Stormy Overcast Sky at Shiretoko Five Lakes with Mount Rasu in the Background

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Shiretoko National Park (知床国立公園 Shiretoko Kokuritsu Kōen?) covers most of the Shiretoko Peninsula at the northeastern tip of the island of Hokkaidō, Japan. The word "Shiretoko" is derived form an Ainu word "sir etok", meaning "end of the Earth". One of the most remote regions in all of Japan, much of the peninsula is only accessible on foot or by boat. The park is best known as the home of Japan's largest brown bear population and for offering views of the disputed Kunashiri Island, claimed by Japan. The park has a hot springs waterfall called Kamuiwakka Falls (カムイワッカの滝 Kamuiwakka-no-taki?). Kamui wakka means "water of the gods" in Ainu. The Shiretoko Five Lakes are a set of five small lakes formed long ago by the eruption of nearby Mount Io and fed by underground springs.

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Size: 4000px × 2248px
Location: Oazaonnebetsumura Azaiwaobetsu, Shari-cho, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan
Photo credit: © Moonie's World / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: cloudy, conservation, goko, green, greenery, heritage, hokkaido, japan, japanese, lake, lakes, landscape, mount, national, overcast, park, people, rausu, reflection, scenery, shiretoko, site, storm, unesco, utoro, waterbody, world