hell valley, noboribetsu

. History of Jigokudani Valley

Mt. Kuttara, the central crater of which is where Kuttarako Lake is located, began volcanic activities again in its western foot in the beginning of the Holocene epoch (10,000 years ago to the present). Thousands of years of repeated erratic explosions produced the geographical features around Jigokudani Valley. High volcanic energy in the form of magma is believed to be stored underground. Gas is emitted and hot water spouts out actively even now.