Lake Mahuko is located in Akan National park on Japanse most northern island Hokkaido. Mashuko is known as one of the top 3 cleanest and clearest freshwater lakes on our planet, with visibility up to 30-40 meters. The maximum depth of the lake is 211.5 m (6 94 ft.) Lake Mashu is an endorheic crater lake that does not drain into the Ocean and has steep crater walls 200m (655ft high). The caldera is the remains of a stratovolcano, which is actually a parasitic cone of the larger lake Kussharo caldera, a distance away. Lake Mashuko has no access roads and is difficult to access in the winter month. Also, no motorized vehicle, no horse, and no boats are permitted in or around the lake. I took this shot of the lake flying over with friends from National Geographics, while I was leading a Hokkaido, Japan Photo Tour.
The First Nations people of Japan are the Ainu, and they know Lake Mashu as 'Kintan Kamui Toh' in Ainu, which means the lake of mountain's God. In the summer of 2019-2020, I will be leading small private photography expedition tours in the region. If you would like to join us, please contact me!