Kejyonuma Dam

Overview

Kejonuma Dam is an earthen dam about 24 meters high in the city of Ōsaki, Miyagi Prefecture. It was built by making use of a pre-existing natural lake once known as Kejonuma, and it is surrounded by rich wetlands registered under the Ramsar Convention. More than a flood-control structure, it is known as a field for nature observation where waterfowl gather, offering visitors quiet lakeside scenery.

Highlights

• ●An earthen dam about 24 meters high and calm waters
• ●Precious wetlands registered under the Ramsar Convention
• ●A spot for watching migratory birds in autumn and winter
• ●A distinctive origin drawing on a natural lake

History

The dam was planned as a water source on the Chōja River in the Kitakami River system and for flood control of the Tajiri River. The natural lake of Kejonuma was reshaped into the earth-fill form common to reservoir dams. The project moved forward from 1980, and it was completed as a prefecture-managed dam operated by Miyagi Prefecture. On October 30, 2008, about 34 hectares of the surrounding wetlands were designated a Ramsar site, uniting flood control and nature conservation in one place.

Map

38.6269, 140.9639 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head from central Ōsaki to Kejonuma Dam
2. 2Take in the dam and wetland views from the embankment and shore
3. 3Stroll the lakeside and observe seasonal waterfowl and plants
4. 4Return to Ōsaki for hot springs and local cuisine

Did you know?

💡 The curious name Kejonuma, meaning roughly the marsh of the transformed woman, is said to derive from a legend handed down in the area. It is unusual for a dam to also be protected as an internationally important wetland, making this a fine example of flood control and ecosystem preservation joined in a single site.

Nearby spots