Bibai
Bibai (美唄市, Bibai-shi) is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.
Bibai
美唄市 | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 43°20′N 141°51′E / 43.333°N 141.850°E | |
Country | Japan |
Region | Hokkaido |
Prefecture | Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture) |
Government | |
• Mayor | Hisashi Sakurai (since 2023) |
Area | |
• Total | 277.69 km2 (107.22 sq mi) |
Population (May 31, 2023) | |
• Total | 19,242 |
• Density | 69.3/km2 (179/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
City hall address | 1-1, Minami Itchōme, Nishi San-jō, Bibai-shi, Hokkaidō 072-8660 |
Climate | Dfb |
Website | www |
Symbols | |
Bird | Greater white-fronted goose |
Flower | Azalea |
Tree | Poplar |
As of 2023, the city has an estimated population of 19,242, and the density of 69.3 persons per km2. The total area is 277.69 km2.
History
[edit]The name Bibai is derived from Ainu word "pipa o i", meaning "Place (swamp) with many cockscomb pearl mussels".[1][2]
- 1890 - The village of Numakai was founded.
- 1925 - Numakai village became Numakai town.
- 1926 - Numakai was renamed Bibai.
- 1950 - Bibai town became Bibai city.
- 1982 - Bibai Dam was completed.
At its peak, Bibai was a coal town that produced over a million tons annually. However, ever since the mine was closed in 1972, the city has suffered a slowly declining population.[3]
Geography
[edit]Ishikari River flows to west of Bibai. Bibai Dam was built on the Bibai River, a tributary of Ishikari River.
Lake Miyajima was registered as a wetland under the Ramsar Convention in 2002.[4]
Climate
[edit]Climate data for Bibai (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) |
9.0 (48.2) |
13.6 (56.5) |
25.2 (77.4) |
32.6 (90.7) |
33.2 (91.8) |
35.6 (96.1) |
35.6 (96.1) |
32.4 (90.3) |
25.6 (78.1) |
20.0 (68.0) |
13.9 (57.0) |
35.6 (96.1) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.6 (27.3) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
2.9 (37.2) |
10.8 (51.4) |
17.9 (64.2) |
22.0 (71.6) |
25.6 (78.1) |
26.3 (79.3) |
22.6 (72.7) |
15.6 (60.1) |
7.2 (45.0) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
12.2 (54.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −6.6 (20.1) |
−5.9 (21.4) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
5.4 (41.7) |
12.1 (53.8) |
16.5 (61.7) |
20.4 (68.7) |
21.2 (70.2) |
16.9 (62.4) |
10.1 (50.2) |
3.1 (37.6) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
7.3 (45.2) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −12.4 (9.7) |
−12.1 (10.2) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
0.1 (32.2) |
6.8 (44.2) |
12.2 (54.0) |
16.6 (61.9) |
17.1 (62.8) |
11.8 (53.2) |
5.0 (41.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
2.4 (36.3) |
Record low °C (°F) | −29.6 (−21.3) |
−26.2 (−15.2) |
−22.4 (−8.3) |
−12.4 (9.7) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
3.4 (38.1) |
8.0 (46.4) |
8.6 (47.5) |
2.1 (35.8) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
−14.5 (5.9) |
−26.5 (−15.7) |
−29.6 (−21.3) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 77.6 (3.06) |
63.5 (2.50) |
54.6 (2.15) |
53.8 (2.12) |
80.8 (3.18) |
69.1 (2.72) |
122.0 (4.80) |
164.9 (6.49) |
144.2 (5.68) |
120.6 (4.75) |
117.6 (4.63) |
104.9 (4.13) |
1,173.5 (46.20) |
Average snowfall cm (inches) | 203 (80) |
156 (61) |
107 (42) |
13 (5.1) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.4) |
77 (30) |
216 (85) |
766 (302) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 19.5 | 16.3 | 13.7 | 10.7 | 10.3 | 8.6 | 10.0 | 10.5 | 11.9 | 15.1 | 19.2 | 21.9 | 167.7 |
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) | 19.9 | 17.3 | 12.9 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 6.8 | 19.7 | 78.5 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 63.3 | 78.4 | 131.0 | 167.5 | 193.6 | 171.8 | 156.2 | 157.8 | 158.2 | 130.6 | 68.5 | 42.6 | 1,519.5 |
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[5][6] |
Education
[edit]High schools
[edit]- Hokkaido Bibai Shoei High School
- Hokkaido Bibai Seika High School
School for special needs
[edit]- Hokkaido Bibai School for Special Needs
Transportation
[edit]Rail
[edit]Hakodate Main Line Minami-Bibai Branch Line used to run from Bibai to Minami-Bibai.
- Hakodate Main Line : Minenobu - Kōshunai - Bibai - Chashinai
Road
[edit]Straight line section of Route 12 is the longest in Japan.
Culture
[edit]Mascots
[edit]Bibai's mascots are Mami-chan (マミィーちゃん). He is a greater white-fronted goose. He was unveiled in 1986. Yakitoriman (ヤキトリ男, Yakitoriotoko) is Mami-chan's assistant who is a yakitori.[7][8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Outline of Bibai". Archived from the original on 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
- ^ "History of Bibai". Archived from the original on 2015-07-26. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
- ^ "Memorial Woodland Park (Previously the Mitsubishi Bibai Coal Mining Facilities)". bibai color 美唄観光物産協会. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "Tourist spots and events of Bibai". Archived from the original on 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
- ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ "マミィーちゃんのプロフィール(美唄市)". Kawaii Hokkaido.
- ^ "ヤキトリ男のプロフィール(美唄市)". Kawaii Hokkaido.
External links
[edit]- Official Website (in Japanese)