Kurobe River

The Kurobe River (黒部川, Kurobe-gawa) is a river in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. 86 kilometres (53 mi) in length, it has a watershed of 689 km².

This article is about the river in Toyama Prefecture. For the river in Chiba Prefecture, see Kurobe River (Chiba).
Kurobe River
黒部川
The river as it flows through Kurobe, Toyama. (March 2005)
EtymologyAinu
Native nameKurobe-gawa
Location
CountryJapan
StateToyama
RegionChūbu
DistrictShimoniikawa
MunicipalitiesKurobe, Nyūzen, Toyama
Physical characteristics
SourceMount Washiba
 • locationToyama, Toyama, Japan
 • coordinates36°24′10″N 137°36′18″E
 • elevation2,924 m (9,593 ft)
MouthSea of Japan
 • location
Kurobe and Nyūzen, Toyama, Japan
 • coordinates
36°55′17″N 137°25′28″E
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length85 km (53 mi)
Basin size667 km2 (258 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average12.18 m3/s (430 cu ft/s)

The river rises from Mount Washiba in the Hida Mountains and carves the deep valley known as the Kurobe Gorge. It comes out of the mountains at Unazuki and forms an alluvial fan which directly sinks into the Sea of Japan.

The Kurobe River's rich flow and steep gradient offer good conditions for hydroelectricity. The Kurobe Dam is the tallest dam in Japan.

The name Kurobe is derived from the Ainu name kur pet [kuɾᵘbet] 'shady river'.[1]

Geography

Tributary
  • Kuronagi River

References
  1. Vovin, Alexander (2008). "Man'yōshū to Fudoki ni Mirareru Fushigina Kotoba to Jōdai Nihon Retto ni Okeru Ainugo no Bunpu." Kokusai Nihon Bunka Kenkyū Sentā.


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