Otomegaike is a beautiful pond which is 10-minutes walk from Omi-Takashima Station. Many Japanese TV dramas were filmed there. It is one of the spots worth visiting on the way to Shirahige Shrine.
The name Otomegaike means "Virgin Pond" or "Venus Pond". About 100 years ago, freshwater pearls were cultivated in this pond, which was rechristened at that time.
The inward lagoons around the Lake Biwa mainly have three functions. Firstly, they are precious habitats for creatures and protect ecosystem. There are so many species of fish and various forms of life. Secondly, they serve as flood control basin. When it rains hard, the lagoons can control water level to prevent a flooding. Thirdly, they are natural filter to keep clean the water of Lake Biwa: as the water flows from rivers into the lake, impurities settle at the bottom of lagoon and only the top clear layer of the water flows into the lake. The settled mud is scooped up and sprinkled on the fields as a natural fertilizer.
The water of Lake Biwa flows out from the Seta River, only one river flowing out of the lake, located on the south shore, and is used by 14 million people living in Kansai region (Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, etc.). The reason why so many people can drink water is that the inner lagoons purify water naturally. This is a true nature's blessing.
In Takashima, the sky often turns purple in the evening. This is probably due to the refraction of light; temperature difference between the hot air above the vast Lake Biwa and the cooler air above the land. When the purple sky is reflected on the surface of the water, we cannot help feeling that this beautiful scenery is also a gift from nature. If you have the opportunity to stay overnight in Takashima, we would like you to enjoy the evening scenery as well.
Comments
Post a Comment