JP009
Lake Tofutsu


Country/territory: Japan

IBA criteria met: A1, A3, A4i (2004)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 2,200 hectares (22.00 km2)

Wild Bird Society of Japan
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2015 moderate low high
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2007 baseline)
Lake Tohutsuko lies between Abashiri City and Koshimizu Town in eastern Hokkaido. The narrow strip of sand dune (Koshimizu Gensei Kaen) separates Tohutsuko, an inland sea-lake, from the sea. The lake has an area of 900 ha with 27.3 km of the shoreline, and an average depth of 1.1 m. The lake is relatively shallow with the deepest part being 2.5 m. Some rivers flow into the lake, and approximately 118 ha of wetlands are found around the lake. Alnus japonice forest is around the rivers, and the marsh is dominated mainly by Carex and Phragmites australis, and few Typha latifolia and Scirpus tabernaemontani. In the brackish water, a salt marsh exists with Salicornia europaea and Triglochin maritima.. Cattle have been grazing selectively, so communities of Iris setosa, Rose rugosa and Themopsis lupinoides are found in patches.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Tofutsu (Japan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-tofutsu-iba-japan on 27/12/2024.