Editing Aomori Prefecture (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Aomori Prefecture Photo NASA MODIS 2003.jpg|thumb|Aomori Prefecture and the surrounding area as seen from space]]

Aomori Prefecture is the northernmost [[prefecture]] in the Tōhoku region, lying on the northern end of the island of [[Honshu]]. It faces [[Hokkaido]] from across the [[Tsugaru Strait]] and it borders [[Akita Prefecture|Akita]] and [[Iwate Prefecture|Iwate]] in the south. The prefecture is flanked by the [[Pacific Ocean]] to the east and the [[Sea of Japan]] to the west with the Tsugaru Strait linking those bodies of water to the north of the prefecture. The islets of [[Kyūroku-jima]] in the Sea of Japan are the prefecture's westernmost point.<ref>{{cite web |title=場所・気候 |trans-title=Place/climate |url=https://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/kids/02_climate.html |language=ja |publisher=Aomori Prefecture Government |date=20 May 2020 |access-date=28 September 2020}}</ref> [[Oma, Aomori|Oma]], at the northwestern tip of the axe-shaped [[Shimokita Peninsula]], is the northernmost point of Honshu. The [[Shimokita Peninsula|Shimokita]] and [[Tsugaru Peninsula]]s enclose [[Mutsu Bay]]. Between those peninsulas lies the smaller [[Natsudomari Peninsula]], the northern end of the [[Ōu Mountains]]. The three peninsulas are prominently visible in the prefecture's symbol, a stylized map.<ref name="Takaaki">{{cite book |author=Takaaki Nihei |title=The Regional Geography of Japan |publisher=The Hokkaido University Press |date=2018 |isbn=978-4-8329-0373-9 |pages=13–19 |location=Sapporo}}</ref>

[[Lake Ogawara]], a [[brackish]] lake at the base of the Shimokita Peninsula, is the eleventh largest lake in Japan, the largest brackish lake in the Tōhoku area, and the prefecture's largest lake.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lake Ogawara Brackish Water Clam |url=https://gi-act.maff.go.jp/en/register/entry/52.html |work=Information Website on Japan's Geographical Indications |publisher=[[Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan)|Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries]] |date=21 February 2020 |access-date=16 October 2020 |archive-date=16 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116065346/https://gi-act.maff.go.jp/en/register/entry/52.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Lake Towada]], a lake that sits in a volcanic [[caldera]], straddles Aomori's boundary with Akita. The lake is a primary feature of [[Towada-Hachimantai National Park]] and is the largest caldera lake in Honshu.<ref>{{cite web |title=Explore Towada-Hachimantai National Park |url=https://www.japan.travel/national-parks/parks/towada-hachimantai/explore/ |publisher=Japan National Tourism Organization |date=3 October 2020 |access-date=3 October 2020}}</ref> Also within the park, the Oirase River flows east towards the Pacific Ocean from Lake Towada. Another feature of the park, the [[Hakkōda Mountains]], an expansive [[volcanic group]], rises in the lands to the south of the city of Aomori and north of Lake Towada.<ref name="Takaaki"/>

[[Shirakami-Sanchi]], a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in the Shirakami Mountains in the western part of the prefecture. The site contains the largest surviving virgin beech forest in East Asia which is home to over 87 species of birds. Mount Iwaki, a stratovolcano and the prefecture's highest point lies to northeast of the Shirakami Mountains. The lands to the east and northeast of Mount Iwaki are an expansive [[floodplain]] that is drained by the [[Iwaki River]]. [[Hirosaki]], the former capital of the [[Tsugaru clan]], sits on the banks of the river.<ref name="Takaaki"/>

