Lake Biwa
Lake Biwa (琵琶湖, Biwa-ko) is the largest freshwater lake in Japan. It is located entirely within Shiga Prefecture (west-central Honshu), northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto. Lake Biwa is an ancient lake, over 4 million years old. It is estimated to be the 13th oldest lake in the world. Because of its proximity to Kyoto, references to Lake Biwa appear frequently in Japanese literature, particularly in poetry and in historical accounts of battles.
| Lake Biwa | |
|---|---|
| 琵琶湖 (Japanese) | |
Lake Biwa from space | |
Lake Biwa Lake Biwa | |
| Location | Shiga Prefecture, Japan |
| Coordinates | 35°15′18″N 136°04′48″E |
| Type | Ancient lake, tectonic, freshwater |
| Primary inflows | 118 rivers |
| Primary outflows | Seta River |
| Catchment area | 3,174 km2 (1,225 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Japan |
| Max. length | 63.49 km (39.45 mi) |
| Max. width | 22.8 km (14.2 mi) |
| Surface area | 670.3 km2 (258.8 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 41 m (135 ft) |
| Max. depth | 104 m (341 ft) |
| Water volume | 27.5 km3 (6.6 cu mi) |
| Residence time | 5.5 years |
| Shore length1 | 235.2 km (146.1 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 85.6 m (281 ft) |
| Islands | Chikubu, Takeshima, Okishima (inhabited) |
| Settlements | Higashiōmi, Hikone, Kusatsu, Maibara, Moriyama, Nagahama, Ōmihachiman, Ōtsu, Takashima, Yasu |
Ramsar Wetland | |
| Official name | Biwa-ko |
| Designated | June 10, 1993 |
| Reference no. | 617 |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
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