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■Sightseeing Guide
Okama is a round crater lake surrounded by the three mountains of Mt. Zao-Kattadake, Mt. Kumanodake and Mt. Goshikidake. It is called Okama (iron pot) because it is shaped like one. The surface of the lake has emerald-green water and gives a mystic atmosphere, contrasting starkly with the fierce crater walls. Okama, in addition to the Snow Monsters of the winter time, is a symbol of Zao. Zao has erupted 26 times in the past, with the most recent volcano eruption occurring on February 15th, 1895. When a survey was conducted in 1939, the crater lake depth was 63m, however because of the collapse of a cliff off Mt. Goshikidake, the crater has been filled a little each year. In 1968, the maximum depth was measured to be 27.6m, the average depth 17.8m, the circumference 1,080m, the West-East diameter 325m and the North-South diameter 335m.
Since the lake water is strongly acidic, it is uninhabitable for all kinds of organisms. The temperature drops down to 2 degrees Celsius at a depth of between 10 and 20 meters, after which it has a special kind of thermo cline, from where the temperature rises as it goes deeper. This kind of lake is not even to be seen in other parts of the world. The lake is also known as the "Goshiki-Numa" (lake of five-colors), since it changes to various colors according to the angle of the sunlight. The water flows out of the Southwest section of the lake and turns into a muddy river before running off to the Pacific Ocean, via the north hillside of Sainokawara.
○For further information, contact the following:
Telephone No.: 81-224-33-2215(Commerce, Industry and Tourism Section, Zao Municipal Office)
○Web site:
http://www.zao-machi.com/html/sight.html
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