Nara Basin

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Topographical map of the Nara basin

The Nara Basin (奈良盆地 Nara-bonchi), also known as the Yamato Basin (大和盆地 Yamato-bonchi), is a valley in the north-western part of Nara Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of roughly 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi). It is surrounded on four sides by mountains: the in the east, the Ikoma-Kongō range in the west, the in the north (which separate it from the ), and the in the south.

The valley itself makes up only around 8% of the land area of Nara Prefecture, but the terrain is especially fit for rice production, and as the site of the ancient capital of Heijō-kyō it served as a political and cultural centre. Today it is closely connected to the Keihanshin metropolitan area by a strong transport infrastructure, with several major cities growing up in the area in addition to the prefectural capital Nara, and is the most densely-populated region of the prefecture.

Geography[]

The Nara Basin, which is also known as the Yamato Basin,[1] is located in the north-western part of Nara Prefecture, Japan.[1] It is surrounded on four sides by mountains:[1] in the east by the (which is raised up by the Kasuga fault scarp);[1] in the west by the Ikoma-Kongō range;[1] in the north by the  [ja], which separate it from the  [ja];[1] and in the south by the  [ja].[1]

The basin has a total land area of around 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi).[1] This accounts for only about 8% of the land area of the prefecture,[1] but because of its flat and fertile alluvial soil it is especially suited for cultivating rice[1]

History[]

The imperial capital of Heijō-kyō was constructed here in the eighth century (the Nara period),[1] making this region the political and cultural centre of Japan at the time.[1]


Population and demographics[]

As of 2000, the population of the Nara Basin was around 1.24 million.[2]

Settlements[]

The prefectural capital Nara, as well as several important settlements (such as Kashihara, Yamatokōriyama, Tenri, Yamatotakada, Sakurai and Gose[3]), are located in the Nara Basin,[1] making it the most densely-populated region of Nara Prefecture.[1]

It is closely connected to the Keihanshin metropolitan area (Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe) by a strong transport infrastructure.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Kikuchi 1994.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ World Encyclopedia 1988.

Works cited[]

  • (1994). "Nara-bonchi". Encyclopedia Nipponica (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  • World Encyclopedia (1988). "Nara Bonchi". World Encyclopedia (in Japanese). . Retrieved 2017-10-22.

Further reading[]

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