Nikko Toge Mori (sunshine ridge woods) is 1475 square kilometers. A heavily forested area that sits on multiple layers of basalt rock. these layers have been cut by numerous faults resulting in lake basins and large escarpments. The topography generally slopes toward the south with four major topographical features dominating the forest. Sanma Yama (sun mountain) in the northeast corner of the forest and Cresta di Sabbia (sand ridge) on the forests northern border are highly visible features. The eastern part of the forest is dominated by a large pumice plain, while lava flows are the main feature in the northwest. In addition, two, year around creeks shape the character of the forest. Sun Creek runs through the center of the forest, and over time has cut a small canyon through the forests central plains, in which is located the small muryo (free) city of Leaf. Anini Ogawa runs along the western border of the forest, and is flanked by meadowlands. Elevations range from 303 to 1524 meters above sea level. The forest is temperate, and receives large amounts of precipitation, and is dominated by evergreen conifer species, primarily douglas-fir, also nanmu, hemlock, red cedar, bigleaf maple, and red alder. The forest provides a habitat for a diverse group of wildlife including black wolves, nero coguaro, spotted owls, taiga lynx, caribou, silver trout, red elk and otters.
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