Fossa Magna Park, Natural monument and geological park in Itoigawa, Japan.
Fossa Magna Park is a geological natural monument in Itoigawa, Japan, with a hiking trail through Nechi Valley where rock layers and formations are visible along the path. The trail runs directly along the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line, the boundary where two of the largest continental plates on earth meet.
The park opened in 1990, making the tectonic boundary that divides the Japanese archipelago into an eastern and western part accessible to the public for the first time. In 2018, visitor facilities and information displays were updated as part of a major renovation.
The park sits at the heart of the Itoigawa UNESCO Global Geopark, and the exposed rock faces along the trail show a clear visual shift between two geological zones. Visitors can see firsthand how different the rocks look on each side of the tectonic line.
The park is within walking distance of Nechi Station, and free parking is available near the western entrance for those arriving by car. The terrain is manageable for most visitors, but sturdy footwear is recommended since the path along the rock formations can be uneven.
The rock face at Fossa Magna Park contains green-colored rocks that originated from deep within the oceanic crust and were pushed to the surface by the collision of the plates. These rocks are normally buried far below the ocean floor and rarely visible on land.
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