Watari, Miyagi

Watari
亘理町
Town

Watari Town hall

Flag
Seal

Location of Watari in Miyagi Prefecture
Watari

 

Coordinates: 38°02′06″N 140°51′04″E / 38.03500°N 140.85111°E / 38.03500; 140.85111Coordinates: 38°02′06″N 140°51′04″E / 38.03500°N 140.85111°E / 38.03500; 140.85111
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Miyagi
District Watari District
Area
 • Total 73.21 km2 (28.27 sq mi)
Population (June 2014)
 • Total 33,105
 • Density 452/km2 (1,170/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Pinus thunbergii
- Flower Camellia sasanqua
Phone number 0223-34-0502
Address 7-4 Shimokoji, Watari-chō, Watari-gun, Miyagi-ken 989-2393
Website Official website

Watari (亘理町 Watari-chō) is a town located in Watari District, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. As of June 2014, the town had an estimated population of 33,105 and a population density of 452 persons per km². The total area was 73.21  km².

Geography

Watari is located in the southeastern Miyagi Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east. The Abukuma River fows through the town, forming its western border.

Neighboring municipalities

History

The area of present-day Watari was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and the place name of “Watari” appears in the Nihon Shoki chronicles dated 718 AD.

Watari Town was established on April 1, 1889 with the start of the municipalities system. It merged with the neighboring town of Arahama and villages of Yoshida and Okuma on February 1, 1955.

Watari was severely damaged by a tsunami caused by an earthquake on 11 March 2011.[1] Hundreds of people were stranded in a school but were airlifted from the roof by Japanese military helicopters.[2] The tsunami covered 47% of the town’s area and 305 residents were reported killed or missing.

Economy

The economy of Watari is largely based on agriculture (strawberries) and commercial fishing and fish processing.

Transportation

Highway

References

  1. ↑ Grossman, Cathy Lynn (15 March 2011). "Japanese look to ancient traditions for strength". USA Today. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  2. ↑ Zeitvogel, Karin (19 March 2011). "Japan quake: live report". AFP/Google. Retrieved 19 March 2011.

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