Seto Inland Sea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seto Inland Sea(Setouchi) |
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View of the Seto Inland Sea from Miyajima island
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The Inland Sea and its major straits
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| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 34°10′N 133°20′E / 34.167°N 133.333°E |
| Type | Sea |
| Basin countries | Japan |
| Surface area | 23,203 km2 (9,000 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 38 m (125 ft) |
The Seto Inland Sea (also called Setouchi) is a special body of water in Japan. It separates three of Japan's main islands: Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū. This sea acts like a watery highway, connecting the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Japan. It's very important for ships traveling to big cities like Osaka and Kobe.
The area around the Seto Inland Sea is known as the Setouchi Region. This region includes the sea itself and the coastal parts of Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū. Before modern train lines were built, the Seto Inland Sea was the main way to travel between the Kansai region (where Osaka is) and Kyūshū.
Contents
Where is the Seto Inland Sea?
Many different areas of Japan have coastlines along the Seto Inland Sea. These include the prefectures of Yamaguchi, Hiroshima, Okayama, Hyōgo, Osaka, Wakayama, Kagawa, Ehime, Tokushima, Fukuoka, and Ōita.
Some important cities located right on the sea are Hiroshima, Iwakuni, Takamatsu, and Matsuyama.
Climate and Nature
The Setouchi region is famous for its mild weather. The temperature stays pretty steady all year round. It also does not get a lot of rain compared to other parts of Japan.
The sea is also known for something called "red tides" (akashio in Japanese). These happen when tiny ocean plants, called phytoplankton, grow very quickly and become super dense. This can make the water look red or brown. Sometimes, these red tides can cause many fish to die.
Connecting the Islands: Bridges
Since the 1980s, the northern and southern shores of the Seto Inland Sea have been connected by amazing bridges. These bridges are part of the Honshū–Shikoku Bridge Project. One of the most famous is the Great Seto Bridge. This huge bridge allows both cars and trains to cross the sea, making travel much easier between the islands.
Images for kids
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The beauty of the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, Suo-Oshima, Yamaguchi Prefecture
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Seto Inland Sea seen from the Torii of Itsukushima Shrine
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KURE-MATSUYAMA ferry, Seto Inland Sea 2017
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Mount Ishizuchi
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Mimosusogawa Park (ja:みもすそ川公園) in Shimonoseki
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Mar interior de Seto para niños
