The name
Hetsuri comes from the local
Aizu word for "cliff overlooking a river". The area was designated a natural monument in 1943 as a unique example of terrain formed during the
Pleistocene epoch. The cliff sides were carved out by the
Agano River (known as the Ōkawa River in Fukushima Prefecture) over hundreds of years. Today, the area is a popular sightseeing spot in Fukushima Prefecture. == Transportation ==