The largest and northernmost of Japan's four main islands is called Hokkaido. There, Japan's biggest snow festival is held in the city of Sapporo, famous for hosting the 1972 Winter Olympics. At the 1999 Sapporo Snow Festival, held from February 5 to 11, 210 snow and 121 ice sculptures were constructed in three locations, the main setting being the narrow, 1.5-kilometer (0.9-mile)-long Odori Park built alongside a big avenue running through the city's center. The snow for the sculptures was collected from local neighborhoods and brought in by truck, as many as 7,600 five-ton truckloads' worth! The largest of the snow sculptures in 1999--20 meters (66 feet) high, 34 meters (112 feet) wide, and 25 meters (82 feet) deep--was a scale replica of Hungary's exquisite Buda Castle. Other snow sculptures featured were a 10-meter (33-foot) Bugs Bunny; Pokemon, the number one image requested by elementary school students; scenes from Japanese myths; animals from Hokkaido; and animation characters. Some of the ice sculptures included scale replicas of the domed church in the Hotel des Invalides in Paris and Singapore's Victoria Memorial Hall. The festival began in 1950, when six middle and high schools each created a snow sculpture at Odori Park. Over 50,000 people came to see the works, far surpassing expectations. The festival has been held annually since then. Over the years it has evolved into a full-scale international event, attracting more than 2 million visitors a year. The festival was held for the fiftieth time in 1999. A number of commemorative events, including fireworks and a musical concert, took place. For the last four years Sapporo has hosted a "Virtual Snow Festival" on the Internet, which gives middle- and high-school students from around the world a chance to submit their own sculpture designs. Why not try creating and submitting your own unique sculpture idea? The Snow Festival gives residents of Hokkaido something to look forward to during the harsh February winter. Many smaller winter festivals are also held throughout the region around this time, including the Asahikawa Winter Festival, the Okhotsk coast's Drift Ice Festival, and the Kushiro Ice Festival. Photo: A parade of beautifully lit ice and snow sculptures fill up Odori Park. (Kyodo)

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