THE SHIRANUI SEA IS A SMALL AND CALM SEA

     The Shiranui Sea (or the Yatsushiro Sea) is an inland sea surrounded by Kyushu and the Amakusa Islands. It covers an area of nearly 1,400kEf (about the size of Lake Biwa), 6 to 16km E. to W., and 70km N. to S.. On average it is about 50m in depth, but the range of ebb and flow is 4m. The coast of the southern part of the Shiranui Sea, where Minamata is located, is ragged with many inlets and coves suitable for the spawning grounds of fish and shellfish. A great variety of creatures live in this area.