A line of straight cliffs stretches for about 38 km north to south along Route 345, between the Shōnai Plain and the Dewa Mountains. These cliffs were created by active faults known as the Shōnai Plain Eastern Margin Fault Zone.

Earthquakes caused by active faults tend to occur less often (every several thousand years) compared to earthquakes in ocean trenches (every several decades to 100 years). However, active fault earthquakes tend to have shallower epicenters, so they cause more serious damage to the surrounding areas.
Including the Shōnai Plain Eastern Margin Fault Zone, Japan is estimated to have around 2,000 active faults. It is important to remember that any place in Japan could experience a major earthquake.

The movement of active faults continues to push against the Dewa Mountains from both sides, uplifting the land even today. Aside from the great damage they can cause, these faults also bless us with the beautiful scenery of Japan’s Tōhoku region.