Lake Sasabo

Lake Sasabo [恁守匆; ささぼ・く] is a lake located in southern Ganyama Prefecture in the Zōku region of Kanton. It is one of the deepest lakes in the country with a depth of 450 metres, and lies below Mount Ganyama. The surrounding area is a popular vacation site and several hot spring resorts can be found in the hills above the lake. 
Lake Sasabo was first named in the Chisō period when its surrounding foothills were settled. The original moniker was phonetically the same, sasabo, but was a vernacular word referring to the pied wagtail. However, the name was changed in 1803 by the government as this dialectal word appeared 'too informal' on official documents. Therefore, a purely phonetic set of characters, 恁 and 守, were applied to the lake which had the same pronunciation.
Sasabo is also connected with the legendary maiden of beauty, Chūjin, itself of unknown origin. The lake has a bronze statue of Chūjin near its shore. Chūjin, wishing for undying youth and beauty, is said to have been turned into a lake goddess. The statue of Chūjin stands facing the clear blue waters, a figure of pureness and beauty, and was unveiled in April 1968.
Category:Lakes & Rivers