Lake Danao (Leyte)
| Lake Danao | |
|---|---|
Lake Danao Location within the Philippines | |
| Location | Leyte |
| Coordinates | 11°4′16″N 124°41′38″E / 11.07111°N 124.69389°E |
| Basin countries | Philippines |
| Surface area | 148 ha (370 acres) |
| Average depth | 80 m (260 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 650 m (2,130 ft) |
| Settlements | Ormoc |
Lake Danao is a guitar-shaped volcanogeneic lake on the island of Leyte in the Philippines.
The lake covers an area of 148 hectares (370 acres) within the 2,193 hectares (5,420 acres) Lake Danao Natural Park, which also includes the Amandiwin Mountains. The lake is 18 kilometres (11 mi) northeast of Ormoc, a half-hour drive along the San Pablo-Tongonan and Milagro-Lake Danao roads.
It was originally named Lake Imelda after First Lady Imelda Marcos and was declared a national park on June 2, 1972 through a presidential memorandum issued by then President Ferdinand Marcos. Later, it was renamed and declared as Lake Danao National Park on February 3, 1998 through Proclamation No. 1155, and is now protected by Republic Act No. 7586, the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) Act of 1992.
The lake supplies potable water to at least seven towns in eastern Leyte including Tacloban and is the source of irrigation for ricelands in some municipalities like Dagami, Burauen, Pastrana and Tabontabon.
At 650 metres (2,130 ft) above sea level, Lake Danao lies on an altitude similar to Tagaytay in Cavite, making the area cooler than average Philippine temperatures.