Naujan Lake

Naujan Lake National Park
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the location of Naujan Lake National Park

Location in the Philippines

Location Oriental Mindoro
Nearest city Calapan City
Coordinates 13°10′N 121°20′E / 13.167°N 121.333°E / 13.167; 121.333Coordinates: 13°10′N 121°20′E / 13.167°N 121.333°E / 13.167; 121.333
Area 21,655 hectares (53,510 acres)
Established March 27, 1956
Governing body Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Naujan Lake
Location Oriental Mindoro
Type tectonic
Primary outflows Butas River[1] (also called Naujan River)[2]
Basin countries Philippines
Max. length 14 km (8.7 mi)
Max. width 7 km (4.3 mi)
Surface area 81.25 square kilometres (31.37 sq mi)
Max. depth 45 m (148 ft)
Surface elevation 20 m (66 ft)
Islands 3 unknown islands
Settlements Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

Naujan Lake 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.

Oriental Mindoro map with Naujan Lake in the northeast

Geography

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.[3]

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][4]

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).[5] 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.[6]

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/quarter 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 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 having a quarterly Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) which include bird counting.[4]

Accessibility

From Calapan City

The Naujan Lake National Park can be reached by land transportation from Calapan City, the capital of Oriental Mindoro. The lake is accessible at various points of the lake and vicinity. Some places along the lake are accessible only by motorized banca.[4]

The lake is only accessible from the national road in Barangay Pasi in the town of Socorro at the southern tip of Lake Naujan. Barangay Pasi is about 43.7 km (27.2 mi) from the Calapan City Plaza by heading southeast on the Strong Republic Nautical Highway,[7] which takes about 45 minutes or more by public bus or jeepney ride.

From Manila

The Naujan Lake National Park can be reached from Manila by heading to the Port of Batangas City, about two and a half hours south of Manila. Another two hours by boat or roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferries going to the Calapan City Port.

As of 2014, there are no regular flights from Manila Domestic Airport to Calapan City Airport.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Naujan Info". Naujanews. Retrieved on 2014-09-01.
  2. ↑ "Naujan River, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. Traveling Luck. Retrieved on 2014-09-01.
  3. ↑ "Inactive Volcanoes Part 6". Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Retrieved on 2014-09-01.
  4. 1 2 3 "Naujan Lake National Park (NLNP)". DENR Region 4-B MIMAROPA. Retrieved on 2014-09-04.
  5. ↑ "Naujan Lake National Park". Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Committee. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  6. ↑ "Proclamation No. 282, s. 1956". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  7. ↑ Measured using Google Earth

External links

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