Taal Lake

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Taal Lake
image_lake = Taal_Volcano_satellite_image.gif
caption_lake = Satellite image showing Taal Lake with Volcano island within it
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
coords =coord|13|59|13|N|121|00|44|E|region:PH_type:waterbody_source:cswiki|display=inline,title
type = crater lake
inflow =
outflow = Pansipit River
catchment =
location = Batangas
basin_countries = Philippines
length = 25 km
width = 18 km
area =
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore = 115 km
elevation = 5 m
islands = Volcano Island
cities = Talisay, San Nicolas, Lipa City, Laurel, Tanauan City, Santa Teresita, Mataas na Kahoy, Balete, Cuenca, Alitagtag, and Agoncillo

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. The island is called "pulo" or islet by the locals.

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 desalination 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.

Fishkill

On January 5, 2008, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Philippines) (BFAR) announced that a fishkill at Taal Lake (January 2 to 4) caused the 50 metric tons or PhP 3.25-million (US$1=PhP41) loss of cultured tilapia in the villages of Leviste and Balakilong in Laurel and in Barangay Aya and Barangay Quiling in Talisay. 6,000 maliputo fishes (P 230,000) also died at Quiling. Toxic sulfur and high level of hydrogen sulfide in Ambulong while low dissolved oxygen caused the deaths. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=110554 Inquirer.net, Taal Lake fishkill causes P3-M losses] ]

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.

Chinese 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.cite news | last =Ramos | first =Marlon | title =Batangas, Tagaytay execs oppose Taal spa project | work =Breaking News: Regions | language =English | publisher =Inquirer.net | date =2007-06-25 | url =http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=73152 | accessdate = 2007-07-08 ] cite news | last =Torres| first =Tetch| title =Vilma Santos takes oath, says vs Taal spa | work =Eleksyon 2007 Special Coverage | language =English | publisher =Inquirer.net | date =2007-06-27 | url =http://eleksyon2007n.inquirer.net/view.php?article=20070627-73519 | accessdate = 2007-07-08 ]

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. cite news | last =Contreras | first =Volt | title =DENR gives Taal spa firm 1-week ultimatum | work =Headlines: Nation | language =English | publisher =Inquirer.net | date =2007-06-30 | url =http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=74017 | accessdate = 2007-07-08 ]

Due to public outrage, the Korean company's permit was revoked by the DENR in early July 2007.cite news | title =DENR voids Taal spa permit | work =National | language =English | publisher =ABS-CBN | date =2007-07-08 | url =http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=83624 | accessdate = 2007-07-08 ]

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.globalnature.org/docs/02_vorlage.asp?id=21227&domid=1011&sp=E&addlastid=&m1=11089&m2=11093&m3=18849&m4=21227 Taal Lake] at Global Nature Fund.
* [http://www.psdn.org.ph/wetlands/taal.htm Taal Lake] at the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc.
* [http://www.aenet.org/treks/taaltrek.htm Trek to Taal] 's guide to Taal Lake.