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Both of these scenic beauties are star
attractions at the Onuma Quasi National Park.
The nature park also encompasses other lakes
formed as a result of the historic eruptions
of Mt. Komagatake in 1640. Mud flows from
extremely violent eruptions dammed-up streams from
the mountain causing water to accumulate into
lakes. Lake Onuma is the biggest of these
lakes followed by Lake Konuma. Fertile volcanic
soils support lush forests are home to
a rich variety of flora and fauna. The
whole park is generally referred to as
Onuma.
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Mt. Komagatake viewed across
Lake Onuma is most beautiful, they compliment
each other. This is a scene in early
spring.
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Lake Onuma generally takes a long rectangular
shape of which its length seem to stretch
‘parallel’ to the length of the mountain
in a ‘east-west’ direction. The pair can
be seen over long distances.
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Mount Komagatake, the volcano last erupted in
the year 2000 but it was relatively ‘tame’
by standards of its earlier plinian eruptions.
The 1640 eruptions deposited ashes as far
away as central Honshu and an ensuing
tsunami took many lives. It also triggered
a period of frequent explosive activities.
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The sharp summit of 1,131m
height is on the west side of a
large breached crater. These features resulted
from an edifice collapse of the top of
the volcano in 1640.
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In Japanese, Onuma means ‘big
swamp’ and in local Ainu language, it is
‘proto’ which has the same meaning due
to its origin. Today, it is a body
of brilliant blue waters.
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The lake has an approximate
circumference of 24km and accommodates 126 islands
of various sizes in it.
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At its deepest end, the lake bed drops
13.6m beneath surface. The tranquility in and
around the lake leave no trace of its
violent creation.
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The lake and forests support rich ecosystems
of marine life and landed flora and fauna.
They include mallard and spotbill ducks, wild
wagtail birds, oak and birch trees
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