Stunning Images - Sampaloc Lake Island of Luzon, Philippines

Stunning Images - Sampaloc Lake Island of Luzon, Philippines

Lake Sampaloc is an inactive volcanic maar on the island of Luzon, the Philippines. It is one of the lake in the Seven Lakes of San Pablo, Laguna. Nearly half of the lake's depth has a shallow depression at the lake's bottom, indicating its volcanic origin. The lake is located behind San Pablo city hall. It is dotted with floating restaurants along its shoreline serving delectable Filipino and Chinese cuisines. The lake abounds with tilapia, bangus, carp, and several species of shrimps. Sampaloc Lake is the city’s biggest and premier lake, with an area of 104 hectares, a maximum depth of 27 meters, approximately 85% of its volume below 10 meters and 15% below 24 meters.

Stunning Images - Sampaloc Lake Island of Luzon, Philippines

Sampaloc Lake and its Legend, according to a legend, the lake derived its name from a giant tamarind (sampalok) tree in the garden of a selfish couple who drove away a fairy disguised as a beggar asking for some fruit. Legend tells of a giant Tamarind (Sampaloc) tree in the garden of a selfish, stingy old woman who drove away a fairy disguised as an old man asking for some fruit as a cure for his ailing grandson. Instead of helping him, the old woman had him driven away by her ferocious dogs. The old man was badly hurt. After the old man left, there was a thundering noise and peltering rain, followed by the cracking of the earth. And then, the entire orchard sank into a colossal pit which was immediately filled with water. Henceforth, the villagers called it Lake Sampaloc.

Stunning Images - Sampaloc Lake Island of Luzon, Philippines

Hardly an hour after the old man left, there was a thundering noise followed by the cracking of the earth. It become a colossal pit which was eventually filled with water. Henceforth, the villagers called it Lake Sampaloc. The city's biggest and premier lake located within the city proper with an area of 104.0 hectares a maximum depth of 27.0 meters approximately 85% of its volume below 10 meters and 15% below 24 meters. Nearly one-half of the lake's uniform depth. Sunk in a shallow depression revealing its volcanic origin.

Stunning Images - Sampaloc Lake Island of Luzon, Philippines

Considered one of the prime tourist spots in the city, it is dotted with floating restaurants along its shoreline that serve delectable Filipino and Chinese cuisines. It abounds with tilapia, bangus, carp and several species of shrimps. It is presently lined with fishpens and some small cottages built on stilts.