Lake Akan
| Lake Akan | |
|---|---|
| 阿寒湖 Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) | |
 The view from Mount Oakan (July 2008) | |
| Location | Kushiro, Hokkaidō, Japan |
| Coordinates | 43°27′6″N 144°5′55″E / 43.45167°N 144.09861°E |
| Lake type | Dimictic |
| Primary outflows | Akan River |
| Catchment area | 148 km2 (57 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Japan |
| Surface area | 13 km2 (3,200 acres) |
| Average depth | 17.8 m (58 ft) |
| Max. depth | 44.8 m (147 ft) |
| Water volume | 0.23 km3 (0.055 cu mi) |
| Shore length1 | 25.9 km (16.1 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 420 m (1,380 ft) |
| Frozen | December to April |
| Islands | 4: Ōjima, Kojima, Yaitai Island, Chūrui Island |
| Settlements | Kushiro |
| Designated | 8 November 2005 |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Akan (center)
Mount Meakan (bottom left)
Mount Oakan (center right)
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.[1][2]
History
Volcanic activity formed the lake some 6,000 years ago, when a 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.[3]
Flora and fauna
The lake is famous for the marimo (Aegagropila sauteri), aggregations of algae that form into spherical shapes 2–15 cm in diameter. Other flora of the lake include the following:[3]
- Phragmites communis
- Nuphar sp.
- Potamogeton crispus
- Hydrilla verticillata
- Myriophyllum verticillatum
- Vallisneria gigantea
- Melosira italica
- Asterionella formosa
- Synedra
Kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) are native to Lake Akan. Other fauna of the lake include the following:[3]
- Zooplankton:
- Bottom:
- Fish:
See also
- List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments
- Ramsar sites in Japan
References
- ^ "Data Summary: Akan-ko (Lake Akan)". World Lakes Database. International Lake Environment Committee. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
- ^ "Ramsar Sites in Japan - Akan-ko" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- ^ a b c "AKAN-KO (LAKE AKAN)". World Lakes Database. International Lake Environment Committee. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Akan.
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