TAAL LAKE

'Taal Lake' is a freshwater lake in the province of Batangas, on the island of Luzon, Philippines. The lake is situated within a caldera formed by very large eruptions between 500,000 and 100,000 years ago. It is the country's third largest lake (the largest being Laguna de Bay). The active Taal Volcano, which is the one responsible for the lake's sulfuric content, lies on an island in the center of the lake, called Volcano Island.

Contents

History

Ecology

Tourism

Korean health spa construction

Trivia

References

External links

History

Taal Lake was once just an arm of Balayan Bay. However, after a series of major eruptions in the 16th century, the lake was closed off from the sea by newly-formed land bridges. Taal Lake's sole connection to the sea narrowed down into its sole draining river, the Pansipit River. Several centuries of precipitation have diluted the lake's once-saline waters into pure freshwater.
Succeeding eruptions buried numerous lakeside towns. Presently, only three towns are on the lake's shore. Old lakeside towns with buildings and walls are reported to be seen under the lake's waters.

Ecology

Because the lake was until recently, connected to the sea, it is home to many endemic species that have evolved and adapted to the desalinization of the lake's waters.
Its most popular endemic species is the overharvested ''tawilis'', the world's only freshwater sardine.
The lake has a freshwater-adapted population of trevally, ''Caranx ignobilis''. These fish, also found in the Pansipit River, are locally called ''maliputo''.

Taal Lake is also home to one of the world's rarest sea snakes, ''Hydrophis semperi''. This particular species is only one of two "true" sea snake species that are known to live entirely in freshwater.
Bull sharks, ''Carcharhinus leucas'', used to be part of the lake's once-diverse ecosystem. They were exterminated by the locals in the 1930s.

Tourism

Regular tours of the lake are available to tourists. After crossing the lake, visitors travel to the top of Volcano Island on horseback. During their trip up and down the mountain, visitors are treated to a stunning view of the lake and its surroundings.

Korean health spa construction

In mid-2007, controversy ensued when the Korean firm Jung Ang Interventure was given clearance to build a health spa on Volcano Island itself along the lake's edge.
Over the course of the next few weeks, several government officials expressed their disapproval of the construction project.^[1][2]
On June 28, the DENR suspended the Korean firm's environmental clearance certificate, rendering them incapable of pursuing further construction on the island until they secure other necessary permits. ^[3]
Due to public outrage, the Korean company's permit was revoked by the DENR in early July 2007.^[4]

Trivia

★ Natives, call this island/volcano "Pulo"(Islet)


★ Crater Lake, which lies within Vulcano Island, is the world's largest lake on an island in a lake on an island

★ Vulcan point, which lies within Crater Lake, is the world's largest island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island

References

1. Batangas, Tagaytay execs oppose Taal spa project Marlon Ramos
2. Vilma Santos takes oath, says vs Taal spa Tetch Torres
3. DENR gives Taal spa firm 1-week ultimatum Volt Contreras
4. DENR voids Taal spa permit

External links

★ Taal Lake at Global Nature Fund.

★ Taal Lake at the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc.

★ Satellite image of Taal Lake - Google Maps

★ Trek to Taal's guide to Taal Lake.