Final answer:
Honshu and Hokkaido, the two largest islands of the Japanese Archipelago, are separated by the Tsugaru Strait. This strait connects the Sea of Japan to the Pacific Ocean. The topography of these islands and others in the archipelago is primarily mountainous due to the seismic activity in the region.
Step-by-step explanation:
Honshu and Hokkaido, the two largest islands in the Japanese Archipelago, are separated by the Tsugaru Strait. This strait directly connects the Sea of Japan on the Western side of the island of Hokkaido to the Pacific Ocean on its Eastern side. It provides a crucial navigation route between these two bodies of water. Honshu, the largest island in the archipelago, is home to the country's capital city, Tokyo, along with the majority of its population. The relatively smaller and colder island of Hokkaido, situated to the north of Honshu, is known for its ski resorts and varied wildlife.
The Japanese archipelago consists of more than 3,000 islands, most of which are located just north of 30° latitude. In addition to Hokkaido and Honshu, two other large islands are Shikoku and Kyushu. The geography of these islands is largely shaped by mountainous terrain that is a result of frequent earthquake and volcanic activity associated with the Pacific Ring of Fire.
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