The Nara Basin (奈良盆地 Nara-bonchi), also known as the Yamato Basin (大和盆地 Yamato-bonchi), is a valley in the north-western part of Nara Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of roughly 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi). It is surrounded on four sides by mountains: the Yamato Plateau in the east, the Ikoma-Kongō range in the west, the Narayama Hills in the north (which separate it from the Kyoto Basin), and the Ryūmon Mountains in the south.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Nara_Basin_Relief_Map%2C_SRTM-1.jpg/260px-Nara_Basin_Relief_Map%2C_SRTM-1.jpg)
The valley itself makes up only around 8% of the land area of Nara Prefecture, but the terrain is especially fit for rice production, and as the site of the ancient capital of Heijō-kyō it served as a political and cultural centre. Today it is closely connected to the Keihanshin metropolitan area by a strong transport infrastructure, with several major cities growing up in the area in addition to the prefectural capital Nara, and is the most densely-populated region of the prefecture.
Geography
editThe Nara Basin, which is also known as the Yamato Basin,[1] is located in the north-western part of Nara Prefecture, Japan.[1] It is surrounded on four sides by mountains:[1] in the east by the Yamato Plateau (which is raised up by the Kasuga fault scarp);[1] in the west by the Ikoma-Kongō range;[1] in the north by the Narayama Hills , which separate it from the Kyoto Basin ;[1] and in the south by the Ryūmon Mountains .[1]
The basin has a total land area of around 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi).[1] This accounts for only about 8% of the land area of the prefecture,[1] but because of its flat and fertile alluvial soil it is especially suited for cultivating rice[1]
History
editThe imperial capital of Heijō-kyō was constructed here in the eighth century (the Nara period),[1] making this region the political and cultural centre of Japan at the time.[1]
Population and demographics
editAs of 2000, the population of the Nara Basin was around 1.24 million.[2]
Settlements
editThe prefectural capital Nara, as well as several important settlements (such as Kashihara, Yamatokōriyama, Tenri, Yamatotakada, Sakurai and Gose[3]), are located in the Nara Basin,[1] making it the most densely-populated region of Nara Prefecture.[1]
It is closely connected to the Keihanshin metropolitan area (Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe) by a strong transport infrastructure.[1]
References
editWorks cited
edit- Kikuchi, Ichirō (1994). "Nara-bonchi". Encyclopedia Nipponica (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
- World Encyclopedia (1988). "Nara Bonchi". World Encyclopedia (in Japanese). Heibonsha. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
Further reading
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