Lake Buhi - A Small Town's Pride

The Bicol Region is a place that is rich in natural resources and beauty. One of its famous lakes is Lake Buhi. Lake Buhi is located in Buhi, Camarines Sur. The depth of this lake is estimated to be about eight meters average. Lake Buhi itself covers an area that is about 4,447.9 acres. There are two theories of how Lake Buhi was formed.

The first is when Mt. Iriga's side collapsed due to an earthquake in 1641. A landslide resulted creating a natural dam in which Lake Buhi came about. The second theory is when Mt. Asog erupted thus resulting to the beautiful Lake Buhi.

Lake Buhi is rich with marine life. Sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis) is one of the fish species that can be found in Lake Buhi. This is the world's smallest fish. The famous Tilapia is commercially harvested in Lake Buhi. You can even buy these fresh and alive. Other fish species are also found in Lake Buhi.

Aside from marine life, the surrounding forest of Lake Buhi is also a home to different bird species. No less than 25 bird species live here. Black-naped Monarch, Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, White-eared Brown Dove, Elegant Tit, and the Philippine Hanging Parrot can be found here. The Philippine Cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fasicularis) also makes its abode in the forests surrounding Lake Buhi.

Today, Lake Buhi is the main source of livelihood for the residents in Buhi, Camarines Sur. The fishing industry thrives lively in Buhi. A Hydroelectric Plant gets its water supply from Lake Buhi. The National Irrigation Administration also uses the water from Lake Buhi to irrigate farms and rice fields in the Rinconada towns including Iriga City.

How do you get to Lake Buhi? From Manila, you can have a 12 to 14-hour ride on a bus to Iriga City, Camarines Sur. From Iriga City, a jeep will take you to Buhi town for about 15 minutes.

And right there, in the middle of the town, you can view the crystal waters of Lake Buhi. Aside from getting on a bus from Manila, you can also fly to Pili Airport for about 45 minutes. And from there, you can travel from Pili, Camarines Sur to Iriga City.

Buhi, Camarines Sur, the town where Lake Buhi is located is a peaceful place. Prepare to be greeted by fresh air and friendly people. The clear water of Lake Buhi reflects sunlight that gives peace to the soul. Visiting Lake Buhi can be considered as a great experience.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

One comment on “Lake Buhi - A Small Town's Pride”