Naujan Lake

Naujan Lake National Park
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the location of Naujan Lake National Park
Map showing the location of Naujan Lake National Park
Location in the Philippines
Map showing the location of Naujan Lake National Park
Map showing the location of Naujan Lake National Park
Naujan Lake (Philippines)
LocationOriental Mindoro
Nearest townNaujan, Pola, Socorro, and Victoria, Oriental Mindoro
Coordinates13°10′N 121°20′E / 13.167°N 121.333°E / 13.167; 121.333
Area21,655 ha (83.61 sq mi)
EstablishedMarch 27, 1956
Governing bodyDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources
Naujan Lake
LocationOriental Mindoro
Coordinates13°10′N 121°20′E / 13.167°N 121.333°E / 13.167; 121.333
TypeTectonic
Primary outflowsButas River[1] (also called Naujan River)[2]
Max. length14 km (8.7 mi)
Max. width7 km (4.3 mi)
Surface area81.25 square kilometres (31.37 sq mi)
Max. depth45 m (148 ft)
Surface elevation20 m (66 ft)
Islands3 islands
Official nameNaujan Lake National Park
DesignatedNovember 12, 1999
Reference no.1008[3]

Naujan Lake (Filipino pronunciation: [naʔuˈhan] naʔ-OO-han) is a freshwater lake in the Philippines located in the northeastern corner of the province of Oriental Mindoro on Mindoro Island. The lake is the fifth largest in the country and the main geographical feature of the Naujan Lake National Park. The entire area is a Ramsar Wetland Site since 1999.

Geography

The lake along with the city of Calapan and nearby towns.

The lake is bounded by the towns of Naujan to the north and northeast, Victoria to the west, Socorro to the south and southeast, and Pola to the east. The lake is also bounded by the Naujan Mountains to the north and east of the lake.

Mount Naujan, elevation 1,380 feet (420 m) and one of the inactive volcanoes of the country, is situated northeast of the geographic center of the lake. Several thermal springs and solfataras are reported to exist on the eastern border of the Naujan Lake.[4]

Hydrology

The lakes watershed covers about 30,000 hectares (300 km2). The lake is fed by the Macatoc, Borbocolon, Malayas, Malabo, Maambog, Malbog and Cusay Creek from the east; by Bambang, Tigbao and Tagbakin Creek from the west; and by Subaan and Singulan River from the south. The lake has only one outlet, the Butas River, which flow north then heads east after the Lumangbayan River joins the river and empties to Tablas Strait at Barangay Lumang-bayan, Naujan.[1][5]

National Park

View of the Naujan Lake National Park

The lake, approximately 8,125 hectares (20,080 acres) in area, is the main feature of the protected area classified as a national park known as the Naujan Lake National Park (NLNP).[6] The lake and adjoining areas totaling 21,655 hectares (53,510 acres) was declared a national park on March 27, 1956 through Proclamation No. 282 by President Ramon Magsaysay.[7]

NLNP covers twenty-four (24) barangays under the jurisdiction of four municipalities, namely:

  1. Naujan – Brgys. Bayani, Laguna, Montelago and Dao
  2. Pola – Brgys. Matula-tula, Tagbakin and Casiligan
  3. Socorro – Brgys. Lapog, Mabuhay I, Mabuhay II, Batongdalig, Pasi I, Pasi II, Happy Valley and Subaan
  4. Victoria – Brgys. Merit, Daungan, Bambanin, Pakyas, Leido, Malabo, Urdaneta, San Narciso and Canaan

The Park has existing facilities for tourism and recreational activities which include picnic tables and a house/quarters located at Minglit Point. A guard house is located at Brgy. Malabo in Victoria town and a watch tower is located at CENRO in Pasi, Socorro. The park caters for recreational activities such as boating, picnics, bird watching, educational tour and scientific research. Also, the park is considered the widest breeding place of marsh birds and has a quarterly Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) which includes bird counting.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Naujan Info". Naujanews. Retrieved on September 1, 2014.
  2. ^ "Naujan River, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. Traveling Luck. Retrieved on September 1, 2014.
  3. ^ "Naujan Lake National Park". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  4. ^ "Inactive Volcanoes Part 6" Archived September 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Retrieved on September 1, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Naujan Lake National Park (NLNP)". DENR Region 4-B MIMAROPA. Retrieved on September 4, 2014.
  6. ^ "Naujan Lake National Park". Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Committee. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  7. ^ "Proclamation No. 282, s. 1956". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved July 9, 2014.