is a
national park located on the island of
Hokkaidō,
Japan. Along with
Daisetsuzan National Park
, or Taisetsuzan is located in the mountainous center of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō. At , Daisetsuzan is the largest national park in Japan, and is approximately the size of Kanagawa Prefecture. Daisetsuzan, meaning "great snowy mo ...
, these are the two oldest national parks in
Hokkaidō.
The park was established December 4, 1934.
Akan is an area of volcanic craters and forests, covering .
The park is famous for its crystal clear lakes, its hot springs, and its large
marimo. It is the only place where marimo of appreciable size form naturally in Japan.
Sites
The park can be divided into two general areas, Kawayu and Akan.
Kawayu
Mount Iō and the Kawayu
Onsen offer natural hotsprings and sulphur
fumarole
A fumarole (or fumerole) is a vent in the surface of the Earth or other rocky planet from which hot volcanic gases and vapors are emitted, without any accompanying liquids or solids. Fumaroles are characteristic of the late stages of volcani ...
s. Around
Lake Kussharo
is a caldera lake in Akan National Park, eastern Hokkaidō, Japan. As with many geographic names in Hokkaidō, the name derives from the Ainu language. It is the largest caldera lake in Japan in terms of surface area, and sixth largest lake ...
,
a caldera lake, are
Bihoro Pass,
Mount Mokoto, and
Mount Nishibetsu. At the lake, Wakoto Peninsula is an area with high ground temperatures and uniquely adapted wildlife.
Lake Mashū
(Ainu language, Ainu: Kamuy-to) is an endorheic Volcanic crater lake, crater lake formed in the caldera of a potentially active volcano. It is located in Akan Mashu National Park on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. It has been called the clearest ...
is a
caldera lake.
It is one of the clearest lakes in the world with visibility up to 40 meters.
Akan
Akan Caldera is a large caldera over 20 km across. Emerging from within caldera is the
Akan Volcanic Complex, which includes the highest mountain in the park,
Mount Meakan.
The lake also features boiling mud, called ''bokke''. Churui island is one of four islands in the lake and the site of the Marimo Exhibition and Observation Center.
Lake Onnetō is at the foot of Mount Meakan. Nearby is a hot water waterfall, ''
Onnetō Yu-no-taki''. From Sokodai, one can observe
Lake Penketo
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...
and
Lake Panketo.
Mount Hakuto Observatory,
Mount Kikin,
Tsurumi Pass, and Akan Lakeside Observatory offer panoramas of the surrounding countryside. On the
Akan River people view the mouth of the river ''Takiguchi'' as it flows into Lake Akan from Takimi Bridge. The area also offers
Lake Jiro and
Lake Taro.
External links
Akan Mashu National Park- National Park in Japan
Akan Eco Museum Center**
References
National parks of Japan
Parks and gardens in Hokkaido
Protected areas established in 1934
Akan National Park
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