- Fuji Five Lakes
Fuji Five Lakes (富士五湖, fujigoko) is the name of the area located at the base of
Mount Fuji in theYamanashi prefecture of Japan. It has a population of about 100,000.cite web | author=| year=| title=Government statistics page| format= | work= | url=http://www.mfi.or.jp/fg-kanrika/データーバンク -%20富士五湖消防本部-%20トップページ.files/kanri/kannaijinkou.htm | accessdate=2007-05-25] and sits approximately 1,000 meters above sea level.cite web | author=| year=| title=Japan-guide| format= | work= | url=http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6900.html | accessdate=2007-05-25] The nameFuji Five Lakes comes from the fact that there are five lakes formed by previous eruptions ofMount Fuji .cite web | author=| year=| title=Yamanashi Sightseeing Net| format= | work= yamanashi-kankou.jp| url= http://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/english/english003.html| accessdate=2007-05-25] The principal city in the region,Fujiyoshida , has a population of roughly 54,000cite web | author=| year=| title=Goo| format= | work= | url=http://house.goo.ne.jp/chiiki/kurashi/yamanashi/19202.html | accessdate=2007-05-25] and is particularly famous for itsudon noodles . Another point of interest is Aokigahara Jukai Forest.Lakes of the Fuji Five Lakes
The five lakes are located in an arc around the northern half of
Mount Fuji . In ancient times, lava flow from avolcanic eruption ofMount Fuji spread across the area, damming up rivers and resulting in the formation of these lakes. They are all considered excellent tourist attractions and fishing spots. These lakes froze over in winter, but due toglobal warming this is no longer the case.Fact|date=March 2008Lake Kawaguchi
Lake Kawaguchi is the most famous of the five lakes, and images of this lake are usually used in posters and commercials for theFuji Five Lakes area. A large number of hotels line its banks, as do locals providing boat rides to the tourists. It is the only lake in theFuji Five Lakes area that has an island. Many local cultural events are run near this lake throughout the year.Lake Motosu
Lake Motosu (本栖湖 motosuko) is the ninth deepest lake of Japan, at 140 meters. This lake, along with Lake Saiko and Lake Shojiko, was formed by lava flowing across what is now Aokigahara Jukai Forest and into the enormous lake that once dominated the area, and these three lakes remain still connected by underground waterways.aiko (Western Lake)
The western side of
Saiko (西湖 saiko) shares its banks with the infamous Aokigahara Jukai Forest.Lake Shoji
Lake Shoji (精進湖 shōjiko) is the smallest of the five lakes. Remnants of lava flow still jut out of the water. Locals usually fish from these rocks.Lake Yamanaka
The easternmost and largest of the five lakes,
Lake Yamanaka is also the third highest lake in Japan, standing at 980 meters above sea level.Tourism industry
Most of the capital coming into the area comes from the
tourism industry . Approximately 100,000,000,000yen is spent by 9,000,000 sightseers every year.cite web | author=| year=| title=Asahi Newspaper| format= | work= | url=http://www.asahi.com/culture/update/1120/011.html | accessdate=2007-05-25] The main attractions of the area include:
*Mount Fuji
* Onsens
*Fujikyu Highland - an amusement park featuring one of the world's highest roller coasters.
* The lakes - sightseeing, sailing, and fishing.
*Hiking andmountain climbing .
* Village of Healing (いやしいの里 iyashinosato)- a historically accurate, rebuilt Japanese village.References
External links
* [http://www.fujigoko.tv/ Fujigoko TV]
* [http://www.fujisan.ne.jp/index_e.php Kawaguchiko's government office] - English homepage
* [http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6904.html Fuji Five Lakes] travel info - includes a map
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