As of 31 March 2019, 12% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as [[List of national parks of Japan#History|Natural Parks]], namely the Towada-Hachimantai and [[Sanriku Fukkō National Park|Sanriku Fukkō]] National Parks; [[Shimokita Hanto Quasi-National Park|Shimokita Hantō]] and [[Tsugaru Quasi-National Park|Tsugaru]] Quasi-National Parks; and [[Asamushi-Natsudomari Prefectural Natural Park|Asamushi-Natsudomari]], [[Ashino Chishōgun Prefectural Natural Park|Ashino Chishōgun]], [[Iwaki Kōgen Prefectural Natural Park|Iwaki Kōgen]], [[Kuroishi Onsenkyō Prefectural Natural Park|Kuroishi Onsenkyō]], [[Nakuidake Prefectural Natural Park|Nakuidake]], [[Ōwani Ikarigaseki Onsenkyō Prefectural Natural Park|Ōwani Ikarigaseki Onsenkyō]], and [[Tsugaru Shirakami Prefectural Natural Park|Tsugaru Shirakami]] Prefectural Natural Parks; and [[Mount Bonju Prefectural Forest]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.env.go.jp/park/doc/data/natural/naturalpark_4.pdf |script-title=ja:自然公園都道府県別面積総括 |trans-title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |language=ja |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/nature/nature/s-kouen_kouen.html |script-title=ja:青森県内の自然公園 |trans-title=Natural Parks in Aomori Prefecture |language=ja |publisher=Aomori Prefecture |date=31 March 2017 |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=16 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816195556/http://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/nature/nature/s-kouen_kouen.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Cities, towns, and villages===
{{See also|List of populated places in Aomori Prefecture by population}}
{{main|List of mergers in Aomori Prefecture}}

{{Largest cities
| country = Aomori Prefecture
| stat_ref = Source:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-aomori.php |title=Aomori (Japan): Prefecture, Cities, Towns and Villages – Population Statistics, Charts and Map |website=citypopulation.de |access-date=29 June 2020}}</ref>
| list_by_pop =
| kind = cities
| city_1 = Aomori
| pop_1 = 275,192
| img_1 = Aomori bay.jpg
| city_2 = Hachinohe
| pop_2 = 223,415
| img_2 = 内丸１.jpg
| city_3 = Hirosaki, Aomori{{!}}Hirosaki
| pop_3 = 168,466
| img_3 = JR弘前駅前（青森県弘前市）.jpg
| city_4 = Towada, Aomori{{!}}Towada
| pop_4 = 60,378
| img_4 = Towada Art Center.jpg
| city_5 = Mutsu, Aomori{{!}}Mutsu
| pop_5 = 54,103
| img_5 =
| city_6 = Goshogawara
| pop_6 = 51,415
| img_6 =
| city_7 = Misawa, Aomori{{!}}Misawa
| pop_7 = 39,152
| img_7 =
| city_8 = Kuroishi, Aomori{{!}}Kuroishi
| pop_8 = 31,946
| img_8 =
| city_9 = Tsugaru, Aomori{{!}}Tsugaru
| pop_9 = 30,934
| img_9 =
| city_10 = Hirakawa, Aomori{{!}}Hirakawa
| pop_10 = 30,567
| img_10 =
}}

===Climate===
The climate of Aomori Prefecture is relatively cool for the most part. It has four distinct seasons with an average temperature of {{cvt|10|C}}. Variations in climate exist between the eastern (Pacific Ocean side) and the western (Sea of Japan side) parts of the prefecture. This is in part due to the [[Ōu Mountains]] that run north to south in the middle of the prefecture, dividing the two regions. The western side is subject to heavy monsoons and little sunshine which results in heavy snowfall during the winter. The eastern side is subject to low clouds brought in by northeasterly winds during the summer months, known locally as Yamase winds, from June through August, with temperatures staying relatively low. However, there are instances of Yamase winds making summers so cold that food production is hindered. The lowest recorded temperature during the winter is {{cvt|-9.3|C}}, and the highest recorded temperature during the summer is {{cvt|33.1|C}}.<ref name="Takaaki"/><ref>{{cite journal|first=Hiroshi |last=Takai |title=Characteristics of the Yamase Winds over Oceans around Japan Observed by the Scatterometer-Derived Ocean Surface Vector Winds |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jmsj/84/2/84_2_365/_pdf/-char/en |journal=Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan |pages=365–373 |volume=84 | issue=2|year=2006 |doi=10.2151/jmsj.84.365 |bibcode=2006JMeSJ..84..365T |access-date=16 October 2022|doi-access=free }}</ref>

