Lake Izunuma-Uchinuma: A Year-Round Wetland Sanctuary

Izunuma-Uchinuma is two interconnected freshwater lakes situated in the alluvial plain of the Hasama River in Tome, a town in Miyagi Prefecture. Between 1927 and 1964, a land reclamation project was conducted to increase agricultural land. Parts of the lake were converted into rice fields and parts of the wetland were cleared to form the separate Lake Uchinuma. Small rivers and streams flow into the wetland, which drains into the Hasama River and is surrounded by low-lying farmland. The lakes sustain diverse plant and animal life. With an average depth of only about 0.8 meters, sunlight reaches the lakebeds and supports the growth of aquatic vegetation.

During the summer, vast expanses of lotus flowers turn the lake surfaces into seas of pink and green. Boat tours offer visitors the chance to appreciate the beauty of the flower-filled waterscape close up.