Lake Kutcharo

Lake Kutcharo
クッチャロ湖 (Japanese)
Lake Kutcharo
Lake Kutcharo
Location	Hamatonbetsu, Esashi District, Sōya Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan
Coordinates	45°09′N 142°20′E / 45.150°N 142.333°E / 45.150; 142.333
Type	Freshwater lake
Etymology	Ainu kut-char (クㇳチャㇻ), meaning "marsh water outlet".
Basin countries	Japan
Surface area	13.40 square kilometres (5.17 sq mi)
Average depth	1.5 metres (4.9 ft)
Max. depth	2.5 metres (8.2 ft)
Shore length1	27 kilometres (16.8 mi)
Surface elevation	approx. 1–2 metres (3.3–6.6 ft)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Kutcharo (クッチャロ湖, Kutcharo-ko) is a pair of inter-connected freshwater lakes in Hamatonbetsu, Esashi District, Sōya Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. Eight rivers flow into the lakes, and they drain into the Sea of Okhotsk. The lakes were designated a Ramsar site in July 1989, and host nearly 300 bird species either year round or as part of the avians' migratory pattern.

The site is considered especially important for the tundra swan and the white-tailed eagle. Many varieties of ducks use the site, as well, with 50,000-60,000 visiting the lakes annually. A bird banding facility and an observation center are found at the site.