Layers of blue, Lake Shikotsu

by The Raw World Atlas

Ridge after ridge, each a shade lighter than the last. In the foreground, the steep rim of a caldera casts a dark, almost black silhouette against the silvery water. Behind it rises a long mountain range in a muted blue, with a band of low-lying clouds hanging from its flank. Above, the sky opens up to reveal bright, scattered cumulus clouds. Light glints off the water and the edges of the clouds, whilst the slopes remain in shadow.

This is Lake Shikotsu in Hokkaido, Japan. The lake fills a caldera that was formed tens of thousands of years ago when the land between the surrounding volcanoes collapsed. With a depth of up to 363 metres, it is Japan’s second-deepest lake, and the vast volume of water keeps its temperature so stable that it is considered the country’s northernmost lake that does not freeze over. The Ainu name means ‘great hollow’.

The image is built up in layers, like a landscape in ink wash painting: dark, then medium blue, then pale, then white. This lends it both tranquillity and depth. In landscape format, it serves as a serene focal point above the sofa, the bed or in the office, and the cool palette of navy blue, slate and silver complements minimalist, Scandinavian and Japanese-inspired interiors. The soft gradations between the ridges and the subtle shimmer on the water are shown to their best advantage on matt fine art paper.