Mother Lake: The Blessings of Lake Biwa With an area of 670 km2and 28 km3 in volume, Japan's biggest lake is a precious source of water for the Kansai region. It is valued both as a provider of an essential resource for home and industry and as a natural and cultural matriarch that enriches people's lives. The bounty of water that exists in the Kansai region is due in large part to Lake Biwa. View of the southern part of Lake Biwa An ecosystem inhabited by more than 1,000 species Lake Biwa is one of the 10 confirmed oldest lakes in the world, a list which includes Lake Baikal in Russia and Lake Tanganyika in east central Africa. The lake was originally formed four million years ago, taking on its current shape 400,000 years ago. The Biwako giant catfish and Biwa trout are two of more than 50 species unique to the lake, which forms a valuable ecosystem containing more than 1,000 species of living creature. The waterfront environment, which is home to nearly 100 species of wild birds, is also inhabited by minnow, crucian carp and other species of fish in addition to valuable stands of reeds. In 1993 this area was designated as a registered wetland under the Ramsar Convention. The water source for four prefectures and 14 million people in Kansai Lake Biwa, providing a stable and abundant source of water, has been used since ancient times to supply water for drinking, agriculture and industry, not only in Shiga Prefecture but for the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe region as well. At present it is the source of water supplied to 14 million people in Shiga (1 million), Kyoto (1.8 million), Osaka (8.5 million) and Hyogo (2.7 million) Prefectures. Through a program (Lake Biwa General Development Project) of general development of the lake, water can now be supplied at a rate of 40 m3 per second down the Yodo River to meet the growing demand for water. A natural basin to stabilize the flow of the Yodo River Joining the Yodo River are the Seta River, which exits Lake Biwa and later becomes the Uji River, and the Kizu and Katsura Rivers. This watershed spans six prefecturesÑShiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara and Mie. This watershed has a total area of 8,240 km2. The estimated population within the flood periphery of Lake Biwa is 7.8 million, with property valued at 50 trillion yen, the highest for any body of water in the country. Yet the Yodo River has a stable volume of water much less prone to flooding and water shortage than other major rivers. This is due to the functioning of Lake Biwa upstream as a control basin during times of flooding and as a reservoir during times of drought. One of Japan's leading freshwater fishing areas The reeds and other aquatic plants that grow along the shores of Lake Biwa are important spawning grounds for carp and crucian carp and also serve as a hiding place and feeding ground for the hatched fry. The reeds are responsible for fostering the great bounty of the lake. Most of the fishing in the prefecture is carried out at Lake Biwa, and the lake is a noted spot for freshwater fish in Japan. The annual volume of freshwater fish harvested is approximately 2,800 tons, in the top class for major lakes and marshes (according to a 1998 report by the Kinki Agricultural Administration Bureau). The annual sales volume of 112.9 million sweetfish accounts for a nearly 50% share nationwide (according to a 1997 report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries). An academic research site Because Lake Biwa has many issues to be resolved, it is also recognized as a superb site for academic research, with its long history, many rare plants and animals, prehistoric ruins, and complex water movements. The UNEP International Environmental Technology Center and Lake Biwa Museum were established at the lake as bases for academic research. UNEP International Environmental Technology Center TEL 077-568-4586 Lake Biwa Museum TEL 077-568-4811 A place for tourism and recreation Nearly 37 million people visit Lake Biwa every year as tourists. The lake is renowned for its nature and scenery, and people enjoy recreational sports such as boating, windsurfing, jet skiing, fishing and camping. An inspiration for literature and the arts Lake Biwa is a setting that appears in the Kojiki and Man'yoshu, two of the oldest works of literature in Japan. The ruins still exist of Ishiyama Temple, which inspired The Tale of Genji, written in the 11th century by MURASAKI Shikibu, and of Gichuji Temple, a place famous in connection with the poet Basho. The Eight Views of Omi, by ANDO Hiroshige, is another example of the many works of art inspired by the lake's scenery. Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Environmental Department, Water Policy Section TEL 077-524-1121 TOP All images Copyright. 1999 Kansai International Public Relations Promotion Office. All Rights Reserved.