The locals in Biei, one of the most popoular sightseeing spots in Hokkaido, Japan, call this beautiful place as Aoi-ike 青い池 (The Blue Pond). which is also the pond chosen as one of the official wall papers on Apple device such as iphones and macbooks.
This magical pond changes color depending on the weather. If it had a lot of rain for the past few days, the color could be light green or dark green. If it had sunshine for past few days, it could be the wonderful cobalt blue you have ever seen!
MAY 25, 2016
Normally, it's opened 24 hrs a day, but take note that the illumination is only available during winter.
Illumination Date: Nov. 1 2016 to Feb. 28. 2017
(Starting date could be changed by the weather)
Illumination Time: 17:00 to 21:00
(Time could be changed by sunset time)
Access: It is about 25 min driving by car or Dohoku bus from JR Biei Station.
Map Code: 349 568 888
Location: Shirogane, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
Parking: Able to park 100 cars. Able to park 10 buses.
Fee: Free
Website: www.biei-hokkaido.jp
The Blue Pond wasn’t there from very long. It’s an artificial pond created when a dam was erected to protect the region from mudflows that might occur from the nearby volcano on Mt. Tokachi. In the wake of the eruption on December 1988, the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau decided to construct a dam upstream on the Bieigawa river to prevent mudflow. Water blocked by the dam now accumulates in a depression in the forest creating the Blue Pond.
According to Spoon & Tamago, the blue effect on the pond is caused by water containing a colloid—a microscopic mixture—of aluminium hydroxide, a naturally occurring mineral that's used to make antacids. Those particles reflect blue light (a similar phenomenon to what makes the sky blue) quite well, which means they change dramatically with the light.
In winter, the pond will be frozen and it will look like a normal snow field however, it has night illuminations, so if you like to see the blue pond, the best time to visit is around May to October.
Aoi-ike (Blue Pond)
Magical Pond in Hokkaido, Japan
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