View source for Abukuma River

{{Short description|River in Tōhoku, Japan}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Abukuma River
| native_name = {{native name|ja|阿武隈川}}
| name_other = 
| name_etymology = <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image = AbukumaGawa2005-4b.jpg
| image_size = 
| image_caption = The Abukuma River in 2005 at [[Kakuda, Miyagi|Kakuda]] in [[Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi]]
| map = {{Mapriver}}
| map_size = 
| map_caption = 
| pushpin_map = 
| pushpin_map_size = 
| pushpin_map_caption = <!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[Japan]]
| subdivision_type2 = Prefectures
| subdivision_name2 = [[Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi]], [[Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima]]
| subdivision_type3 = 
| subdivision_name3 = 
| subdivision_type4 = 
| subdivision_name4 = 
| subdivision_type5 = Cities
| subdivision_name5 = [[Shirakawa, Fukushima|Shirakawa]], [[Sukagawa, Fukushima|Sukagawa]], [[Kōriyama, Fukushima|Kōriyama]], [[Motomiya, Fukushima|Motomiya]], [[Nihonmatsu, Fukushima|Nihonmatsu]], [[Fukushima, Fukushima|Fukushima]], [[Date, Fukushima|Date]], [[Kakuda, Miyagi|Kakuda]], [[Iwanuma, Miyagi|Iwanuma]]
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->| length = {{convert|239|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min = 
| width_avg = 
| width_max = 
| depth_min = 
| depth_avg = 
| depth_max = 
| discharge1_location = 
| discharge1_min = 
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|67.3|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max = <!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1 = Mt. Asahi (Fukushima Prefecture)
| source1_location = 
| source1_coordinates = {{coord|37.161|139.972|display=i}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|1835|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth = [[Pacific Ocean]]
| mouth_location = [[Iwanuma]], [[Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi]], [[Japan]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|38.0494|140.9190|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = 
| progression = 
| river_system = 
| basin_size = {{convert|5390|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left = Shakadō River, Sasahara River, Ōse River, Gohyaku River, Rokkaku River, [[Arakawa River (Fukushima)|Arakawa River]], Matsu River, Surikami River, Shiroishi River
| tributaries_right = Ōtakine River, Hirose River
| custom_label = 
| custom_data = 
| extra = 
| basin_population = 1,360,000
}}The {{nihongo|'''Abukuma River'''|阿武隈川|Abukuma-gawa}}, with a length of {{cvt|234|km}}, is the second longest river in the [[Tōhoku region]] of [[Japan]] and the 6th longest river in the country.<ref>Takeda, page 51.</ref> It is designated as a [[Classification of rivers in Japan|Class A]] river.

It runs through [[Fukushima Prefecture]] and [[Miyagi Prefecture]], rising from springs in the peaks of the [[Nasu Mountains|Nasu mountains]], collecting water from [[Tributary|tributaries]] leaving the [[Ōu Mountains]] and the [[Abukuma Highlands]], then emptying into the Pacific Ocean as a major river. Its watershed has a {{cvt|5400|km2|mi2}} area, and about 1.36 million people live in its basin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=日本の川 - 東北 - 阿武隈川 - 国土交通省水管理・国土保全局 |url=https://www.mlit.go.jp/river/toukei_chousa/kasen/jiten/nihon_kawa/0207_abukuma/0207_abukuma_00.html |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=www.mlit.go.jp}}</ref>

The Abukuma River flows north through Fukushima Prefecture's [[Nakadōri]] region, past the cities of [[Shirakawa, Fukushima|Shirakawa]], [[Sukagawa, Fukushima|Sukagawa]], [[Kōriyama, Fukushima|Kōriyama]], [[Nihonmatsu, Fukushima|Nihonmatsu]], [[Date, Fukushima|Date]], and [[Fukushima, Fukushima|Fukushima]]. The portion of the river flowing between Nihonmatsu and Fukushima forms a deep ravine called {{Nihongo|2=蓬莱峡|3=Hōrai-kyō}}.<ref>Takeda, page 52.</ref> Crossing the northern edge of the long but low Abukuma hills, the Abukuma River then flows into Miyagi Prefecture, past the city of [[Kakuda, Miyagi|Kakuda]] and between [[Iwanuma, Miyagi|Iwanuma]] and [[Watari, Miyagi|Watari]] before reaching the Pacific. Abukuma has a tributary called the [[Arakawa River (Fukushima)|Arakawa River]].

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
* {{Citation |last1=Takeda |first1=Toru |last2=Hishinuma |first2=Tomio |last3=Oguma |last4=Takiguchi |first4=R. |date=July 7, 2001|title=Fukushima - Today & Tomorrow |place=Aizu-Wakamatsu City|publisher=Rekishi Shunju Publishing Co. |isbn=4-89757-432-3|first3=Chiyoichi}}

== External links ==
*{{commons-inline}}

{{Rivers of Japan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Fukushima Prefecture]]
[[Category:Rivers of Miyagi Prefecture]]
[[Category:Marumori, Miyagi]]
[[Category:Kakuda, Miyagi]]
[[Category:Shibata, Miyagi]]
[[Category:Watari, Miyagi]]
[[Category:Iwanuma, Miyagi]]
[[Category:Rivers of Japan]]