is a river in Shinhidaka, Hokkaidō, Japan. The Shizunai River drains from the Hidaka Mountains into the Pacific Ocean.
Etymology The Shizunai River was known as ShibuchariWalker, The Conquest of Ainu Lands, pgs 18–19 and Shibechari. This name was derived from Shipe-ichan, meaning "a salmon spawning place" in Ainu.Nippon-Kichi, 静内川 Shizunai-gawa The Shizunai River, last access 26 May 2008
The name Shizunai is derived from the Ainu language and has three possible sources:, Shiputnai – A marsh at the origin of the Ainu. Shuttonai – A marsh with many grapes. Shutnai – A river at the foot of a mountain.
Course The Shizunai River flows generally southwest from its headwaters in the Hidaka mountains at the confluence of the Koikakushushibichari and Koibokushushibichari rivers. It flows into , a reservoir created by the Takami Dam. Past the dam, the Shizunai river flows into . Past the Shizunai Dam, the river encounters Futa Dam before leaving the mountains for the flood plain. The river flows past the outlying communities of Shizunai before entering the Pacific Ocean just northwest of Shizunai harbor.
Natural history The Shizunai River was designated as a wildlife protection area in 1965. Whooper swans overwinter on the Shizunai River.
History The Shizunai River basin was the home of the Ainu leader who led Shakushain's revolt against the Shogunate-era Yamato people, especially the Matsumae clan, in the 1660s. In the Edo period the region was used for gold mining.
Lists List of bridges and dams From river mouth to source:
List of (named) tributaries From river mouth to source: Left — Right — Perari River Left — charcoal or coal mountain river Left — Shunbetsu River Right — Poyoppusawa River Right — Pisenaisawa River Left — Penkeonikemushi River Left — Ponpanbetsu Creek Left — Penkebetsusawa River Left — Porokaunnai River Right — Ibetsusawa River Right — Abeunnai River Confluence Left — Koibokushuchchari, Right — Koikakushuppichari
References
Brett L. Walker, The Conquest of Ainu Lands, University of California Press, Berkeley, 2001, , , , No year of publication. Nippon-Kichi, 静内川 Shizunai-gawa The Shizunai River, 12 July 2007, last access 26 May 2008