We made for Lake Kuttara next, which is called the mysterious lake. I have wanted to see it since a long time ago. I pulled my car over in the parking lot and took pictures. As the 2nd picture shows, this lake is a caldera lake that was formed by volcanic activity.
When we got to the lake, we didn't see the other tourists. The staff members of a boat house were preparing for their business. I went down to the water's edge. This is the closed area which has no rivers that empty into this lake. The outer rim of this lake is beautiful.
I've sometimes gone out touring with my motorcycle to see such caldera lakes. This picture shows Lake Towada. This picture was taken last year. You can see two peninsulas poking out from the lake in the picture. This lake is noted for its beautiful autumnal leaves and many sight-seeing ships cross the lake. The depth is 327 meters and it's the second deepest in Japan.
This picture is Lake Mashu. People are prohibited to get on the inside of the ridge of the outer rim to preserve the conditions. It is only the reserchers permitted by the Ministry of the Environment that can access the water's edge. This picture was taken in 1997. This lake is famous as a lake of mists, but it was fine when I visited.
Baekdu-san Baekdu Mountain (from GoogleEarth)
The last three pictures were downloaded from some of the sites on the internet. If you can use Google Earth, find the lake at latitude 42. 00' north and longitude 128. 03' east. The name of the lake is Heaven Lake at Baekdu Mountain (Pektusan, 백두산, 白頭山). This mountain is located at the border between China and North Korea, and so is very far for Japanese people.
Baekdu-san Baekdu Mountain (from Wikipedia)
I can't believe that China and North Korea could keep their national structure as it is for such a long time from now. I hope I can visit there freely. When the 38th parallel disappears, I'm going to ride my motorcycle around the Sea of Japan. I'd like to drop in at this lake at that time.
Baekdu-san Baekdu Mountain
from here.
Find and survey these lakes (Heaven Lake, Lake Mashu, Lake Towada, Lake Kuttara) on the map and you will feel these lakes are like brothers or sisters. In ancient times, when the activity of volcanos was more active than now, the borders of countries didn't exist. Don't you think so?
(Vocabulary)
water's edge 波打ち際
empty into sth 〈川が〉＜湾など＞に注ぐ
outer rim 外輪山
the 38th parallel ３８度線
(KW: 倶多楽湖 白頭山 백두산 十和田湖 摩周湖)
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