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BIWA

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Originally appearing in Volume V04, Page 15 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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BIWA , a See also:

lake in the See also:province of Omi, See also:Japan. It See also:measures 36 m. in length by 12 m. in extreme breadth, has an See also:area of 18o sq. m., is about 330 ft. above See also:sea-level, and has an extreme See also:depth of some 300 ft. There are a few small islands in the lake, the See also:principal being Chikubu-shima at the See also:northern end. . Tradition alleges that Lake Biwa and the See also:mountain of See also:Fuji were produced simultaneously by an See also:earthquake in 286 B.C. On the See also:west of the lake the mountains Hiei-zan and See also:Hira-See also:yama slope down almost to its margin, and on the See also:east a wide See also:plain extends towards the boundaries of the province of Mino. It is drained by a See also:river flowing out of its See also:southern end, and taking its course into the sea at See also:Osaka. This river bears in See also:succession the names of Seta gawa, Uji-gawa and Yodo-gawa. The lake abounds with See also:fish, and the beauty of its scenery is remarkable. Small steamboats ply constantly to the points of See also:chief See also:interest, and around its shores are to be viewed the Omi-no-hakkei, or " eight landscapes of Omi "; namely, the lake ;silvering under an autumn See also:moon as one looks down from Ishi-yama; the See also:snow at See also:eve on Hira-yama; the glow of sunset at Seta; the groves and classic See also:temple of Mii-dera as the evening See also:bell sounds; boats sailing See also:home from Yabase; cloudless peaks at Awazu; See also:rain at nightfall over Karasaki; and See also:wild geese sweeping down to Katata.. The lake is connected with Kyoto by a See also:canal constructed in 189o, and is thus brought into See also:water communication with Osaka.

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