Key Features of the Heritage Site
- Seasonal Sea Ice: Shiretoko is the lowest-latitude region in the Northern Hemisphere where seasonal drift ice forms on the Sea of Okhotsk. This ice drives an explosion of marine plankton, fish, and rich food webs linking the sea and forests. [1, 2, 3]
- Diverse Geography: The rugged peninsula features volcanic mountain ranges (such as Mt. Rausu at 1,661 meters), steep 100-meter coastal cliffs, old-growth primeval forests, and plateau lakes. [1, 2, 3]
- Unique Wildlife: It is a vital sanctuary for rare and endangered species, including the Blakiston’s fish owl, Steller’s sea eagle, brown bears (which have one of the highest densities here), Ezo sika deer, and various marine mammals like orcas and seals. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Protected Area: The designated heritage site spans 71,100 hectares of core and buffer zones, much of it overlapping with Shiretoko National Park. [1, 2]