Koriga-Ike Pond, Izu Peninsula
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
88 mm ISO 100 for 1/25 sec. at ƒ/10
Scenic Heights: Koriga-Ike Pond and Geological Marvels on the Izu Skyline
Location: Izu Skyline, Shizuoka, Japan
Timestamps: 15:33 on February 14, 2024
Koriga-Ike Pond, situated along the eastern mountain slopes of the upper Izu Peninsula, unveils its serene beauty exclusively to travelers on the Izu Skyline, a picturesque toll road approximately 120 km southwest of central Tokyo.
At an altitude of 680 m, the Izu Skyline Kurotake Parking Lot (伊豆スカイライン玄岳駐車場) accommodates about 4 cars and offers a specially built ramp extending over the hillside, providing visitors with an unobstructed view of Koriga-Ike Pond, which lies 47 meters below the lookout point.
The name "Koriga-Ike," translating to "ice pond," recounts its history as a source of cut ice. In bygone days, the pond supplied ice to hotels in Atami during the summer. The pond gained popularity in 1967 with the completion of the Atami-Kogen Ropeway, boasting a then-largest-in-the-world 121-person gondola. However, the ropeway's abandonment in 1970, following the parent company's bankruptcy, impacted other attractions atop the mountain.
The cessation of gondola tourists and wider adoption of refrigeration allowed the pond and its habitat to recover, revealing the natural beauty witnessed today.
In addition to Koriga-Ike Pond, six more ponds in the area originated from natural dams formed by uplifting caused by left-lateral strike-slip movements over thousands of years along the Tanna Fault. Extending from northern Izu to Izu City over about 30 km, this active fault played a more recent role in the 1930 magnitude 7.0 North Izu Earthquake, claiming the lives of 272 people in the villages of the region.
Explore the unique geological wonders along the Izu Skyline, which is just one of three captivating skyline toll roads in the upper Izu Peninsula and Hakone areas. If you find yourself driving to Izu, this route is a must for nature enthusiasts, landscape photographers, and history lovers alike.
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