Nabao Lake

Eco-tourism site in Cabiao, Philippines

15°14′10″N 120°50′37″E / 15.23611°N 120.84361°E / 15.23611; 120.84361Basin countriesPhilippinesMax. length1.42 km (0.88 mi) (N-S)Max. width1.83 km (1.14 mi) (E-W)Surface area38-hectare (94-acre)

Nabao Lake (Filipino: Lawa ng Nabao) is a 38-hectare (94-acre) ecotourism site situated in Kalikasan Village, Barangay Santa Rita, adjacent to Barangay San Carlos in the Municipality of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, Philippines along Jose Abad Santos Avenue.

The lake is situated near Mount Arayat, which is in a nature park. A 210-meter portion of the lake is used for several restaurants, food, handicraft stalls, souvenir shops, guest rooms, a zipline, and a hanging bridge in the center of the lake. It used to be an active fishing site.

The oxbow lake is an ecosystem shaped like an inverted. "C", it was once part of the Pampanga River until a flood control dike separated it therefrom. The PHP105-million project of Mayor Ramil B. Rivera features, among others, a view deck, gazebo and a “batalan sa lawa. It is home to fauna like the Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) or "Imelda fish", the Asian swamp eel, tilapia and mudfish. The lake's 20-M Eco-Tourism Park became the focus of the Paistimika Festival highlighting the town’s 167th foundation anniversary.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 12, 2018 and inauguration thereof was on December 18, 2020. The place is pegged as the first floating market-park in the province of Nueva Ecija.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The lake is categorized as hypereutrophic (TSI 60–100, having the highest amount of biological productivity, "poor" water quality) based upon low Secchi disk visibility reading. It is classified as suitable for use under Class B (recreational) and Class C (propagation of fish and other aquatic resources). The lake is subject of the Wetland conservation and Community development by the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc.

Gallery

Water lilies at the lake
Floating market welcome sign
Eco-Tourism Park
Historical marker
Floating market shops

References

^ Domingo, Ferdie (January 10, 2017). "Cabiao plans to turn Nabao lake into tourist hub". Manila Standard. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
^ "Central Luzon floating market country's 1st". The Manila Times. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
^ Galvez, Manny (February 16, 2015). "Nueva Ecija lake eyed as eco-park". The Philippine Star.