Higashikubiki Hills, Rolling hills in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
Higashikubiki Hills is a rolling countryside landscape with soft, rounded slopes across Niigata Prefecture. The hills are made of layered earth and rock that reveal different periods of geological time in their exposed banks.
These hills formed millions of years ago when sediments and volcanic ash accumulated over long periods of time. The layered composition built up gradually through natural processes that no longer happen in this region today.
Farming families have shaped the hillsides over generations, and you can see how crops are still grown on the gentle slopes today. The way the land is organized shows the connection between the people who live here and the landscape they work.
Several trails wind through the area and are easy to access from different starting points. Wear sturdy shoes and check weather conditions before you go, as the terrain can be slippery or muddy depending on the season.
Scattered within the layers are distinct bands of volcanic ash that mark different moments in time like a natural calendar. These ash deposits help researchers date major events in Earth's geological history with precision.
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