Lake Bunot
Definition
Lake Bunot is a volcanic crater lake, one of the Seven Lakes of San Pablo in Laguna province, Philippines. Located in Barangay Concepcion about 4.5 kilometers from the San Pablo City proper, it has a normal surface area of 30.5 hectares and a maximum depth of around 23 meters. The lake is known for its cultured tilapia and fishpens that rear Nile tilapia fingerlings.
Identities (Wikipedia/Wikidata/DBpedia)
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Bunot
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6475102
- DBpedia: N/A
Also Known As
Lake Bunot; Bunot Lake; one of the Seven Lakes of San Pablo.
Examples and Analogies
The Seven Lakes of San Pablo are like a necklace of volcanic gems scattered around one city, and Bunot is one of its quieter pendants, smaller than Sampaloc Lake and calmer than the resort-circled Yambo and Pandin. Its name recalls the Filipino word for coconut husk, bunot, echoing local origin stories.
Usage Scenarios
Fishpen operators use the lake for tilapia grow-out and fingerling rearing that supplies Laguna and Batangas aquaculture. It is included in lake-shore itineraries and educational tours of the San Pablo lakes and studied by local government units monitoring inland-water quality.
Strategies
Aquaculture on Bunot is managed by allocating fishpen areas and feeding regimes to avoid overstocking a small, deep crater basin. Lake-based livelihood programs pair tilapia culture with ecotourism services operated by community associations.
Security and Safety Measures
San Pablo’s lake ordinances regulate fishpen density and waste discharge to prevent fish kills. Swimmers and boaters observe caution because crater lakes drop to depth quickly near their edges.
Historical Context
The lake formed in a volcanic crater of the San Pablo volcanic field, part of the same Lagunan volcanic province as the maars of Los Baños. Along with its six sister lakes, Bunot was incorporated into the city’s identity, and the lakes were declared a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System as the Seven Lakes of San Pablo.
Challenges and Controversies
Fish kills linked to overstocking and organic overload have occurred on several San Pablo lakes, prompting periodic fishpen demolitions. Domestic runoff from shoreline households pressures water quality, a shared challenge among the seven lakes.