Mount Suribachi

Northern Mariana Islands / Northern Islands / Settlement /
 volcano, battlefield, historic site
Shown on older maps as Suribachi-Yama. Suribachi (i.e. "grinding bowl") was a Japanese term for the traditional Chinese apothecary's mortar of unglazed ceramic. Shown on recent maps as Suribati-Yama (i.e. "cone mountain") elevation 161 meters.

Best known as a scene of fierce fighting during the Second World War, the face of Suribachi was riddled with Japanese bunkers and the mountain itself was honeycombed with tunnels and inner bunkers which caused heavy casualties to American forces despite a prolonged shore bombardment from US Navy vessels. The north rim was leveled 6 March 1945 (D-day plus 15) by three Navy bulldozers to make room for a variety of antenna arrays. They then set to work grading a road from the top down, according to the needs of the US Army Air Force.

Mt. Suribachi's magma chamber has been filling steadily since the Second World War, lifting Mt Suribachi's height by some 20 meters, while some of the landing beaches have risen up to 17 meters. Some volcano experts rate it as the most dangerous volcano in the World mostly due to tsunami hazards.
Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Suribachi
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   24°45'0"N   141°17'19"E

Comments

  • Mount Suribachi is one of the most important icons in the military history of the United States. During the WWII battle for control of this island, a group of Unites States Marines were photographed raising the Unites States flag on this mountain. The symbolism cannot be overstated. Joe Rosenthal was the photographer.
This article was last modified 8 years ago