A Water Tour of Kansai Nurturing Natural Treasures MIE Prefecture Nabari City Valley of Giant Salamanders Akame Valley is known for its collection of waterfalls large and small, together called the 48 Falls of Akame, and the area's natural scenic beauty makes it ideal for hiking all year round. The Taki River flowing in the valley is the habitat of the giant salamander, designated by the national government as a protected species. Extinct in Europe, giant salamanders can still be found in China and North America as well as in Japan. They are referred to as living fossils because they have the same shape as fossils of creatures that lived 4 million years ago. In Japan, the giant salamanders are found only to the west of Gifu Prefecture, so the Akame Valley is at the eastern end of their range. Because they live in water all their lives, they need clean water to survive, especially as eggs and larvae. They feed on small river crabs, fish and insects. As you climb the valley along the clear stream, letting the sound of waterfalls guide you, the stream flows between craggy rocks, forming calm, deep pools in some places. The water is clear to the bottom, and you can see many fish in it. There are also shallow streams, rich in the small creatures that the salamanders feed on. It is said that 200 great salamanders live in the Akame Valley, but since they are nocturnal they are rarely seen by people. Visitors can, however, observe them up close at the Japan Salamander Center, the only such facility in Japan, located at the entrance to the valley. Japan Salamander Center TEL 0595-64-2695 Fishing is prohibited in the Akame River to protect the richness of the waters. The giant salamander, the world's largest amphibian. A 1.5 m-long salamander was once reported. BACK NEXT All images Copyright. 1999 Kansai International Public Relations Promotion Office. All Rights Reserved.