Lake Biwa

Shiga Lake Biwa | Japan's Largest Freshwater Lake

Lake Biwa is Japan's largest freshwater lake with a surface area of 670.4 km² and circumference of 235.2 km. The lake is also considered one of the twenty oldest lakes in the world, dating back approximately 4 million years. This long history has led to a great diverse ecosystem in the lake, resulting in about 1100 species. The lake is mainly a reservoir for Shiga's capital city Ōtsu and Japan's ancient capital Kyoto. Lake Biwa is a major source of drinking water for approximately 15 million Kansai people. Besides providing drinking water, Lake Biwa also served as a breeding ground for freshwater fish and freshwater pearl cultivation.

Shiga Lake Biwa | Related Pages