| Western Lake | |
|---|---|
 from Eastern end | |
  Western Lake | |
| Location | Yamanashi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35°29′54″N138°41′07″E / 35.49833°N 138.68528°E /35.49833; 138.68528 |
| Primary inflows | none |
| Basin countries | Japan |
| Surface area | 2.1 km2 (0.81 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 71.7 m (235 ft) |
| Shore length1 | 9.85 km (6.12 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 901 m (2,956 ft) |
| 1 Shore length isnot a well-defined measure. | |
Western Lake (西湖,Saiko), sometimesSaiko, is one of theFuji Five Lakes and located in the town ofFujikawaguchiko in southernYamanashi Prefecture nearMount Fuji,Japan.
It is the fourth of theFuji Five Lakes in terms of surface area, and second deepest, with a maximum water depth of 71.1 metres (233 ft).[1] Its surface elevation of 900 metres (3,000 ft) is the same as forLake Motosu andLake Shōji, confirming that these three lakes were originally a single lake, which was divided by an enormous lava flow from Mount Fuji during an eruption from 864 to 868 AD.[2] The remnants of the lava flow are now under theAokigahara Jukai Forest, and there is evidence to indicate that these three lakes remain connected by underground waterways.[1]
The lake is within the borders of theFuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.[3]
Saiko has no natural drainage, but an artificial channel now connects it to Lake Kawaguchi.As with the other Fuji Five Lakes, the area is a popular resort, with many lakeside hotels, windsurfing facilities, camp sites, and excursion boats.Japanese white crucian carp,wakasagi andKunimasu were introduced to the lake in theMeiji period, and sports fishing is also popular.
However,Kunimasu, which had been introduced to a number of lakes in Japan in theTaishō period were believed to have died out and become extinct, with the last reported sighting in 1935, until rediscovered in Lake Sai in 2010.[4]
West Lake inHangzhou,China, is written with the samekanji as Lake Sai.
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Authority control databases: National |
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