The Blue Lake Shikotsu
By Aiko Kita
(Japanese translation below)
Have you ever been to Lake Shikotsu? Lake Shikotsu is a freshwater lake located in Chitose, Hokkaido, and is the northernmost ice-free lake in Japan. Lake Shikotsu is a caldera lake formed about 40,000 years ago when water accumulated in a depression created by the eruption of Shikotsu Volcano.
The name is said to come from the Ainu word “shi-kot,” meaning “large depression,” and it has long been considered a valuable source of water for the Chitose people. It is the northernmost ice-free lake in Japan, with a circumference of about 40 km, a maximum depth of about 360 m, and an average depth of about 265 m. It is the second deepest in Japan after Lake Tazawa in Akita Prefecture.
The clarity of the water is extremely high due to low nutrient content and low plankton blooms, and it has been ranked No. 1 in Japan 20 times by the Ministry of the Environment in its water quality measurements of public water bodies. Lake Shikotsu boasts this clarity and water quality, and when illuminated by light, the clear waters of Lake Shikotsu shine with a blue glow known as “Lake Shikotsu Blue.”
There are many places around Lake Shikotsu where you can experience the magnificent nature and deep history. Lake Okotanpe, Moss Cave, Mt. Kazafushidake, Mt. Eniwa, and Mt. Tarumae, which are over 1,000 meters high, nurture beautiful and magnificent nature and offer fresh green, autumn leaves and snowy landscapes. The colors of the forest change with the seasons and fascinate people with its new appearance every time they visit.
One of the highlights of Lake Shikotsu are its hot springs. At hot spring inns located in the wide natural surroundings by Lake Shikotsu, you can get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy a quiet and relaxing time. The spring quality is melting, and it has effects such as neuralgia, muscle pain, and recovery from fatigue. It is also famous as a hot spring for beautiful women.
Outdoor activities that make use of the beautiful water and rich nature can be enjoyed around Lake Shikotsu, and you can actually touch the nature of Lake Shikotsu through not only watching but also experiencing it. When diving in the highly transparent lake, you can observe the unique and diverse ecosystem of Lake Shikotsu, such as the appearance of fish and aquatic plants that cannot be seen from above ground. If you take a canoe on the lake, you will see a different view from the ground. In addition, you can enjoy activities regardless of the season, such as camping, fishing, cycling, and trekking on the lakeside.
Various events are held throughout the year at Lake Shikotsu. Among them, Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival is one of the representative events of Hokkaido in winter. Ice sculptures of various sizes, made by freezing lake water from Lake Shikotsu by sprinklers, stand in a row. During the day, it glows a natural blue called "Lake Shikotsu Blue," and at night it is illuminated by multicolored lights, creating a magical world.
支笏湖
北 愛子
支笏湖に行ったことがありますか。支笏湖は北海道千歳市にある淡水湖で、日本最北の不凍湖です。支笏湖は、およそ４万年前に支笏湖火山の噴火によってできた陥没地に水がたまってできたカルデラ湖です。
名前の由来はアイヌ語で”大きな窪地”を意味する「シ・コッ」が語源と言われ、古くから千歳の貴重な水源とされてきました。周囲は訳40キロメートル、最大深度約360メートル、平均水深度約265メートルと国内では、秋田県の田沢湖に次いで2番目の深度を誇り、日本最北の不凍湖です。
水中の栄養分が少なく、プランクトンの発生も少ないことから透明度は非常に高く、環境省の公共用水域水質測定結果において、これまで20回も全国１位に輝いています。この透明度と水質を誇る支笏湖の澄んだ水は光に照らされることで「支笏湖ブルー」と言われる青色の輝きを放ちます。
水中の栄養分が少なく、プランクトンの発生も少ないことから透明度は非常に高く、環境省の公共用水域水質測定結果において、これまで20回も全国１位に輝いています。 この透明度と水質を誇る支笏湖の澄んだ水は光に照らされることで「支笏湖ブルー」と言われる青色の輝きを放ちます。
支笏湖の周辺には雄大な自然と深い歴史を感じることのできる多くの場所があります。オコタンペ湖、苔の洞窟、標高1,000メートルを超える風不死岳、恵庭岳、樽前山は、美しく雄大な自然を育み、新緑や紅葉、雪景色を楽しむことができます。四季折々に色づく森は、訪れるたびに新しい姿で人々を魅了します。
支笏湖の見どころの一つは温泉です。支笏湖の雄大な自然の中にある温泉宿では、日常の喧騒から離れ、静かでゆっくりとした時間を過ごすことができます。泉質はとろとろしていて、神経痛、筋肉痛、疲労回復などの効能がある。美人の湯としても有名です。
支笏湖周辺では綺麗な水や豊かな自然を活かしたアウトドアやアクティビティが盛んに行われ、観るだけでなく、体験を通して実際に支笏湖の自然に触れることができます。透明度の高い湖水でのダイビングでは、地上からは見ることが出来ない魚の姿や水草など、支笏湖ならではの景色や多様な生態系を間近で観察できます。カヌーで湖上を進むと、地上とはまた違った景色が広がります。更に湖畔ではキャンプや魚釣り、サイクリング、トレッキングなど、季節を問わずアクティビティを楽しむことが出来ます。
支笏湖では年間を通して様々なイベントが開催されています。なかでも、千歳・支笏湖氷濤まつりは、冬の北海道を代表するイベントの一つです。支笏湖の湖水をスプリンクラーで凍らせた大小様々な氷像が立ち並びます。昼間は支笏湖ブルーと呼ばれるナチュラルブルーに輝き、夜は色とりどりのライトに照らされ、幻想的な世界が広がります。