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, 20:36, March 25, 2009
[[Image:Mt Aasama.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Mt Asama in docile mood]]
'''Mount Asama''' or (浅間山 ''Asama-yama'') is an active [[volcano]] on [[Japan]]'s central [[Honshū]] Island. It is one of the largest active volcanoes in the country, standing 2,542 m (8,340 ft) high and the most active on the island. It has a circular crater 1.2 km (0.75 mi) in circumference. It is located on the border of Gunma and Nagano [[prefecture]]s, near [[Tōkyō]].
The first recorded eruption took place in 1650. A severe eruption in 1783 destroyed several villages and a primeval forest. Since then it has erupted periodically, showering the surround area with ash and stones. The last major eruption was between 1 September and 6 December 2004.<ref>http://www.vulkaner.no/v/volcan/asama-e.html</ref>
However, the mountain erupted again at 1.51 am on 2 February 2009, having shown signs of unrest, beginning in late January 2009. The eruption scattered rocks more than 1 km from the crate; sent a plume of smoke 1.8 km into the sky and showered Tōkyō, 144km (90 miles) to the south-east, with ash.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/4429108/Japans-Mount-Asama-erupts-near-Tokyo.html Japan's Mount Asama erupts near Tōkyō]</ref>
==Also see==
*[[Mount Fuji]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Image:Mount Asama Eruption Feb 2009.jpg|thumb|left|300px|A satellite photo showing the plume and ashfall from the 2009 eruption. <small>(courtesy of NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS)</small>]]
[[category:Japan]][[category:Mountains]]