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JapanThe Island Arc

JapanO Japan is an archipelago, or a chain of islands

O It has 4 main islands and thousands of smaller ones that extend about 1,400 miles in length.

Japan’s MountainsO Mountains cover ¾ of Japan and run like a

spine down the middle of the 4 main islandsO The Japanese islands were formed by the

top part of a mountain range thrusting up from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. O Japan is on the Ring of Fire.

O Ring of Fire- An area along the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently.

O Every year there are 1,500 earthquakes and thousands of eruptions.

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March 11, 2011O A 9.0 earthquake rocked northern Japan.O It also triggered a tsunami.

March 11, 2011O It destroyed countless homes & businesses,

as well as damaging several of Japan’s nuclear power plants.

March 11, 2011O Almost 16,000 people were killed and

thousands more were injured.

March 11, 2011

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March 11, 2011O https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htfq9vl

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Japan’s ResourcesO Japan’s most important natural resource is

fish.O Japan’s fishing industry is the largest in the

world, & it is vital to the country’s economy.O Because Japan is an island with only small

quantities of mineral resources, they must import raw materials such as iron ore, lead, petroleum, and coal.

O Japan exports cars and electronics.