Five Lakes of Mikata
Lake Hiruga (saline lake): The lake with the original landscape of a fishing village
Lake Kugushi (brackish lake): A paradise for boating
Lake Suigetsu (brackish lake): A miraculous lake that reveals 70,000 years of history
Five Lakes of Mikata
The Five Lakes of Mikata is a collective name for the five lakes that are spread across Mihama Town and Wakasa Town, Fukui: Lake Hiruga, Lake Kugushi, Lake Suigetsu, Lake Suga, and Lake Mikata. The Five Lakes are called the Five-colored Lakes as the difference in water quality and depth gives each of them a different shade of color.
Lake Hiruga (saline lake): The lake with the original landscape of a fishing village
Lake Hiruga is the only one of the Five Lakes that appears to be isolated from the others, but it is connected to Lake Suigetsu by the Saga Tunnel. It is connected to the Sea of Japan by the artificially excavated Hiruga Channel, and has the highest salinity among the Five Lakes. On the northern shore of Lake Hiruga, there is a row of Hiruga Village houses nestled in the mountain shade along the narrow shore between the mountains and the lake, creating a scenery reminiscent of a fishing village.
Lake Kugushi (brackish lake): A paradise for boating
Lake Kugushi is lagoon surrounded by the sandbars of the villages of Kugushi and Hayase and Mt. Igiri on its northern shore. It is a gourd-shaped lake connected to Lake Suigetsu by the Urami River. The Fukui Prefectural Kugushiko Rowing Course is located here, making it the center of rowing competitions in the Hokuriku region.
Lake Suigetsu (brackish lake): A miraculous lake that reveals 70,000 years of history
Striped sediments called varves have formed on the bottom of Lake Suigetsu over a period of 70,000 years. The varves were formed over a period of 70,000 years as a result of a miraculous combination of various factors, such as the fact that there are no rivers flowing into the lake and that the lake is surrounded by mountains, making it less susceptible to wind. As a result, the varves of Lake Suigetsu have become the global standard in archaeology and geology, dramatically improving the accuracy of dating.
Lake Suga (brackish lake): A lake where wild birds gather
Lake Suga and the entire area surrounding it are designated as a Special Wildlife Protection Area, where white-tailed eagles, Steller's sea eagles, ducks, and other species can be observed. The lake is connected to Lake Suigetsu, and visitors can take a tour of the lake on sightseeing boats.
Lake Mikata (freshwater lake)
Lake Mikata is the only freshwater lake among the Five Lakes of Mikata as it is the furthest lake from the sea and is fed by the Hasu River. A traditional fishing method called tatakiamiryo, in which a bamboo pole is used to strike the surface of the water to startle carp and other fish such as crucian carp and drive them into the net, has become a winter tradition. Many artifacts from the Jomon Period, such as wooden products and lacquerware, have been excavated from the Torihama shell mound near Lake Mikata, suggesting that this area has been a base for people's lives since ancient times.