The Lake's Jewels - Marimo
Almost a century has passed since Tetsuya Kawakami of the Sapporo Agricultural School(now
Hokkaido University) first discovered marimo in Lake Akan.
Though Lake Akan is most noted for marimo, they also live in Lakes Shirarutoro and
Toro near Kushiro's famous wetland area known as Kushiro Shitsugen National Park. Marimo also inhabit Lakes Kawaguchi and Sai, two of The Five Lakes of Mt. Fuji. Lake Akan, however,
is the only lake which offers superb samples of velvety round marimo which occasionally
reach diameters of between 20 and 30 centimeters.
These beautiful, unique living creatures have been described as jewels of the lake.
In 1921 marimo were designated as a Japanese Natural Treasure and, in 1952, they were
further elevated in esteem through designation as a Special Japanese Natural Treasure.
Spherical marimo were first discovered in 1824 by physician and botanist Dr. Anton E. Sauter.
His report on spherical marimo in Lake Zeller (Zeller See), Austria attracted the attention of
many botanists. Marimo were subsequently found to exist in the United Kingdom, Russia, and
Sweden as well as other countries.
The marimo's scientific name is Cladophora aegagropila and they belong to the Cladophora
sauteri or Cladophora aegagropila family. Cladophora means branched plant. And, as he was
the first to discover the marimo, sauteri is a derivative of Dr. Sauter's name.
Lake Akan has become the only lake in the world today where large round marimo can still be
observed. We welcome your interest in marimo and through these pages invite you to discover
how we humans have affected the marimo's way of life and how the marimo has, in turn,
affected our lives.
--taken from marimo web
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