Lake Balinsasayao

Lake Balinsasayao
Location Sibulan, Negros Oriental
Lake type crater lake
Basin countries Philippines
Surface area 76 ha
Surface elevation 1000 ft

Lake Balinsasayao is one of two small but deep crater lakes rising 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level located 12 km (7.5 mi) west of the town of Sibulan in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. It lies northwest of a narrow mountain ridge, situated in a caldera between four mountains, Mount Mahungot to the south, Mount Kalbasan to the north, Mount Balinsasayao to the east and Guintabon Dome to the west. The other lake, Lake Danao, is situated on the southeast.[1]

Contents

National Park

Lake Balinsasayao and the adjoining Lake Danao, including Lake Kabalin-an and the surrounding areas totaling 8,016 hectares (19,810 acres) became a national park on November 21, 2000 with Proclamation No. 414 and is now designated as Lake Balinsasayo Twin Lakes Natural Park.[2]

Flora and fauna

One of the major tourist attractions in the province, Lake Balinsasayao is a protected natural park, home to an expansive ecosystem and biodiversity.[3] The lake has a rich fish fauna, including a number of introduced species, and the surrounding dipterocarp forests are rich in bird life.

Fish species such as Tilapia mossambica, Cyprinus carpio, Ophicephalus striatus, Anquilla sp, Macrobrachium sp, Viruna literata, Fabricus sp and Chanos chanos are found in the lake. Forest cover is predominantly dipterocarps. No information is available on the aquatic vegetation in the area.[4]

Wildlife and Conservation Measures

Conserving the flora and fauna continues to be a struggle as surrounding forests are exploited for timber and charcoal production. The uncontrolled cutting of timber by the slash-and-burn farmers (kaingineros), is reducing the inflow of water to the lakes and causing a fall in water levels.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Dumagueteinfo.com - Twin Lakes
  2. ^ "Protected Areas in Region 7". Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. Retrieved on 2011-08-13.
  3. ^ Dumagueteinfo.com
  4. ^ a b "Lake Balinsasayao and Lake Danao". ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation. 2010. http://www.arcbc.org.ph/wetlands/philippines/phl_lakballakdan.html. 

External links

Major
Laguna de Bay · Lake Lanao · Taal Lake · Lake Mainit · Naujan Lake · Lake Buluan · Lake Bato · Lake Pagusi · Lake Labas · Lake Lumao
Minor
Lake Apo · Lake Baao · Lake Balanan · Lake Balinsasayao · Lake Bito · Lake Balukbaluk · Lake Basak · Lake Bulusan · Lake Buhi · Lake Bunot · Cabalian Lake · Lake Calibato · Lake Dagianan · Lake Danao (Albay) · Lake Danao (Cebu) · Lake Danao (Leyte) · Lake Danao (Negros) · Lake Dapao · Lake Dasay · Lake Duminagat · Lake Gunao · Lake Kalanganan · Lake Lahit · Lake Leonard · Lake Manguao · Mapanuepe Lake · Lake Maragang · Lake Maughan · Lake Muhikap · Lake Nabua · Lake Napalit · Lake Palakpakin · Lake Panamao · Lakes Pandin and Yambo · Lake Paoay · Lake Pendo · Lake Pinamaloy · Lake Pinatubo · Lake Putia · Lake Sampaloc · Lake Seit · Lake Sebu · Lake Seloton · Lake Sultan · Lake Tadlac · Lake Talao · Lake Tikub · Lake Venado · Lake Wood · Lake Uyaan
Artificial
Ambuklao Reservoir · Binga Reservoir · Lake Caliraya · Chico Reservoir · La Mesa Reservoir · Labasin Lake · Lumot Lake · Magat Reservoir · Lake Pantabangan · Pulangi IV Reservoir