Aomori
[key], city, capital of Aomori prefecture, extreme N Honshu, Japan, on Aomori Bay. First
opened to foreign trade in 1906, Aomori is now the chief transportation center of N Honshu,
with important rail lines and ferry services. It is also the site of one of the world's
longest tunnels, the Seikan Tunnel, which stretches 33.4 mi (53.7 km) and connects Honshu and
Hokkaido. Fish and lumber are among its exports, many of which are shipped to Hokkaido. A
modern city, it was rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 1910 and again after severe air raids
in 1945. Aomori prefecture, 3,719 sq mi (9,632 sq km), has rich timber lands and
famous apple orchards, in addition to producing rice, fish, beef, and dairy products. Aomori,
Hachinohe, and Hirosaki are the major cities. The 2011 earthquake and tsunami led to severe
damage in E coastal Aomori.
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