is a national park

National park

A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...

 located on the island of Hokkaidō

Hokkaido

, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. Along with Daisetsuzan National Park

Daisetsuzan National Park

, or Taisetsuzan is located in the mountainous center of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō. At 2267.64 square kilometers, Daisetsuzan is the largest national park in Japan....

, these are the two oldest national parks in Hokkaidō

Hokkaido

, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...

. The park was established December 4, 1934.

Akan is an area of volcanic craters and forests, covering 90481 hectares (904.8 km²). The park is famous for its crystal clear lakes, its hot springs, and its large marimo

Marimo

, also known as Cladophora ball, Lake ball, or Moss Balls in English, is a species of filamentous green algae found in a number of lakes in the northern hemisphere. A marimo is a rare growth form of the species where the algae grow into large green balls with a velvety appearance...

. It is the only place where marimo of appreciable size form naturally in Japan.

Kawayu

Mount Iō

Mount Iō (Akan)

also Mount Iwo is a volcano in the Akan Volcanic Complex of Hokkaidō, Japan. It sits within the borders of the town of Teshikaga.The mountain was once mined for sulphur, hence its name. To the Ainu the mountain was known as Atosanupuri . The mountain is quite bare. Despite its bareness and being a...

 and the Kawayu Onsen

Onsen

An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...

 offer natural hotsprings and sulphur fumarole

Fumarole

A fumarole is an opening in a planet's crust, often in the neighborhood of volcanoes, which emits steam and gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen sulfide. The steam is created when superheated water turns to steam as its pressure drops when it emerges from...

s. Around Lake Kussharo

Lake Kussharo

is a caldera lake in Akan National Park, eastern Hokkaidō, Japan. As with many geographic names in Hokkaidō, the name derives from the Ainu language. It is the largest caldera lake in Japan in terms of surface area, and sixth largest lake in Japan. It is also the largest lake in Japan to freeze...

, a caldera lake, are Bihoro Pass, Mount Mokoto, and Mount Nishibetsu. At the lake, Wakoto Peninsula is an area with high ground temperatures and uniquely adapted wildlife. Lake Mashu

Lake Mashu

is a landlocked 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.-Hydrology:...

 is a caldera lake. It is one of the clearest lakes in the world with visibility up to 40 meters.

Akan

Akan Caldera is a large caldera over 20 km across. Emerging from within caldera is the Akan Volcanic Complex

Akan Volcanic Complex

Akan Volcanic Complex is a volcanic group of volcanoes that grew out of the Akan caldera. It is located within Akan National Park, about 50km Northwest of Kushiro in eastern Hokkaidō, Japan.-Description:...

, which includes the highest mountain in the park, Mount Meakan

Mount Meakan

is an active stratovolcano located in Akan National Park in Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the tallest mountain in the Akan Volcanic Complex.The volcano consists of nine overlapping cones that grew out of the Akan caldera, on the shores of Lake Akan. Mount Meakan has a triple crater at its summit...

. The lake also features boiling mud, called bokke. Churui island is one of four islands in the lake and the site of the Marimo Exhibition and Observation Center. Lake Onneto is at the foot of Mount Meakan. Nearby is a hot water waterfall, Onneto Yu-no-taki. From Sokodai, one can observe Lake Penketo and Lake Panketo. Mount Hakuto Observatory, Mount Kikin, Tsurumi Pass, and Akan Lakeside Observatory offer panoramas of the surrounding countryside. On the Akan River

Akan River

is a river in Hokkaidō, Japan.-Course:The Akan River rises from Lake Akan, above sea level. The lake formed when the Akan River was damed by an eruption of Mount Oakan some 6000 years ago. The river exits the lake at Takiguchi as a waterfall...

 people view the mouth of the river Takiguchi as it flows into Lake Akan from Takimi Bridge. The area also offers Lake Jiro and Lake Taro.

External links

• Wikitravel: Akan National Park