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The underlying-ground is very delicate here overall and is therefore fortified with wooden boards

Here the earth's crust seems to be really thin... smoking and bubbling up everywhere

In the lobby of Noboribetsu-eki railway station. A Hokkaido-bear can reach a height of about 2 1/2 metres and weigh about 400 kg!
The bears are able to run very quickly and if you are attacked by one, your chance of escape is very slight ...
Only about 400 bears live on the peninsula of Shiretoko (the end of the world), because none have been killed there
during the last 20 years. The natives are not at all anxious however and even want this nature-reserve (national park)
to be placed on the list of UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE sites
To attain it´s objective, this park must remain completely natural as it is right now - and a paradise for wild bears

Unfortunately, the exceptionally cool and moist month of June caused me to leave Hokkaido about 10 days earlier than originally planned. I sailed back on the large ferry - a trip of 19 hours from Tomakomai to Oarai (close to Tokyo)