Laguna de Bay

Laguna de Bay (Spanish for "Lagoon/Lake of Bay"; Filipino: Lawa ng Bay, [bɐˈʔi]), also known as Laguna Lake and alternatively spelled "Laguna de Bae", is the largest lake in the Philippines. Laguna de Bay remains one of the most important freshwater resources in the Philippines, supporting millions of residents through fisheries, agriculture, and domestic use. It is located southeast of Metro Manila, between the provinces of Laguna to the south and Rizal to the north. The freshwater lake has a surface area of 911–949 km² (352–366 sq mi), with an average depth of about 2.8 meters (9 ft 2 in) and an elevation of about one meter above sea level. It is shaped like a crow's foot, with two peninsulas jutting out from the northern shore and filling the large volcanic Laguna Caldera. In the middle of the lake is the large island of Talim.

The lake is one of the primary sources of freshwater fish in the country. Its water drains to Manila Bay via the Pasig River. Environmental issues such as water quality problems created by population pressure and industrialization, invasive species, and overfishing are of concern to the lake, hurting its economic importance to the country. As the population expands in the Bay, it is expected to rely more heavily on the lake as a source of freshwater. Thus, water quality directly affects human populations.