Kyushu.— This is the third largest island in Japan with its topographical and geological features very complicated in many respects. The coastal line, especially in its northern part, is more highly developed than any in the country. The Kyushu Range, which is a con tinuation of the Shikoku Range, passes obliquely through the southern half of the island. It culminates on the boundary between the two provinces of Higo and Hiuga with sev eral high peaks, such as Ichibusa-yama (5,970 feet), Ishido-yama (5,724 feet) and Mikuni yama (5,396 feet). Hitoyoshi-basin is an en closed basin in this range. The well-known river of Kuma-gawa flows from Ichibusa-yama, and passing through that basin cuts this range again fornung a picturesque gorge through which it flows into the Sea of Yatsushiro. Further south, there stretch the two great peninsulas of 'Satsuma and Osumi, forming the shores of the beautiful Bay of Kagoshima. The geological formation of these peninsulas is mostly mesozoic combined with the other de posits by Kyushu Range; but its surface is covered to a great extent by ejecta of volcanoes, there having been several violent eruptions in recent ages. Kirishima-yama is situated be tween Satsuma and Osumi, and is one of the most celebrated active volcanoes in Japan. Karakuni-dake (5,661 feet) and Takachiho-no mine (5,064 feet) are magnificent cones in the Kirishima Group. The volcanic chain of Kirishima commences in this group, and runs south through Sakura-jima, the volcanic island i (3,749 feet) in the B..y of Kagoshima, well known for its terrible eruption of 1914, Kaimon-clake (3,041 feet), a perfect cone at the extremity of Satsuma Peninsula. The further extension of this chain passes through the volcanic islands of Kawabe Shichito (Seven Islands of Kawabe), some of which are active at present.
In the northern part of Kyushu on the other hand, there lies the so-called Tsukushi Mountain, which is a mountain group of vari ous geologic formations, ancient and recent, as well as of plutonic and volcanic rocks. There is no regularity in the mountain formation and the whole region is divided into many moun tains and hilly tracts, the heights rarely ex ceeding 3,300 feet, except in the case of some volcanic cones. An extreme development of the coastal line forms the peninsulas of Sonoki and Shimabara, which are connected with the main body by the narrow isthmus of Isahaya. Omura Bay and Ariake Bay are separated by these peninsulas from the sea. There are many excellent harbors on this coast. Naglasaki, a beautiful inlet of type, was first opened for Chinese and Dutch merchants, and centuries ago it was known as the only port for foreign trade. Now it has a large dockyard and is a commercial centre of southern Japan. Sasebo is a good naval port. Many good anchorages are also found on the northern coast. Fukuoka, with Hakata harbor in its neighborhood, is one of the most flourishing cities of Kyushu, situated on the beautiful Bay of Hakata. Mop,
situated in the extreme north of Kyushu and along the Strait of Shimonoseki, has had a rapid development during the past few years, as an export harbor for coal, which is abundantly produced in the Tertiary hills of the Tsukushi Range in the provinces of Chikuzen and Buzen. Wakamatsu, southwest of Moji, is also a coal harbor, and near this town are the Imperial Iron Works of Yawata.
Between Tsukushi Range and Kyushu Range there lies a great volcanic mass, whose ejecta cover an extensive area in the central part of Kyushu. Aso-san in this group is a remarkable active volcano. The diameter of its outermost craterwall is 17.5 miles by 12.5 miles; perhaps it is one of the greatest in the world. Surrounded by this wall is a large crater plain and in its centre stand five volcanic cones, among which Taka-dake is the highest (5,543 feet). To the northeast of the Aso proper stretches the Aso volcanic chain. In this chain there are the volcanic groups of Kuju-san (6,100 feet) next to that of Aso, Yubu-dake (5,517 feet), and Tsurumi-dake (4,890 feet) near the shore of Beppu Bay, and the circular peninsula of Kunisaki with the volcano Futago (2,430 feet). The further extension of the chain may be traced to some small. islands in the Inland Sea. Another continuation of this chain in the opposite direction is indicated by Kibo-zan (2,326 feet) in Kumamoto Plain and Unzen-ga-take (4,871 feet), on Shimabara Peninsula. To the north of the latter there is another volcano Tara-dake (1,226 feet).
A comparatively wide plain extends along the shore of Ariake Bay. It is divided into two parts by the hilly region of Milk& The northern plain is drained by Chikugo-gawa, the largest river of Kyushu, and is thickly populated. Higo Plain on the south has in its centre the city of Kumamoto. This plain is ex tremely fertile and produces rice of the best quality. There are many islands near Kyushu. On the west there are the twin islands of Ama kusa, Koshiki and Goto Group, while on the north Iki and Tsushima form the stepping stones between Japan and Korea.
Ryukyu.—All the islands stretching between Kyushu and Taiwan (Formosa) are comprised under the name of Ryukyu Group. But politi cally the northern group of these islands be longs to Kyushu. These islands are nothing but the peaks of a submerged mountain ridge along the edge of the continental shelf. Geo logically the arc of Ryukyu is divided into three zones. The islands in the central zone are mostly of older geologic formationshile T those in the outer zone are of the later Tertiary period. The inner zone is of the volcanic origin, and is the continuation of the Kirishi ma volcanic chain of Kyushu. Okinawa-jima, the largest island, is situated in the centre of this group. Most of the islands are hilly, with the exception of Yaku-shima with a granite mountain Yalcu-dake (6,183 feet).