is a lake in Kushiro, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is located in Akan National Park and is a Ramsar Site.

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.

Lake Akan

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: Phragmites communis Nuphar sp. Potamogeton crispus Hydrilla verticillata Myriophyllum verticillatum Vallisneria gigantea Melosira italica Asterionella formosa Synedra

Lake Akan

Kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) are native to Lake Akan. Other fauna of the lake include the following: Zooplankton: Daphnia longiremis Bosmina coregoni Eurytemora affinis Bottom: Chironomus plumosus Tubificidae Fish: Common carp Crucian carp Pond smelt Big-scaled redfin

Lake Akan

Climate

See also

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

References

Lakes of Hokkaido

Ramsar sites in Japan

Volcanic crater lakes

Volcanoes of Hokkaido

Calderas of Hokkaido

VEI-7 volcanoes

Lava dammed lakes