5. Nature

        In Niigata prefecture, a lot of snow falls in winter, but the amount of fallen snow varies depending on places. The amount of fallen snow is large in the places along the foot of mountains, such as minamiuonuma city, uonuma city and tsunan city. But snow does not fall much in the plain area, such as niigata city. The reason for falling a lot of snow is wet wind from the Sea of Japan and mountains. The wet wind is cooled and become cloud. When the cloud reaches mountains, it rises along mountain and become cooler, and then snow falls. In winter, traffic accident is likely to occur and trains often stop because of snow. People who live in Niigata prefecture remove snow near their house when snow falls. The snow which falls in Niigata prefecture is very heavy because it is wet, so removing snow is very hard work. In this way, there are some inconvenient points in the place which a lot of snow falls.

Road in winter



But there are many good points there. People can enjoy skiing in the place which a lot of snow falls. There are many ski resorts in Niigata prefecture, and Niigata prefecture is the birth place of skiing. People can ski in nature freely, and it is very exciting and refreshing. The snow which covering mountain melts in spring and it becomes water. This water is very clean, so it is used for rice farming and making rice wine. Snow is also important for foods.

Naeba ski resort

Japanese crested ibis what is called Toki is breeding in Sado island of Niigata prefecture. Japanese crested ibis in Japan became extinct in the wild because of overhunting. In 1999, a pair of Toki is given from China, and this pair of Toki is breeding in Sado Island. Then the number of Toki has increased, and Toki was divided into various places of Japan in order to prevent annihilation by infection, such as, bird flu. About 200 Tokis is breeding in Japan and about 50 Tokis live in the wild now.

Toki



Niigata prefecture facing the Sea of Japan and Shinano River is running in Niigata prefecture. People can get a lot of seafood from the Sea of Japan. Sinano River is the longest river in Japan. Further, there are many mountains in Niigata prefecture, so people can mountain-climbing in summer and skiing in winter.



In this way, there is a lot of nature in Niigata prefecture.

 

 

I used the following website.

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%88%E3%82%AD