Naujan Lake

Geography

The lake is bounded by the towns of Naujan to the north and northeast, Victoria to the west, Socorro to the south and southeast, and Pola to the east. The lake is also bounded by the Naujan Mountains to the north and east of the lake.

Mount Naujan, elevation 1,380 feet (420 m) and one of the inactive volcanoes of the country, is situated northeast of the geographic center of the lake. Several thermal springs and solfataras are reported to exist on the eastern border of the Naujan Lake.

Hydrology

The lakes watershed covers about 30,000 hectares (300 km²). The lake is fed by the Macatoc, Borbocolon, Malayas, Malabo, Maambog, Malbog and Cusay Creek from the east; by Bambang, Tigbao and Tagbakin Creek from the west; and by Subaan and Singulan River from the south. The lake has only one outlet, the Butas River, which flow north then heads east after the Lumangbayan River joins the river and empties to Tablas Strait at Barangay Lumang-bayan, Naujan.

National Park

The lake, approximately 8,125 hectares (20,080 acres) in area, is the main feature of the protected area classified as a national park known as the Naujan Lake National Park (NLNP). The lake and adjoining areas totaling 21,655 hectares (53,510 acres) was declared a national park on March 27, 1956 through Proclamation No. 282 by President Ramon Magsaysay.

NLNP covers twenty-four (24) barangays under the jurisdiction of four municipalities, namely:

1. Naujan - Brgys. Bayani, Laguna, Montelago and Dao
2. Pola – Brgys. Matula-tula, Tagbakin and Casiligan
3. Socorro – Brgys. Lapog, Mabuhay I, Mabuhay II, Batongdalig, Pasi I, Pasi II, Happy Valley and Subaan
4. Victoria – Brgys. Merit, Daungan, Bambanin, Pakyas, Leido, Malabo, Urdaneta, San Narciso and Canaan

The Park has existing facilities for tourism and recreational activities which include picnic tables and a house/quarter located at Minglit Point. A guard house is located at Brgy. Malabo in Victoria town and a watch tower is located at CENRO in Pasi, Socorro. The park caters recreational activities such as boating, picnics, bird watching, educational tour and scientific research. Also, the park is considered the widest breeding place of marsh birds and having a quarterly Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) which include bird counting.

From Calapan City

The Naujan Lake National Park can be reached by land transportation from Calapan City, the capital of Oriental Mindoro. The lake is accessible at various points of the lake and vicinity. Some places along the lake are accessible only by motorized banca.

The lake is only accessible from the national road in Barangay Pasi in the town of Socorro at the southern tip of Lake Naujan. Barangay Pasi is about 43.7 km (27.2 mi) from the Calapan City Plaza by heading southeast on the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, which takes about 45 minutes or more by public bus or jeepney ride.

From Manila

The Naujan Lake National Park can be reached from Manila by heading to the Port of Batangas City, about two and a half hours south of Manila. Another two hours by boat or roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferries going to the Calapan City Port.

As of 2014, there are no regular flights from Manila Domestic Airport to Calapan City Airport.