| Lake Buhi | |
|---|---|
 The lake withMount Iriga in the background | |
.svg)  Lake Buhi Location within the Philippines | |
| Location | Bicol Peninsula |
| Coordinates | 13°27′00″N123°31′00″E / 13.45000°N 123.51667°E /13.45000; 123.51667 |
| Type | Freshwater |
| Primary inflows | |
| Primary outflows | Tabao River |
| Basin countries | Philippines |
| Surface area | 1,707 ha (17.07 km2) |
| Average depth | 8 m (26.25 ft) |
| Max. depth | 12 m (39.37 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 120 m (393.70 ft) |
| Settlements | Buhi |
Lake Buhi is alake found inBuhi, Camarines Sur in thePhilippines. It has an area of 18 square kilometres (6.9 square miles) and has an average depth of 8 metres (26 ft). The lake lies in the valley formed by two ancient volcanoes,Mount Iriga (also known asMount Asog) andMount Malinao. It was created in 1641, when an earthquake caused a side of Mount Asog to collapse. The resulting landslide created a natural dam that blocked the flow of nearby streams.[1] Another theory suggests that it was created by the eruption of Mt. Asog, which is now dormant.
The lake is famous since it is one of the few bodies of water that contains thesinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis) which is the world's smallest commercially harvested fish.[1]
Aside from thesinarapan, Lake Buhi is also home for other marine organisms such as theIrin-irin (Redigobius bikolanus),Dalag (Channa striata),Puyo (Anabas testudineus),Kotnag (Hemiramphus sp.),Burirawan (Strophidon sathete) and native catfish (Clarias sp.). Other fishes are introduced to boost the fishery industry such as the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Bangkok hito (Clarias sp.).
The forest surrounding the lake is the home of at least 25 bird species. The fiveendemic species are thePhilippine pygmy woodpecker,Philippine hanging parrot,black-naped monarch,elegant tit and thewhite-eared brown dove. Other fauna found in the forest are flying lizards (Draco sp.),skinks, monitor lizards (Varanus marmoratus),civets, bats and thePhilippine Cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis).[2]
Today the lake is the main source of water supply for theNational Power Corporation Hydro Electric Plant. The power plant, which was founded in 1952, generates an average of 2.8 megawatts. It is also used by theNational Irrigation Administration to irrigate at least 100 square kilometres (39 square miles) of the Riconada towns located downstream andIriga City.[3]
On September 22, 2007, afish kill inCamarines Sur's Lake Buhi threatened thelivelihood of localfishermen. TheBureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) stated that it resulted fromsulfur dioxide fromIriga City, since therains by the southwestmonsoon loosened thesulfur dioxide from nearbyvolcanoes. ThePhilippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) rejected the BFAR's finding. Buhi has a population of 67,762people and comprises 13,238households.[4]
Media related toLake Buhi at Wikimedia Commons