Uryunuma-shitsugen. 08/11/05; Hokkaido; 624 ha; 43°42'N 141°36'E. Quasi-National Park. The second largest mountain high moors, after Oze, in Japan. The regular snowfall is more than 3m high and post-winter thawing of snows leave the area with replenished freshwater with frozen parts of semi-decomposed, but nutritious land. The most diverse plant communities among Japan's northern marshlands, at least 150 species, are developed in the site, where peatmoss, Sphagnum spp. and Moliniopsis japonica are typically observed. The most remarkable characteristic of this site is that more than 100 ponds are scattered in the wetlands including small islands of waterweed swamps, in summer filled with colourful aquatic flowers like blooming lilies. A main threat is invasion of alien species like Solidago altissima, although continuous control measures are taken by the local management authority. Ramsar site no. 1558. Most recent RIS information: 2005.