Akan National Park

Infobox_protected_area | name = Akan National Park
阿寒国立公園
iucn_category = II


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location = Hokkaidō, Japan
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area = 904.81 km²
established = December 4, 1934
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Nihongo|Akan National Park|阿寒国立公園|Akan Kokuritsu Kōen is a national park located on the island of Hokkaidō, Japan. Along with Daisetsuzan National Park, these are the two oldest national parks in Hokkaidō.cite web|url=http://www.lake-akan.com/en/anp/index.html|title=Welcome to AKAN -Akan National Park|publisher=Akan Tourism Association & Community Development Promotion Organization |accessdate=2008-10-11] Akan is a volcanic area with craters spread throughout the forest. The park is famous for its crystal clear lakes, its hot springs, and its large marimo. It is the only place where marimo of appreciable size form naturally in Japan.

Geographic features

Akan National Park includes three calderas:
*Lake Mashu is a calera lake. It is one of the clearest lakes in the world with visibility up to 40 meters.
*Lake Kusharo is another caldera lake.
*Akan Caldera is a large caldera over 20 km across. Emerging from within caldera is the Akan Volcanic Complex, which includes the highest mountain in the park, Mount Meakan.

ee also

*List of national parks of Japan

External links

* [http://wikitravel.org/en/article/Akan_National_Park Wikitravel: Akan National Park]

References

* http://www.biodic.go.jp/english/jpark/np/akan_e.html