| Paoay Lake | |
|---|---|
 The lake as seen from the Malacañang of the North | |
.svg)  Paoay Lake Location in Luzon .svg) Paoay Lake Location in the Philippines | |
| Location | Ilocos Norte, Luzon |
| Coordinates | 18°7′12″N 120°32′22″E / 18.12000°N 120.53944°E |
| Type | lake |
| Basin countries | Philippines |
| Surface area | 3.86 km2 (1.49 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Max. depth | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Surface elevation | below sea level |
| Settlements | Paoay |
Paoay Lake (locally known as Dacquel a Danum; Ilokano: Big Water) is a lake within the municipality of Paoay, in northwestern Luzon, Philippines.[1] It is the largest lake in the province of Ilocos Norte and one of the largest natural lakes in the area.
Historically known as Lago de Nanguyudan,[2] the lake supposedly was the site of a prosperous barangay called San Juan de Sahagún (Saint John of Sahagún) that sank after an earthquake.[3] The freshwater lake and its 1-kilometre (0.62 mi) surroundings was declared a national park in 1969 by virtue of Republic Act 5631.[4] In 1978, through Presidential Decree 1554, the park was reduced to an area of 340 hectares (3.4 km2) concentrated on the lake itself around its highest water level.[5]
- ^ "Census of the Philippine Islands taken under the direction of the Philippine Legislature in the year 1918". Census Office of the Philippine Islands. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ Villanueva, Camilo Millán. "Ilocos Norte: Descripción General de dicha Província". Nabu Press. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ^ Hargrove, Thomas R. (1991). "The Mysteries of Taal: A Philippine volcano and lake, her sea life and lost towns", p.135. Bookmark, Manila. ISBN 971-569-046-7.
- ^ "Republic Act No. 5631 - An Act Declaring Paoay Lake in the Province of Ilocos Norte a National Park". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ "Presidential Decree No. 1554". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved 6 July 2014.