Lake Biwa in Japan
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Lake Biwa (Japanese: 琵琶湖 Hepburn: Biwa-ko?) is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located in Shiga Prefecture (west-central Honshu), northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto[1] Because of its proximity to the ancient capital, references to Lake Biwa appear frequently in Japanese literature, particularly in poetry and in historical accounts of battles.The term of Biwako was established in the Edo Period. There are some theories about the origin of Biwako, but it was generally believed that a stringed instrument Biwa is related to Biwako. Kōsō, a learned monk of Enryaku-ji in the 14th century, referred to a clue of Biwako in his writing; The lake is the Pure land of Benzaiten. Because she lives in the Chikubu Island and the shape of the lake is similar to Biwa, her favorite instrument.[2]
The lake was formerly known as Awaumi (淡海?, Freshwater Sea) or Chikatsu Awaumi (近淡海?, Freshwater Sea Near Capital). Later Awaumi changed to modern Ōmi, an etymology of Ōmi Province. The lake is also called Nio no Umi (鳰の海?, Little Grebe Lake) in literature.The area of this lake is about 670 km². Small rivers drain from the surrounding mountains into Lake Biwa, and its main outlet is the Seta River, which later becomes the Uji River, combining with the Katsura and Kizu to become the Yodo River and flows into the Seto Inland Sea at Osaka Bay.
It serves as a reservoir for the cities of Kyoto and Ōtsu and is a valuable resource for nearby textile industries. It provides drinking water for about 15 million people in the Kansai region. Lake Biwa is a breeding ground for freshwater fish, including trout, and for the pearl culture industry.
The Lake Biwa Canal, built in the late 1890s and later expanded during the Taishō period played a role of great importance in the rekindling of Kyoto's industrial life, after a steep decline following the transfer of the capital to Tokyo.
Lake Biwa is home to many popular beaches along the north-western shore, in particular, for example, Shiga Beach and Omi-Maiko. The Mizunomori Water Botanical Garden and The Lake Biwa Museum in Kusatsu are also of interest.
The Lake Biwa Marathon takes place in Otsu, the city at the southern end of the lake annually since 1962.Lake Biwa is of tectonic origin and is one of the world's twenty oldest lakes, dating to almost 4 million years ago. This long uninterrupted age has allowed for a notably diverse ecosystem to evolve in the lake. Naturalists have documented about 1100 species in the lake, including 58 endemic species.[citation needed] Lake Biwa is an important place for water birds. About 5,000 water birds visit Lake Biwa every year.
There are 46 native fish species and subspecies in the lake, including 12 endemic species and 5 endemic subspecies.[3] The endemic species are five cyprinids (Biwia yodoensis, Carassius cuvieri, Gnathopogon caerulescens, Ischikauia steenackeri and Sarcocheilichthys biwaensis), two true loaches (both undescribed species of Cobitis), two gobies (Gymnogobius isaza and an undescribed species of Rhinogobius), two silurid catfish (Silurus biwaensis and S. lithophilus) and a cottid (Cottus reinii).[3] The Biwa trout is also endemic to the lake, but some maintain that it is a subspecies of the widespread masu salmon rather than a separate species.[3] The remaining endemic fish are subspecies of Carassius auratus, Plecoglossus altivelis, Sarcocheilichthys variegatus and Squalidus chankaensis.[3]
Lake Biwa is also the home of a large number of molluscs, including 38 freshwater snails (19 endemic) and 16 bivalves (9 endemic).[4]
Recently the biodiversity of the lake has suffered greatly due to the invasion of foreign fish, the black bass and the bluegill. Bluegill were presented to the Emperor and later freed in the lake as a food source for other fish. Black bass were introduced as a sport fish. In July 2009, a largemouth bass weighing 22 pounds, 4 ounces (about 10.09 kg) was caught in the lake by Manabu Kurita. It has been officially certified by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) to tie the largemouth bass world record held solely by George Perry for 77 years.Legislation to prevent eutrophication was enacted in 1981 and first enforced on July 1, 1982; therefore, this day is called Lake Biwa Day (びわ湖の日 Biwako no Hi?).
Ricky Hart - Otsu: From the River to the Mountain
In this video we take a day trip to Otsu City, which is located in Shiga Prefecture. Otsu is a sprawling city that wraps around the southern and western end of Lake Biwa. We take a trip to the southern part of the city., eat lunch and visit Ishiyama-dera. From there we venture up to the northern part of the city and ride a cable car up Mount Hiei. The view from Mount Hiei is spectacular. I need a better camera to capture the scenery better. From there, we take the bus down the mountain into Kyoto City, stop at a market and then head home. I will head back up Mount Hiei soon and see the temples that lie up there. Until then. Thanks for watching. Feel free to like / comment / request/ subscribe!
MORE INFO:
Otsu Tourism:
Seta No Karahashi:
Hotori Cafe (Japanese):
Ishiyama-dera:
Mount Hiei:
Sakamoto Cable Car: (An English pamphlet can be downloaded)
Nishiki Market:
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