Lake Biwa, Ancient tectonic lake in Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Lake Biwa is a tectonic body of water in Shiga Prefecture that stretches 63 kilometers from north to south. The water divides into two basins, with the northern section reaching 44 meters deep while the southern part averages 3.5 meters.
Tectonic forces shaped the basin around four million years ago, creating one of the oldest lakes on Earth. Early Japanese cultures already relied on the water as a vital source, and it continues to supply the surrounding regions today.
Fishers still use the traditional eri method, capturing fish through stationary traps that work without active handling or pursuit. This approach remains part of daily life in the shoreline communities and shows how people have relied on the water for generations without exhausting it.
The water supplies millions of people in the Kinki region with drinking water and supports farming, fishing and textile production. Visitors can explore the shoreline walkways, with the northern area feeling quieter while the shallower south remains easier to reach.
The isolated ecosystem hosts 60 species found nowhere else on Earth, including fish and mollusks that evolved separately over millions of years. These creatures exist only here and make every visit an encounter with biological rarity.
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