The Ariake Sea (有明海, Ariake-kai^?) is a body of salt water surrounded by Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, and Kumamoto Prefectures, all of which lie on the island of Kyūshū in Japan. It is the largest bay in Kyūshū. Its deepest point is only about 50 m deep, and extreme tides exceed 4 m. It is used for aquaculture, with nori being a major product. Various species of fauna including mudskipper, Pen shell (Atrina pectinata), and fiddler crab live in the Ariake Sea. Recent years have brought increasing pollution, with resultant red tide. Isahaya Bay is a branch of the Ariake Sea. Across the Amakusa Islands lies the Yatsushiro Sea. Fukuoka Prefecture ) is located on KyÅ«shÅ« Island, Japan. ... Saga Prefecture ) is located in the northwest part of the island of KyÅ«shÅ«, Japan. ... Oranda-zaka (Dutch Slope) in Nagasaki Castle in Shimabara The island of Hirado boasts a fine castle Nagasaki Prefecture (長崎県; Nagasaki-ken) is located on Kyushu island, Japan. ... Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県; Kumamoto-ken) is located on Kyushu Island, Japan. ... KyÅ«shÅ« region of Japan and the current prefectures on KyÅ«shÅ« island KyÅ«shÅ« ), literally Nine Provinces, is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ... Nori. ... Mudskippers are members of the olmeferous family Oxudercinae (tribe: Periophthalmini[1]), within the family Gobiidae (Gobies). ... Note: A separate disambiguation page exists for the initials UCA. Diversity 97 species Male lemon-yellow clawed fiddler crab (Uca perplexa), waving A fiddler crab, sometimes known as a calling crab, may be any of approximately 97 species of semi-terrestrial marine crabs within the genus Uca [1]. Belonging to... A red tide off the coast of La Jolla, California. ... The Yatsushiro Sea and surroundings Amakusa (天草) is an island belonging to Japan, 26½ miles long and 13½ in extreme width, situated about 32°20N, 130°E, on the west of Kumamoto Prefecture (formerly the province of Higo on the island of KyÅ«shÅ«), from which it is separated by... The Yatsushiro Sea and surroundings The Yatsushiro Sea ), which is also called the Shiranui Sea ), is a shallow semi-enclosed inland sea located off the west coast of Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu island, Japan. ...

Many harbors are located on the coast. Among them are Misumi (in the city of Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture), Shimabara (Shimabara, Nagasaki), Taira (Unzen, Nagasaki), Nagasu (Nagasu, Kumamoto), Kumamoto (Kumamoto, Kumamoto), Miike (Omuta, Fukuoka), Kuchinotsu (Minamishimabara, Nagasaki), and Oniike (Amakusa, Kumamoto). Uki (宇城市; -shi) is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. ... Shimabara Castle Feeding carp (nishikigoi) along the streets of Shimabara Shimabara (島原市; -shi) is a city located in Nagasaki, Japan. ... Map showing location of Unzen in Nagasaki Prefecture (as of 2006). ... Nagasu (長洲町; -machi) is a town located in Tamana District, Kumamoto, Japan. ... Kumamoto (熊本市; -shi) is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of KyÅ«shÅ«, Japan. ... ÅŒmuta (大牟田市 -shi) is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. ... Map showing location of Minamishimabara in Nagasaki Prefecture (as of 2006). ... Amakusa (天草町; -machi) is a town located in Amakusa District, Kumamoto, Japan. ...

Five ferry routes cross the Ariake Sea.

Source

• 有明海 (at Japanese Wikipedia)

External links

• 有明海総合研究プロジェクト "Ariake Sea General Research Project" (Saga University, in Japanese)
• 有明海等環境情報・研究ネットワーク "Environmental Information on Ariake Etc.: Research Network" (Japan Fisheries Resource Conservation Association, in Japanese)