San Pablo City's Seven Lakes

Sampalok 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.

Hardly an hour after the old man left, there was a thundering noise followed by the cracking of the earth. The next

instant the entire orchard sank into a colossal pit which was eventually filled with water.
Henceforth, the villagers called it Lake Sampalok.
The city's biggest and premier lake is located within the city proper. It has an area of 104.0 hectares, a maximum depth of 27.0 meters. Approximately 85% of its volume is of uniform depth. Sampalok Lake is sunk in a shallow depression, revealing its volcanic origin.

Considered one of the prime tourist spots in the city, Sampalok Lake 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 small cottages built on bamboo stilts.

Calibato Lake
A crater lake located in Barangay Sto. Angel, Calibato has an area of 42 hectares and maximum depth of 135 meters. Calibato's greatest volume of water in storage is approximately 29,600 cubic meters.

Calibato supplies the city and nearby towns with abundant fish.

Pandin Lake
Located in Barangay San Lorenzo, Pandin has an area of 20.5 hectares and a maximum depth of 63 meters. It has a calculated volume of 6,600 cubic meters of water in storage.

Pandin is considered oligotrophic because of the abundant plant and fish life.

Yambo Lake
Barangay San Lorenzo also has Yambo Lake. Yambo is adjacent to Pandin Lake. It has a normal surface area of 28.5 hectares.

Pandin, like Yambo is considered oligotropic, and is suitable for swimming, outings and picnics.

Bunot Lake
Only 4.5 kms. from the city proper, Bunot is known for its cultured tilapia and fishpens for Nilotica fingerlings. Bunot has a normal surface area of 30.5 hectares with a maximum depth of 23 meters.

Bunot is a convenient site for picnics. It is a real haven for nature lovers. Ideal for swimming amd relaxation.

Mohicap Lake

Located in Barangay Sta. Catalina, Mohicap Lake is a 14.5 hectare-lake/ It is one of the main suppliers of water resources in the city. Its waters provide a generous source of tilapia for Metro Manila and suburbs.

Palakpakin Lake
Palakpakin Lake in Brgy. San Buenaventura is similar to Sampalok Lake. With an area of 43 hectares, it has a maximum depth of 7.5 meters.

Residents around the lake rely on income from fishpens and fishcages that grow cultured tilapia and silver carps.