====Temperature comparison====
{{sort under}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sort-under" style="text-align: center; font-size: 85%;"
|+ Monthly average highs and lows for various cities and towns in Aomori Prefecture in Fahrenheit and Celsius
|-
! City
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Jan|January}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Feb|February}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Mar|March}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Apr|April}}
! data-sort-type="number" | May
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Jun|June}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Jul|July}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Aug|August}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Sep|September}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Oct|October}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Nov|November}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Dec|December}}
|-
| [[Aomori]]<!-- forecast office --><ref>{{cite web | url=https://weatherspark.com/y/144076/Average-Weather-in-Aomorishi-Japan-Year-Round | title=Aomorishi Climate, Weather by Month, Average Temperature (Japan) - Weather Spark |publisher=Weatherspark|access-date= 3 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index.php?prec_no=31&block_no=47575&year=&month=&day=&view=|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]] |language=Japanese| access-date = 3 October 2022}}</ref>
| {{convert|1.8|/|-3.5|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|2.7|/|-3.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|6.8|/|-0.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|13.7|/|4.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|18.8|/|9.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|22.1|/|14.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|26.0|/|18.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|27.8|/|20.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|24.5|/|15.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|18.3|/|9.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|11.2|/|3.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|4.5|/|-1.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|-
| [[Hachinohe]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://weatherspark.com/y/144123/Average-Weather-in-Hachinohe-Japan-Year-Round | title=Hachinohe Climate, Weather by Month, Average Temperature (Japan) |publisher= Weather Spark| access-date = 3 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/monthly_s3_en.php?block_no=47581&view=2|title=Monthly mean daily maximum temperature - Hachinohe|publisher= Japan Meteorological Agency | access-date = 3 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=31&block_no=47581&year=&month=13&day=&view=p1 |title=Extreme for Hachinohe|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|language=Japanese| access-date = 3 October 2022}}</ref>
| {{convert|2.8|/|-3.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|3.6|/|-3.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|7.6|/|-0.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|13.8|/|4.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|18.7|/|9.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|21.1|/|13.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|24.9|/|17.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|26.5|/|19.5|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|23.6|/|15.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|18.2|/|9.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|11.9|/|3.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|5.4|/|-1.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|-
| [[Mutsu, Aomori|Mutsu]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://weatherspark.com/y/144127/Average-Weather-in-Mutsu-Japan-Year-Round | title=Mutsu Climate, Weather by Month, Average Temperature (Japan) |publisher= Weather Spark| access-date = 3 October 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=31&block_no=47576&year=&month=13&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency|language=Japanese | access-date = 3 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=31&block_no=47576&year=&month=12&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency|language=Japanese| access-date = 3 October 2022}}</ref>
| {{convert|1.8|/|-4.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|2.4|/|-4.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|6.3|/|-2.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|12.7|/|2.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|17.8|/|7.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|20.8|/|12.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|24.1|/|16.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|25.8|/|18.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|23.2|/|14.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|17.6|/|7.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|10.9|/|2.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|4.4|/|-2.5|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|-
| [[Fukaura]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=31&block_no=47574&year=&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency|language=Japanese| access-date = 3 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=31&block_no=47574&year=&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency|language=Japanese| access-date = 3 October 2022}}</ref>
| {{convert|2.3|/|-2.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|3.0|/|-2.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|6.7|/|0.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|12.7|/|4.5|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|17.8|/|9.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|21.6|/|14.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|25.3|/|18.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|27.1|/|20.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|23.6|/|15.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|17.5|/|10.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|11.1|/|4.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|5.1|/|-0.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|-
| [[Ōma]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/japan/oma-climate | title=Oma, Japan - Climate & Monthly weather forecast |publisher = Weather Atlas| access-date = 3 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=31&block_no=1041&year=&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency|language=Japanese| access-date = 3 October 2022}}</ref><ref name=normals>{{cite web | url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=31&block_no=1041&year=&month=12&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency|language=Japanese| access-date = 3 October 2022}}</ref>
| {{convert|2.2|/|-2.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|2.7|/|-2.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|6.2|/|0.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|11.0|/|4.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|15.0|/|8.5|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|18.4|/|12.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|22.3|/|16.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|24.8|/|19.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|22.8|/|16.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|17.4|/|10.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|11.0|/|4.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|4.8|/|-0.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|-
| [[Sukayu Onsen]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=31&block_no=1079&year=&month=&day=&view=|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency|language=Japanese| access-date = 3 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=31&block_no=1079&year=&month=&day=&view=|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency|language=Japanese| access-date = 3 October 2022}}</ref>
| {{convert|-5.1|/|-10.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-4.3|/|-9.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-0.2|/|-6.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|6.4|/|-0.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|13.1|/|5.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|17.6|/|9.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|21.1|/|14.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|21.9|/|15.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|17.7|/|10.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|11.4|/|4.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|4.5|/|-2.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-2.2|/|-7.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|}