Journeys for Knowledge

As I alluded to previously, we were not quite done with Lake Toya and the surrounding area after our brief visit to Hakodate. Not only did we intend to visit the island at the heart of the caldera, but we insisted on taking the castle ferry there for the sheer novelty of it. Turns out the local birds were also fond of this ferry, constantly bickering over who got to sit at the front. As we approached the isle, what appeared as one island was revealed to be two, with a hidden cove as the port of call. Our trek through the island revealed a peaceful and untouched forest, benefiting from the rich volcanic soil.

Back on the shore, we found the flip-side of such volcanic activity, devastation. Although I have been to other volcanic area, never have I seen how a single lava flow can do so much damage to a town. The fact that they left these buildings intact as a memorial to that evening was profoundly heartening. A constant reminder that no matter how high humanity builds, ultimately we are only as strong as the Earth we build upon.

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