Obama Bay


Obama Bay is a bay within Wakasa Bay in the Chūbu region of Japan, within the municipal boundaries of both Ōi and Obama. Its surface area is about, with a mean depth of. Due to its clear waters and large beaches, it is a popular beach destination in the summer.

Geography

Obama Bay is bay within Wakasa Bay in the Chūbu region of Japan. Its mouth is bounded by Matsugazaki on the Uchitomi Peninsula on the east and Ogasaki on the Ōshima Peninsula on the west. It covers an area of. It has a volume of, a maximum depth of, and a mean depth of. The bay has a ria coast, and part of the coastline borders Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Park.
The bay is a natural breakwater. Its water level is less affected by high tides, having a tidal range of less than. The bay has a single Class A river, the Kita, feeding into it. Two Class B rivers, the Tada and Minami, also empty into the bay, forming a delta within Obama Bay. Another delta is formed by the Saburi River within Ōi near Wakasa-Hongō Station. Its watershed has an annual precipitation of over, and discharge into the bay is highest during March-April and June-September. Its alluvial plain has over 100 active artesian wells.
Its waters are very clear and it has many beaches, so it is a popular summertime beach destination.

Border communities

Obama Bay is found within Fukui Prefecture, with the following municipalities bordering the bay:
  • Ōi, Fukui
  • Obama, Fukui

    Major rivers

The following rivers discharge into Obama Bay:
  • Kita River
  • Minami River
  • Saburi River
  • Tada River

    Major islands

Major islands found in Obama Bay include Ao Island and Kanja Island.

Flora and fauna

Flora include various phytoplankton and benthic microalgae, including the following:
  • Bacteriastrum hyalinum
  • Ceratocorys horrida
  • Chaetoceros:
  • *C. curvisetus
  • *C. didymus
  • *C. lorenzianus
  • Protoperidinium:
  • *P. depressum
  • *P. grande
  • *P. oceanicum var. oblongum
  • Pseudo-nitzschia seriata
  • Pyrocystis pseudonoctiluca
  • Sargassum:
  • *S. confusum
  • *S. coreanum
  • *S. gigantifolium
  • *S. hemiphyllum
  • *S. horneri
  • *S. macrocarpum
  • *S. micracanthum
  • *S. miyabei
  • *S. muticum
  • *S. patens
  • *S. piluliferum
  • *S. ringgoldianum
  • *S. sagamianum
  • *S. serratifolium
  • *S. siliquastrum
  • *S. thunbergii
  • *S. tortile
  • Thalassionema nitzschioides
  • Tripos:
  • *T. candelabrum
  • *T. fusus
  • *T. mollis
  • *T. muelleri
  • *T. pennatus
  • *T. ranipes
  • *T. sumatranus
  • *T. trichoceros
Obama Bay contains a wide diversity of fauna:
  • Acartia:
  • *A. clausi
  • *A. spinicauda
  • Ascidiacea
  • Apoprionospio dayi
  • Asian date mussel
  • Black seabream
  • Corycaeus
  • Euterpina acutifrons
  • Gammarids
  • *Ampelisca brevicornis '
  • Glycera chirori
  • Hermit crab
  • Holothuria
  • Japanese sea bass
  • Linopherus '
  • Lumbrineris longifolia
  • Magelona japonica
  • Mediomastus
  • Microsetella:
  • *M. norvegica
  • *M. rosea
  • Nannocalanus minor
  • Nephtys paradoxa
  • Notomastus
  • Oithona:
  • *O. nana
  • *O. plumifera
  • *O. similis
  • Oncaea:
  • *O. media
  • *O. venusta
  • Paracalanus parvus
  • Paraprionospio
  • Polydora flava orientalis
  • Prionospio ehlersi
  • Spiophanes kroyeri
  • Tambalagamia fauveli
  • Terebellides stroemii
  • Theora lubrica
  • Timoclea micra
  • Turban snail

    Works cited

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