- Hachirogata
Infobox lake
lake_name = Hachirogata
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location =Akita Prefecture
coords = coord|39|54|50|N|140|01|15|E|region:JP_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =
inflow =
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries = Japan
length =
width =
area = 48.3 km²
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = -4 m
islands =
cities =Hachirogata (八郎潟 "Hachirōgata") is a
lake in theAkita Prefecture in northernJapan . Its formal name is Lake Hachiro (八郎湖 "Hachirō-ko"), but it is also called Hachirogata Regulating Pond (八郎潟調整池 "Hachirōgata chōseichi"). At 4 meters below sea level, Hachirogata is now the lowest point in Japan.Hachirogata was the second-largest lake in Japan after
Lake Biwa . Extensive reclamation began in1957 for crop production, and Ogata village was established on the reclaimed land inOctober 1 ,1964 . The remaining lake has an area of 48.3 km² (18th largest in Japan).Some regard the reclamation as a mistake, since Japan began to be bothered with surplus
rice soon after the completion of the reclamation. Others lament the loss of thewetland s.Fishery of shijimi shells ("corbicula japonica") was a thriving industry, but it decreased as the lake became less brackish. In the winter, people fish wakasagi ("hypomesus nipponensis") by hollowing out the frozen surface. Today,
black bass fishing attracts tourists even outside the prefecture, though some suspect that indigenous species are threatened by the invasion of the extraneous fish.Legend
According to a legend, a man called Hachiro who was transformed into a dragon chose the lake for his home after wandering a long time. Thus, the lake was named Hachirogata ("-gata" means "lagoon"). Later, he was attracted to a woman who owned
Lake Tazawa , another lake in the Akita Prefecture, and moved to be with her. After that, Hachirogata became increasingly shallower.External links
* [http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/asi/asi-34.html World Lakes Database: Hachiro-gata]
* [http://www.pref.akita.jp/fpd/oogata/oogata-indexeigo.htm The memory of Oogata]
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