by Volcanic Eruptions
Date of Designation: June 1, 1964
Area: 38,954 ha
Related Prefecture: Hokkaido
The name "Shiretoko" derives from the Ainu phrase siretok, meaning "End of the Earth," and true to its name, the Shiretoko area is located on the most northeastern point of Japan (excluding the Northern Territories).
Shiretoko National Park is characterized by its majestically precipitous landscape, which was formed by volcanic activity and lava flows, and its richly diverse wildlife. In particular, the park is home to many large mammals, such as the brown bear and killer whale, and large birds of prey that are in danger of extinction. With these creatures at the top of the ecological chain, various wild animals interrelate and live strongly.
The diversity of these creatures and the links between ocean, river, and forest ecosystems in the area have been recognized, and in July 2005, Shiretoko was designated a World Natural Heritage site.
World Natural Heritage
In easy-to-understand terms, the characteristics/value of Shiretoko's natural environment for which the area was recognized as fulfilling the standards for a World Heritage site are (1) the blessings brought by the ice drifts; (2) the connection between the ocean and the land linked by the rivers; and (3) the precious wildlife sustained by the ocean, rivers, and forests.
<World Heritage Listing Requirement: "Ecosystem">
-Shiretoko is located at the lowest latitude of all seasonal sea-ice areas in the Northern Hemisphere. Influenced greatly by this, the area shows high productivity and provides a notable example of ecosystem interrelation between ocean and land.
<World Heritage Listing Requirement: "Biodiversity">
-Shiretoko is especially important for many land and marine animaland plant species, which include many rare species.
-Shiretoko is globally important for many salmonid fish and marine mammals such as Steller's sea lion and cetaceans.
-Shiretoko is important as a habitat for globally rare seabirds such as the spectacled guillemot as well as Steller's sea eagle, the white-tailed sea eagle, and other migratory birds.