10 Facts About Lake Biwa

Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located entirely within Shiga Prefecture, northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto.

Lake Biwa is an ancient lake, over 4 million years old.

Lake Biwa is a breeding ground for freshwater fish, including trout, and for the pearl culture industry.

Lake Biwa Canal, built in the late 1890s and later expanded during the Taisho period played a role of great importance in the rekindling of Kyoto's industrial life, after a steep decline following the transfer of the capital to Tokyo.

Lake Biwa is home to many popular beaches along the north-western shore, in particular, for example, Shiga Beach and Omi-Maiko.

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Lake Biwa Marathon takes place in Otsu, the city at the southern end of the lake, annually since 1962.

Lake Biwa is of tectonic origin and is one of the world's oldest lakes, dating to at least 4 million years ago.

The Biwa trout is endemic to the lake, but some maintain that it is a subspecies of the widespread masu salmon rather than a separate species.

Lake Biwa is the home of a large number of molluscs, including 38 freshwater snails and 16 bivalves .

Lake Biwa was designated as a UNESCO Ramsar Wetland in accordance with the Ramsar Convention.