Shirogane Blue Pond

白金青い池

Lakes & Ponds · Hokkaido

Located in Biei, Hokkaido, Shirogane Blue Pond formed by accident during construction of a dam built in 1988 to protect the town from volcanic mudflows off Mount Tokachi. Its striking cobalt-blue color comes from colloidal aluminum hydroxide carried by mineral-rich groundwater from nearby Shirahige Falls mixing with the Biei River, scattering sunlight in a way that shifts from milky turquoise to deep blue with the light and season. Pale trunks of dead larch trees rise from the still water, and the pond gained worldwide fame after being featured as an official Apple OS X wallpaper in 2012.

TikTok video of June 14, 2026