is a river in Hokkaidō

Hokkaido

, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

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Course

The Akan River rises from Lake Akan

Lake Akan

is a lake in Kushiro, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is located in Akan National Park and is a Ramsar Site.-History:Volcanic activity formed the lake some 6,000 years ago, when a dam was formed. The lake used to have a clarity of 8–9 meters in the 1930s. Pollution from local hotspring resorts has decreased...

, 420 metres (1,378 ft) above sea level. The lake formed when the Akan River was damed by an eruption of Mount Oakan

Mount Oakan

is a shield volcano located in Akan National Park in Hokkaidō, Japan.-Geography and geology:Mount Oakan sits in the Akan caldera northeast of Lake Akan. The volcano rises some above the surrounding terrain. The top of the volcano is above sea level. The volcanic cone is some in diameter. There...

 some 6000 years ago. The river exits the lake at Takiguchi as a waterfall. This spot and Takimi Bridge nearby are attractions in Akan National Park

Akan National Park

is a national park located on the island of Hokkaidō, Japan. Along with Daisetsuzan National Park, these are the two oldest national parks in Hokkaidō. The park was established December 4, 1934....

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The river winds its way south entirely within the district managed by Kushiro

Kushiro, Hokkaido

is a city located in Kushiro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the capital city of Kushiro Subprefecture, as well as the most populous city in eastern Hokkaidō....

,Hokkaidō. The river then flows into the Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...

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