Bird-watching at Mizukami-ike Pond

Mizukami-ike Pond is the largest and one of the oldest ponds in Nara City. 

It is described as Sajo Pond in “Nihon Shoki”, The Chronicles of Japan (720).

 The pond is one of the best bird-watching spots in Nara City.

Many wild birds live or come and go.

When I was there, the water suddenly shined bright.

As the sun's angle changes toward evening, the pond color changes.

The surrounding area is Heijo Palace Site and Saki Tatanami Kofungun.

The latter is a group of tumulus that include many mausoleums of emperors in the Yamato regime in the era from the middle to the latter half of the Kofun (tumulus) period (3rd to 7th century).

It is located in the southern part of the Saki Hills to the north of the Heijyo Palace site.

Besides the tumuli, there are famous temples such as Hokke-ji, Kairyuo-ji,

Akishino-dera, and Saidai-ji.

I was chilled to the bone. My heart, however, was filled up with the gentle warmth, 

 thankfulness to be able to keep on usual life.

I hope you all leading healthy, fruitful, and hopeful days.

I have an impression that the first month of the year always passes slowly. It felt more so as I've watched the aftermath of that devastating earthquake in Noto peninsula on the least expected day, New Year's Day, and  the continuing unsettling occurrences in the world, too.

Noto Peninsula, which is close to Kanazawa, is a popular tourist destination located at the tip of Ishikawa Pref., protruding into the Sea of Japan. It is known for its beautiful natural sceneries including the beaches of long coastline, rock formations, and Shiroyone Senmaida rice terraces, etc. 

The 7.6 magnitude earthquake with the close, shallow epicenter was so massive that the seven-level seismic scale, which show how intensely and severely the land was rocked, recorded the maximum, 7.  Seafloor was uplifted about 4 meters and the land was moved westward about one and a half meters.( Coastline change caused by the earthquake) Due to the buckled road and uplifted seabed, vehicles or ships could not reach the most-stricken places easily. People got together to survive on their own sharing things they have until the rescue comes. As usual when things like this happens, I'm deeply moved by the warmth of humanity all around in the middle of total devastation. Inconveniences are improved little by little, but the extensively damaged underwater pipes for water and sewage will take long to be repaired. I’m so thankful that I can flush the toilet. 

Situated on the collision zone of four lithospheric plates: the Eurasian Plate, the North American Plate, the Philippine Plate and the Pacific Plate, Japan’s history is repeated earthquakes and volcano eruption.  Climate pattern seems to increase the risk of various natural disasters. They are scary and destructive but predictable with a reasonable degree of accuracy. As for earthquakes, it's impossible to perfectly predict when. There is 70 percent chance of  Nankai Trough Earthquake, which has been experienced in 100-150 years, in the next 30 years.  We've been preparing to minimize damages.

Thank you for reading.

The Nankai Trough Mega-earthquake by Disaster Management, Cabinet Office

This video is not to be scared but to get awakened to prepare for the worst.

Linked to Saturday Critters

Mosaic Monday