Lake Holon
Definition
Lake Holon is a crater lake occupying the caldera of Mount Parker in Cotabato province, Philippines, at approximately 1,300 meters above sea level. Also known by its earlier name Lake Maughan, the lake spans around 300 hectares and is framed by old-growth caldera forest within the ancestral domain of the T’boli people.
The lake is a growing trekking destination managed through community-based ecotourism, and it hosts endemic and native fish species studied by Philippine aquatic researchers.
Identities
| Source Type | Identity |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | Lake Holon |
| Wikidata | Q123698890 |
| DBpedia | N/A |
Also Known As
Lake Maughan
Examples and Analogies
Lake Holon is Mindanao’s counterpart to Luzon’s crater lakes: a overnight-trek destination where the reward is a still, blue volcanic lake reachable only on foot, with camping on its shore under community rules.
Usage Scenarios
Trekkers register at the T’boli jump-off (usually Sitio Klubi), hike forested trails to the caldera rim, and camp lakeside; researchers periodically survey the lake’s fish and water quality.
Strategies
Tourism is governed by the T’boli community with the municipal tourism office: visitor caps, guide assignment, cultural orientation, and fees that fund trail maintenance and community services.
Security and Safety Measures
Registration and guided-trek requirements, weather monitoring before ascent, and long-standing flood hazard awareness following the 1995 slope-collapse disaster on the mountain’s flank.
Historical Context
The lake’s former name honors an early American-era surveyor. The 1995 flash flood disaster brought national attention and scientific assessment; the lake was later promoted under its T’boli name Holon as community tourism developed.
Challenges and Controversies
Discussions continue over carrying capacity as trekking popularity grows, protection of the caldera forest, and equitable sharing of tourism income among host indigenous households.