Bibai, Hokkaidō
As of 2023, the city has an estimated population of 19,242, and the density of 69.3 persons per km. The total area is 277.69 km.
History
The name Bibai is derived from Ainu word "pipa o i", meaning "Place (swamp) with many cockscomb pearl mussels".
- 1890 - The village of Numakai was founded.
- 1925 - Numakai village became Numakai town.
- 1926 - Numakai was renamed Bibai.
- 1950 - Bibai town became Bibai city.
- 1982 - Bibai Dam was completed.
At its peak, Bibai was a coal town that produced over a million tons annually. However, ever since the mine was closed in 1972, the city has suffered a slowly declining population.
Geography
Ishikari River flows to west of Bibai. Bibai Dam was built on the Bibai River, a tributary of Ishikari River.
Lake Miyajima was registered as a wetland under the Ramsar Convention in 2002.
Climate
| Climate data for Bibai (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) |
9.0 (48.2) |
13.6 (56.5) |
25.2 (77.4) |
32.6 (90.7) |
33.2 (91.8) |
35.6 (96.1) |
35.6 (96.1) |
32.4 (90.3) |
25.6 (78.1) |
20.0 (68.0) |
13.9 (57.0) |
35.6 (96.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.6 (27.3) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
2.9 (37.2) |
10.8 (51.4) |
17.9 (64.2) |
22.0 (71.6) |
25.6 (78.1) |
26.3 (79.3) |
22.6 (72.7) |
15.6 (60.1) |
7.2 (45.0) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
12.2 (54.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −6.6 (20.1) |
−5.9 (21.4) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
5.4 (41.7) |
12.1 (53.8) |
16.5 (61.7) |
20.4 (68.7) |
21.2 (70.2) |
16.9 (62.4) |
10.1 (50.2) |
3.1 (37.6) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
7.3 (45.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −12.4 (9.7) |
−12.1 (10.2) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
0.1 (32.2) |
6.8 (44.2) |
12.2 (54.0) |
16.6 (61.9) |
17.1 (62.8) |
11.8 (53.2) |
5.0 (41.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
2.4 (36.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −29.6 (−21.3) |
−26.2 (−15.2) |
−22.4 (−8.3) |
−12.4 (9.7) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
3.4 (38.1) |
8.0 (46.4) |
8.6 (47.5) |
2.1 (35.8) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
−14.5 (5.9) |
−26.5 (−15.7) |
−29.6 (−21.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 77.6 (3.06) |
63.5 (2.50) |
54.6 (2.15) |
53.8 (2.12) |
80.8 (3.18) |
69.1 (2.72) |
122.0 (4.80) |
164.9 (6.49) |
144.2 (5.68) |
120.6 (4.75) |
117.6 (4.63) |
104.9 (4.13) |
1,173.5 (46.20) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 203 (80) |
156 (61) |
107 (42) |
13 (5.1) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.4) |
77 (30) |
216 (85) |
766 (302) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 19.5 | 16.3 | 13.7 | 10.7 | 10.3 | 8.6 | 10.0 | 10.5 | 11.9 | 15.1 | 19.2 | 21.9 | 167.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) | 19.9 | 17.3 | 12.9 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 6.8 | 19.7 | 78.5 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 63.3 | 78.4 | 131.0 | 167.5 | 193.6 | 171.8 | 156.2 | 157.8 | 158.2 | 130.6 | 68.5 | 42.6 | 1,519.5 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency | |||||||||||||
Education
High schools
- Hokkaido Bibai Shoei High School
- Hokkaido Bibai Seika High School
School for special needs
- Hokkaido Bibai School for Special Needs
Transportation
Rail
Hakodate Main Line Minami-Bibai Branch Line used to run from Bibai to Minami-Bibai.
- Hakodate Main Line : Minenobu - Kōshunai - Bibai - Chashinai
Road
Straight line section of Route 12 is the longest in Japan.
Culture
Mascots
Bibai's mascots are Mami-chan (マミィーちゃん). He is a greater white-fronted goose. He was unveiled in 1986. Yakitoriman (ヤキトリ男, Yakitoriotoko) is Mami-chan's assistant who is a yakitori.
References
- ^ "Outline of Bibai". Archived from the original on 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
- ^ "History of Bibai". Archived from the original on 2015-07-26. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
- ^ "Memorial Woodland Park (Previously the Mitsubishi Bibai Coal Mining Facilities)". bibai color 美唄観光物産協会. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "Tourist spots and events of Bibai". Archived from the original on 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
- ^ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ "マミィーちゃんのプロフィール（美唄市）". Kawaii Hokkaido.
- ^ "ヤキトリ男のプロフィール（美唄市）". Kawaii Hokkaido.
External links
- Official Website (in Japanese)
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