Arakawa River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arakawa River |
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A bend in the Arakawa River
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| Native name | 荒川 |
| Country | Japan |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Mount Kobushi (甲武信ヶ岳) 2,475 m (8,120 ft) |
| River mouth | Tokyo Bay |
| Length | 173 km (107 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Arakawa |
The Arakawa River (荒川, Arakawa) is a 173-kilometre (107 mi) long river that flows through Saitama Prefecture and Tokyo.
It originates on Mount Kobushi in Saitama Prefecture, and empties into Tokyo Bay. It has a total catchment area of 2,940 km2 (1,140 sq mi).
The river is one of Tokyo's major sources of tap water, and together with the Tone River, accounts for around 80% of Tokyo's water supply.
History
Attempts to control flooding of the Arakawa River have been made since the area that is now Tokyo became the de facto capital of Japan during the Edo period.
Following a major flood in 1910 that damaged a large part of central Tokyo, a 22-kilometre (14 mi) long drainage canal was constructed between 1911 and 1924.
In 1996 an agreement was signed to make it a "sister river" of the Potomac River in the eastern United States.
Media
This river is also depicted in many anime such as: Toaru Kagaku no Railgun
