Lake Calibato Explained

Pushpin Map:Philippines
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the Philippines
Location:Laguna
Group:Seven Lakes of San Pablo
Coordinates:14.1033°N 121.3778°W
Type:crater lake
Area:42ha
Depth:135m (443feet)
Volume:approx.
Cities:San Pablo City

Lake Calibato is one of the seven crater lakes collectively called Pitong Lawa or Seven Lakes of San Pablo in Laguna province in the Philippines. The lake is situated in Brgy. Sto. Angel in San Pablo City. Calibato has an area of and maximum depth of . Calibato's maximum water capacity is approximately . Its supplies the city and nearby towns with abundant fish and aquatic plants. The lake is the deepest recorded lake among the seven-lake system; no recorded depths are available for Muhikap.

Legend

It was told that the area was once a valley inhabited by a Diwata (benevolent fairy or nymph) who had wanted to keep her realm free from the intrusion of mankind. Thus, she was angered when people built rocky pathways that criss-crossed her valley. She then caused a strong earthquake and severe storm that transformed her valley into a lagoon.

The villagers living in the surrounding hills were awestruck the following morning, and named the body of water Lake Calibato, taken from the criss-crossing stone pathways of the valley, a portmanteau of Cali (corrupted from the Spanish calle, "street") and the Tagalog Bato ("rock").

References

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