Lake Bato
Encyclopedia
Lake Bato is a freshwater lake
and the 7th largest in the Philippines
. It is located in the town of Bato
, approximately 9 km southwest of Iriga City
, Camarines Sur Province, Southeastern Luzon
, Philippines
. It has extensive marshes and swamp forests. The lake drains into a tributary of the Bicol River which enters the sea near Naga City
. Average depth is 8m, and the bottom is muddy clay. The pH value is 6.1, the average dissolved oxygen 10 p.p.m., and the total hardness (SBY) 2.4.
and the lake came to be named after the town, which was established by a decree of the Superior Government (National Government) on February 15, 1758,
when the Philippines was still under the Viceroyalty of New Spain.
and Lake Baao
-Bula. It is known that the Sinarapan
(Mistichthys luzonensis), the world's smallest commercially-harvested fish in the world, is also found in its waters. "Sinarapan" literally means "caught by sarap" in Buhi in this early historical context. However, the same fish is called "tabios" in Bato, Nabua, Baao and Bula, Camarines Sur. The etymology of "tabios", however, is quite vague. The name is not found in the scientific literature unlike "Sinarapan". It is believed that "Tabios" is only used in the vernacular pertaining to the local fishery. At present, the Sinarapan is threatened by extinction due to overfishing and other factors but efforts to conserve it are ongoing. Such is this specie's importance to the lake's ecosystem since it is endemic only to this region.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
and the 7th largest in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It is located in the town of Bato
Bato, Camarines Sur
Bato is a rural municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 44,437 people.-History:...
, approximately 9 km southwest of Iriga City
Iriga City
The City of Iriga is a 4th class city in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. It is located about 400 kilometers south of Manila, 37 kilometers south of Naga, and about 61 kilometers north of Legazpi City...
, Camarines Sur Province, Southeastern Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It has extensive marshes and swamp forests. The lake drains into a tributary of the Bicol River which enters the sea near Naga City
Naga City
The City of Naga is a first class independent component city in the Philippines...
. Average depth is 8m, and the bottom is muddy clay. The pH value is 6.1, the average dissolved oxygen 10 p.p.m., and the total hardness (SBY) 2.4.
History
The lake was originally called "Caligno" by natives living around the area and a small settlement was founded on its shores during pre-Spanish times; the early settlers thrived on the lake's rich resources and use it as a primary medium of travel. The settlement flourished on to become the present-day town of Bato, Camarines SurBato, Camarines Sur
Bato is a rural municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 44,437 people.-History:...
and the lake came to be named after the town, which was established by a decree of the Superior Government (National Government) on February 15, 1758,
when the Philippines was still under the Viceroyalty of New Spain.
The "Sinarapan"
Lake Bato is part of the Rinconada (Bicol) Lakes System, which also includes Lake BuhiLake Buhi
Lake Buhi is a lake found in Buhi, Camarines Sur, Philippines.It has an area of 18 square kilometres and has an average depth of 8 meters. The lake lies in the valley formed by two ancient volcanoes, Mt. Asog and Mt. Malinao. It was created in 1641, when an earthquake caused a side of Mt. Asog to...
and Lake Baao
Lake Baao
Lake Baao is a shallow freshwater lake located in Baao, Camarines Sur in Bicol Region, Luzon, Philippines. It has an estimated surface area of 177 hectares and reaches an average of only 1 meter deep. The lake is fed by local run-off and several small rivers, the most important of which is the...
-Bula. It is known that the Sinarapan
Sinarapan
The sinarapan is the world's smallest commercially harvested fish located in the Philippines. They are endemic to the Bicol Region, specifically in Lake Buhi, Lake Bato, Bicol River and other bodies of water in Camarines Sur province.Sinarapan are a type of goby and they are transparent, except...
(Mistichthys luzonensis), the world's smallest commercially-harvested fish in the world, is also found in its waters. "Sinarapan" literally means "caught by sarap" in Buhi in this early historical context. However, the same fish is called "tabios" in Bato, Nabua, Baao and Bula, Camarines Sur. The etymology of "tabios", however, is quite vague. The name is not found in the scientific literature unlike "Sinarapan". It is believed that "Tabios" is only used in the vernacular pertaining to the local fishery. At present, the Sinarapan is threatened by extinction due to overfishing and other factors but efforts to conserve it are ongoing. Such is this specie's importance to the lake's ecosystem since it is endemic only to this region.