TheAriake Sea (有明海,Ariake-kai) is a body of salt water surrounded byFukuoka,Saga,Nagasaki, andKumamoto Prefectures, all of which lie on the island ofKyūshū inJapan. It is the largest bay in Kyūshū. Its deepest point is only about 50 meters (165 ft) deep, and extreme tides exceed 4 meters (13 ft), covering roughly 1,700 square kilometres (660 sq mi).Isahaya Bay is a branch of the Ariake Sea. Across theAmakusa Islands lies theYatsushiro Sea.
Many harbors are located on the coast of the Ariake Sea. Among them are Misumi (in the city ofUki, Kumamoto Prefecture), Shimabara (Shimabara, Nagasaki), Taira (Unzen, Nagasaki), Nagasu (Nagasu, Kumamoto), Kumamoto (Kumamoto, Kumamoto), Miike (Omuta, Fukuoka), Kuchinotsu (Minamishimabara, Nagasaki), and Oniike (Amakusa, Kumamoto). Fiveferry routes cross the Ariake Sea.
Various species of fauna, includingmudskippers,pen shells (Atrina pectinata), andfiddler crabs, live in the Ariake Sea. In autumn, theSuaedahalophyteshichimenso (Suaeda japonica) grows along the shore.
The Ariake Sea has an extensive network oftidal flats, which are replenished withvolcanic ash carried fromMount Aso andMount Kujū to the sea by theChikugo River.[1] In addition to being used for fishing, every year around the end of May, the flats atKashima serve as the venue for theGatalympics, a novelty sports event.
Mount Unzen overlooks the Ariake Sea; theArie River, which has its source on the volcano, flows into the Ariake Sea.
The Ariake Sea is used foraquaculture, withnori being a major product. Recent years have brought increasing pollution, with resultantred tides. There is ongoing land reclamation, as evidenced by satellite imagery, despite government attempts to dissuade farmers from carrying out the activity.
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32°54′25″N130°22′20″E / 32.90694°N 130.37222°E /32.90694; 130.37222
