Alligator Lake (Philippines)

Alligator Lake
Tadlac Lake
The lake as seen from the eastern shore in 2013
Alligator Lake Location within the Philippines
Location	Brgy. Tadlac, Los Baños, Laguna
Coordinates	14°10′57″N 121°12′23″E / 14.18250°N 121.20639°E / 14.18250; 121.20639Coordinates: 14°10′57″N 121°12′23″E / 14.18250°N 121.20639°E / 14.18250; 121.20639
Type	crater lake
Primary inflows	none
Primary outflows	none
Basin countries	Philippines
Managing agency	Laguna Lake Development Authority
Max. length	650 meters (2,130 ft)[1]
Max. width	503 meters (1,650 ft)[1]
Surface area	22.7 hectares (56 acres)[2]
Average depth	27 meters (89 ft)[3]
Shore length1	1.8 kilometers (1.1 mi)[2]
Surface elevation	2 meters (6 ft 7 in)
Islands	none
Settlements	Calamba City & Los Baños
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Alligator Lake, also known as Tadlac Lake, is a freshwater crater lake located in Barangay Tadlac, in the municipality of Los Baños of Laguna province in the Philippines. The lake-filled maar is located along the southern shore of Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country, with Alligator Lake protruding out of the shore of the larger lake. If not for its slightly-elevated crater rim, Alligator Lake would be wholly engulfed by Laguna de Bay.^[4]

The crater lake is one of the maars of the Laguna Volcanic Field. It is listed as one of the inactive volcanos in the Philippines by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).^[5] Lake overturns or carbon dioxide (CO2) eruption from deep within, locally called as langal, normally occurs during the months of December to February. During this period some indigenous fishes of the lake are often observed gasping for air near the lake surface.^[6]

Prior to the introduction of aquaculture, Alligator Lake was considered as an oligotrophic lake, having low nutrient content and low algal production, resulting in very clear water with high drinking-water quality.

Geography

Alligator Lake is located in Barangay Tadlac, in the hot springs resort town of Los Baños ('The Baths' in English) near the border with Calamba City in the province of Laguna. The lake is directly situated below the northeastern slope of Mount Makiling, the highest mountain in the Laguna Volcanic Field. Because of its origin, the lake has no outlet and is replenished only by rainfall.

The slightly oval lake is 22.7 ha (56 acres) in surface area with a perimeter of about 1.8 kilometers (1.1 mi). It has an average depth of 27 meters (89 ft) so swimming is not recommended because of its depth and the sudden drop along its shoreline.^[2] The lake surface's longest dimension is 650 meters (2,130 ft) in the NE-SW direction with the widest dimension perpendicular to the longest at 503 meters (1,650 ft).^[1] The crater rim that separates Alligator Lake from the surrounding Laguna de Bay is thinnest northeast of the lake with only about 40-metre (130 ft) wide piece of land separating it from the larger lake.^[1]

The Tadlac Barangay Road runs east of the lake but does not circle the lake. Another road runs west of Alligator lake. The lands around the lake are privately owned,^[7] and some owners have established resorts around the lake. The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), as mandated by the government, manages Laguna de Bay and its surrounding areas including Alligator Lake.

History

Etymology

The lake had acquired its name since the Spanish colonial period when it was known as Laguna de los Caimanes (Lake of Alligators or Alligator Lake).^[8][9] The great number of crocodilians that used to live in its waters gave the lake its name.^[10] Today, alligators or crocodiles have been extirpated in and around Alligator Lake and Laguna de Bay.

Aquaculture and quarrying

a closer look on the "cut" left on the northern portion of the crater

Starting from 1986, the LLDA authorized the use of 30,000 square metres (320,000 sq ft) or about 12%of its total surface the lake for tilapia fish cage aquaculture to help the local fishermen earn a living. Starting around the same time, the hill on the northern edge of the lake was quarried by its private owner and sold as building materials for home construction. The destruction continued unopposed by the lax management of LLDA, and the local government of Los Baños recognized the activity as the right of the land owner to develop his property. This was back when the Philippine Environmental Impact Assessment System was not yet fully established. In the end, about7,000–8,000 m² (75,000–86,000 sq ft) of earth & rocks were removed and the land was leveled leaving a "cut" on the crater rim, destroying the natural look of the lake.^[11]

From 1986 until the late 1990s, the lake was heavily used for aquaculture until a massive fishkill occurred in 1999. Through the collaborative efforts of the local leaders and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), aquaculture was stopped saving the lake from further deterioration.^[3]

Accessing the lake

From Manila, the lake is about 61 km (38 mi) or an hour drive from KM Zero in Rizal Park to Barangay Tadlac via South Luzon Expressway then the National Road.^[12] A park is located on the east side of the lake along Tadlac Barangay Road.

The lake can also be accessed on through the road west of the lake and through the "cut" north of the lake. The owner of the quarried land had donated a 4-metre (13 ft) wide right-of-way trail on his property allowing easy access to the lake.^[13]

References

Sources

• Santos-Borja, Adelina C. (2008). "Multi-Stakeholders’ Efforts for the Sustainable Management of Tadlac Lake, The Philippines". Research Center for Sustainability and Environment, Shiga University.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alligator Lake.

• Geographic data related to Alligator Lake (Philippines) at OpenStreetMap
• Laguna Lake Development Authority Official Website