Another caldera lake that formed from volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, this bedazzling body of water on Japan’s island of Hokkaido is part of Akan-Mashu National Park. Called the “lake of the gods,” it is often covered in fog and mist—to see the surface of the water is said to bring bad luck from the spirit who lives in its depths. But when it can be seen, the lake itself is crystal clear, with water visibility close to 100 feet, because no rivers empty into it to deposit sediment and debris. Nearby, Kaminoko-ike (“child of the gods”) Pond got its name because underground springs from Lake Mashu are believed to feed it, which is why the pond also has such transparent water.
