FACTOID #53: If you thought Antarctica was inhospitable, think again - its land area is only ninety-eight percent ice. Reassuringly, the other 2% is categorised as "barren rock".
On November 1, 2004, the city of Ueno; the towns of Iga, Ayama, Shimagahara, and Aoyama; the village of Ōyamada; and the districts of Ayama and Naga merged to form the city of Iga.
On February 14, 2005 the towns of Kisei and Omiya and the village of Ouchiyama from Watarai District merged to form the new town of Taiki.
On January 1, 2006, the cities of Tsu and Hisai and the districts of Age and Ichishi merged to form the city of Tsu.