The Southern Kyushu here described is that part between the Yatsushiro-Usuki fault line and the volcanic groups of Mt. Kirishima. The highest point is the top of Mt. Kunimidake 1793m in the central part of this region. Next is Mt. Ichibusa of 1722m. The names Baru or Bara common in this region refer to surfaces with low relief in the mountains. These are ‘Piedmontfläche’.
1) Horizontal distribution. Figs. 1-7 show the horizontal distribution of ‘piedmontfläche’ along the upper course of the rivers Kuma and Mimi. The remnants of the central parts of the mountains form ridges that are not well preserved. But the remnants of the marginal parts are better preserved than the preceding, retaining on the whole their roundforms. At present, the remnants of the ‘Piedmontfläche’ are being destroyed by the violent erosional process of the swift Kuma and Mimi rivers. The horizontal distribution of the remnants is generally symmetrical to the river courses.
2) Vertical distribution. Regarding the altitude of each remnant on the ‘Piedmontfläche’, there are several groups of remnants to be considered. Figs. 8-9 show the profiles along the ridges of the mountains. There are six groups of such surfaces, namely. 1480m, 1279m, 1200m, 1120m, 960m, 750m.
The uppermost parts of them are very flat surfaces, but the lower parts have some inclination. The former is probably Endrumpffläche and the latter ‘Primärerumpf’. These six groups form the ‘Piedmonttreppe’.
