FUPU-GAA -- An Old VILLAGE SPRING Along the Northern Coast of MOTOBU PENINSULA - 25

            Known as FUPU-GAA   [フプガー] in the local Okinawan Language, and Ōkawa [大川, "Big River"] in the Japanese language, this is a pretty nice natural spring for those who like springs, and all things watery.

What you see in these photo is the result of a 2008 face-lift  --- one of many up-grades given to it over the Centuries, and at least the 3rd or 4th since World War Two. Both major and minor changes can be noted when making comparisons with pre-2008 photos. 

The bunch of photos I'm posting here add to the old and new images already on the Web (which are sometimes very hard to find, because the search terms are difficult or unknown). 

For those living on Okinawa, I hope it wets your whistle enough to possible come here and check this place out for yourself.

The photo ops are many, and I haven't even begun to touch on all of the angles, compositions, subjects, and possibilities that exist here.

The plant / animal ecosystem that lives in and around this spring is odd and interesting, and they all work together to keep this water as clean and pure as can be.

I've had my fill of water straight out of it with no problems, and the villagers all claim it keeps them healthy, and confers long life on those who indulge.

The classic Ryukyuan architecture of the surroundings lends itself more to cameras with two lenses rather than one, and the "white noise" of the running water kills the sound of traffic on close-by Route 505.

Just 3 kilometers from BISE VILLAGE, or 4.2 km from EXPO's main gate, the spring sits just behind the TASORA  Rest Stop HERE :

♥   26°41'50.56"N  127°54'33.00"E

Illustrated markers scattered around the Spring area show the various birds and butterflies you might see flitting about. 

However, there is nothing to describe the many native plants all around --- especially the alien-looking under-water plants growing in the always-fresh, always-running waters that invisibly arise from the large deep cistern surrounded by walls of coral blocks fitted closely together.

One of the signs says that over [the recent] years, the output averages about 1,500 metric tons of water a day.

This does not come close to the over 2,000 tons of water a day (well over half-a-million gallons) that flows from the magnificent UKKA-GAA Spring in KIN-VILLE (just outside of CAMP HANSEN), but the lesser flow is still respectable, and made even more so by the highly 3-D layout and architecture of the place.

Again, if you are into natural springs, the Ryukyu-Castle-Wall look, birds, bugs, and botany, then this is worth a quick look the next time you are up at the CHURAUMI AQUARIUM, the EXPO SITE, BISE VILLAGE, or NAKIJIN CASTLE. 

Cheers !

本部町具志堅のフプガー (大川)  フプガー   具志堅フプガー  ぐしけんふぷが～

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Taken on: January 7, 2016

Tags:

フプガー

大川

本部

具志堅

Fupu-Gaa

Spring

Natural Spring

Spring Water

Motobu Peninsula

Motobu-Cho

Motobu

Gushiken

Gushiken Village

On Route 505

Near Expo

Near Nakijin Castle

Behind Tasora Rest Stop

Northern Okinawa

Okinawa

Okinawa-Ken

Japan

具志堅フプガー

ぐしけんふぷが～ « less

Sets appears in: • OKINAWA ! • FUPU-GAA SPRING フプガー

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