Japan's Highest Mountain, Mount Fuji, Snow-Free For The First Time in 130 Years

Usually, snow falls at the top of Japan's highest mountain by early October, but this year's unusually warm weather has resulted in no snowfall. This happened for the first time in 130 years of observations, BBC reports.

Last year, snow was first seen on the top of the mountain on 5 October.

However, this year Japan had the hottest summer on record: the temperature between June and August was 1.76 degrees Celsius above average.

In September, temperatures continued to be higher than expected.

The previous record for the duration of snowlessness on the mountain was recorded twice on 26 October - in 1955 and 2016.

It is noted that although a single event cannot be automatically attributed to the effects of climate change, the lack of snowfall on Mount Fuji is in line with climate experts' predictions of global warming.

Mount Fuji, located southwest of Tokyo, is the highest mountain in Japan, with an elevation of 3,776 metres.

The mountain plays an important role in Japanese artwork. In 2016, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Last year, from July to September, more than 220,000 people climbed Mount Fuji.