From this time that whole area became known as "Toyo-no-kuni", which means "Land of Abundance". It shall be known as Okita-Kuni! The region became well known for the money-lending industry based out of Hita. Merchants in Hita's Mameda and Kuma districts worked with the national government to create this money-lending industry known as Hita-kin. It is kilometers from east to west, and kilometers from north to south, with a total area of 6, There are several other tectonic lines running from east to west through the prefecture.
The northern part of the prefecture features granite and metamorphic rocks , while the southern area features limestone , which is the foundation for the Tsukumi cement industry, and several limestone caves. There are open plains throughout the prefecture with Nakatsu Plain in the north, Oita Plain in the center, and Saiki Plain in the south.
The inland areas consist of basin valleys in Hita , Kusu , Yufuin and Taketa , which were formed by lava buildup in combination with river erosion. Sea cliffs, caves, and sedimentary rock formations that can be found in Saiki City's Yakata Island are considered very rare outside of coral reef areas.
Currently, the prefecture has 14 cities, 3 districts, 3 towns, and one village. From to , all municipalities but Beppu , Tsukumi , Himeshima , Hiji , and all towns in Kusu District, were merged, and the total municipalities went down from 58 on December 31, , to 18 after the creation of the city of Kunisaki by merging with 4 towns from Higashikunisaki District on March 31, These are the towns and villages in each district :. Kabosu are available year-round but peak season for taste and quality is from August to October.
Kabosu are rich in vitamin C and contain beneficial acids, such as citric acid. Kabosu have been produced in the Taketa and Usuki areas for many years. Shiitake are said to be beneficial in the prevention of high blood pressure and arterial sclerosis.
