Paoay Lake | |
---|---|
Location | Ilocos Norte, Luzon |
Coordinates | 18°7′12″N120°32′22″E / 18.12000°N 120.53944°E Coordinates: 18°7′12″N120°32′22″E / 18.12000°N 120.53944°E |
Type | lake |
Basin countries | Philippines |
Surface area | 3.86 km2 (1.49 sq mi) |
Average depth | 6 m (20 ft) |
Max. depth | 10 m (33 ft) |
Surface elevation | below sea level |
Settlements | Paoay |
Paoay Lake (locally known as Dacquel a Danum; Ilokano: Big Water) is a lake within the municipality of Paoay, in northwestern Luzon, Philippines. [1] It is the largest lake in the province of Ilocos Norte and one of the largest natural lakes in the area.
Historically known as Lago de Nanguyudan, [2] the lake supposedly was the site of a prosperous barangay called San Juan de Sahagún (Saint John of Sahagún) that sank after an earthquake. [3] The freshwater lake and its 1-kilometre (0.62 mi) surroundings was declared a national park in 1969 by virtue of Republic Act 5631. [4] In 1978, through Presidential Decree 1554, the park was reduced to an area of 340 hectares (3.4 km2) concentrated on the lake itself around its highest water level. [5]
The lake covers a surface area of 386 hectares (3.86 km2) with an average depth of 6 metres (20 ft). [6] It is bounded by the barangays of Suba in the north, Nanguyudan in the northeast, Pasil in the east, Sungadan in the south, and Nagbacalan in the west near the border with the city of Laoag and some 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) away from the sea. It was formed as a result of coastal progradation and the subsequent development of a sand dune barrier during the late Quaternary Period. [7] The lake has no tributaries. Most of the lake's inflow consists of groundwater and surface runoff from surrounding hills during rainy season. [8]
The lake is inhabited by phytoplankton, macrophytes and zooplankton which includes 8 species of copepods, 8 species of cladocerans and 11 species of rotifers. Fish recorded include tilapia, catfish and mudfish. Some aquatic plants also inhabit the lake such as water spinach, water hyacinth, tape grass and Buntót-pusà (lit. "cat's tail", Dysophylla auricularia).
On the slopes around and above the lake grow ipil-ipil , acacia, gmelina and banaba plants. The park is also home to avifauna species such as the white-collared kingfisher, brahminy kite, and Philippine duck, including some migratory birds such as the grey heron, osprey, and great egret. [6] [8]
Paoay Lake is one of the many tourist attractions in Ilocos Norte. Some of its most visited sights include the Malacañang ti Amianan (Malacañang of the North), a historical house museum built by the family of former president Ferdinand Marcos, the 18-hole Paoay Golf Course, and a sports complex. [6] Also located in the vicinity are Fort Ilocandia Resort and Casino and Plaza del Norte Hotel and Convention Center. It is accessible via the Paoay Lake Road from the main highway and the Laoag–Balaccad Road from the Laoag International Airport.
Aside from tourism, small-scale aquaculture has also been introduced as livelihood of the local townsfolk residing in the area. Fish pens primarily of tilapia can be found near the shores. [8] The lake's status as a protected area, however, enables the government to monitor and control human activity in the lake in order to prevent misuse of its resources.
Ilocos Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region. Its capital is Laoag City, located in the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra to the southeast, and Ilocos Sur to the southwest. Ilocos Norte faces the West Philippine Sea to the west and the Luzon Strait to the north.
Davao del Norte is a province in the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital and largest city is Tagum. The province also includes Samal Island to the south in the Davao Gulf.
Vigan, officially the City of Vigan, is a 4th class component city and capital of the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 53,935 people.
Laoag, officially the City of Laoag, is a 3rd class component city and capital of the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines.
Pagudpud, officially the Municipality of Pagudpud, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 25,098 people.
Badoc, officially the Municipality of Badoc, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 32,530 people.
Currimao, officially the Municipality of Currimao, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 12,215 people.
Dingras, officially the Municipality of Dingras, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 40,127 people.
Paoay, officially the Municipality of Paoay, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 25,001 people.
Piddig, officially the Municipality of Piddig is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 22,475 people.
San Nicolas, officially the Municipality of San Nicolas, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 38,895 people.
Sarrat, officially the Municipality of Sarrat, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 25,186 people.
Vintar, officially the Municipality of Vintar, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 33,339 people.
San Carlos, officially the City of San Carlos, is a 3rd class component city in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 205,424 people.
Calanasan, officially the Municipality of Calanasan,, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Apayao, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 12,550 people.
Batac, officially the City of Batac, is a 5th class component city in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 55,484 people.
The Mariano Marcos State University is a public university with campuses and facilities throughout Ilocos Norte province in the Philippines. Its main campus is in Batac.
The Saint Augustine Church, commonly known as the Paoay Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the Municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines. Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. It is declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993.
The Libunao Protected Landscape, also known as the Libunao Spring Protected Landscape, is a protected area in the Ilocos Region of the island of Luzon in the Philippines located on the western foothills of the Ilocos Mountain Range. It protects the Libunao Spring and surrounding forests, as well as the Nagcullooban River watershed. First proclaimed as the Libunao Spring Watershed Forest Reserve in 1931 through Proclamation No. 410 issued by Governor-General Dwight F. Davis, the park was reestablished as a protected landscape area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System in 2000 through Proclamation No. 280 signed by President Joseph Estrada. The Libunao watershed is the source of water supply for domestic use and irrigation of the surrounding farms and communities of northern Ilocos Sur province.
The Malacañang of the North and is a presidential museum in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It was the residence of the family of Ferdinand Marcos when he was the President of the Philippines.