Lake Mashu, Teshikaga-cho, Japan 

Lake Mashū is a endorheic crater lake formed in the caldera of a potentially active volcano. It is located in Akan National Park on the island of Hokkaidō, Japan. The lake has been called the clearest lake in the world.

Lake Mashū is surrounded by steep crater walls 200 metres high. It has no significant inlets and no outlet. The lake is one of the clearest in the world and one of the deepest in Japan. On August 1, 1931 the transparency of the water was measured at 41.6 metres. Lake Baikal was measured around the same time measured 40.5 metres. This is the lake’s claim to clearest in the world.

Since the 1950s the transparency has tended to range between 20 and 30 metres (66 and 98 ft). The loss in transparency is probably due to the introduction of sockeye salmon and rainbow trout into the lake and landslides. At the same time, the clarity of Lake Baikal has not been measured.

Epic Japan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound

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