Shiga Highland Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 1980, in Japan. Shiga Highland Biosphere Reserve is in the central part of Honshu, Japan, spanning five municipalities in two prefectures: Yamanouchi Town and Takayama Village in Nagano Prefecture, and Nakanojo Town, Kusatsu Town and Tsumagoi Village in Gunma Prefecture. The core area and buffer zone overlap Joshin’etsukōgen National Park. The volcanic lake of Mt. Shirane is reputed to be the most acidic lake in the world, with a pH of 0.8.