Earth:Lake Akan

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Lake Akan
The view from Mount Oakan (July 2008)
The view from Mount Oakan (July 2008)
Lake Akan is located in Japan
Lake Akan
Lake Akan
LocationKushiro, Hokkaidō, Japan
Coordinates [ ⚑ ] : 43°27′6″N 144°5′55″E / 43.45167°N 144.09861°E / 43.45167; 144.09861
Lake typeDimictic
Native name阿寒湖  (Japanese)
rivers, streams, evaporation">Primary outflowsAkan River
Catchment area148 km2 (57 sq mi)
Basin countriesJapan
Surface area13 km2 (3,200 acres)
Average depth17.8 m (58 ft)
Max. depth44.8 m (147 ft)
Water volume0.23 km3 (0.055 cu mi)
Shore length125.9 km (16.1 mi)
Surface elevation420 m (1,380 ft)
FrozenDecember to April
Islands4: Ōjima, Kojima, Yaitai Island, Chūrui Island
SettlementsKushiro
Official nameAkan-ko
Designated8 November 2005
Reference no.1540[1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Akan (阿寒湖, Akan-ko) is a lake in Kushiro, Hokkaidō, Japan . It is located in Akan National Park and is a Ramsar Site.[2][3]

History

Volcanic activity formed the lake some 6,000 years ago, when a lava dam was formed. The lake used to have a clarity of 8–9 meters in the 1930s. Pollution from local hotspring resorts has decreased the transparency to 3–4 meters.[4]

Flora and fauna

The lake is famous for the marimo (Aegagropila linnaei), aggregations of algae that form into spherical shapes 2–30 cm in diameter. Other flora of the lake include the following:[4]

Kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) are native to Lake Akan. Other fauna of the lake include the following:[4]

Climate

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Gallery

See also

  • List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments
  • Ramsar sites in Japan

References