Trilobed Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the
Philippines, is visible near the upper center of this east-looking
photograph of central Luzon, Philippines. The lake is more than 51
kilometers (32 miles) long and covers 891 square kilometers (344 square
miles). Its outlet, the Pasig River, exits at the northwest corner
of the lake, flows westward through Manila, and empties into Manila Bay.
South of Laguna de Bay are the dark blue waters of Taal Lake, a filled
caldera that surrounds Volcano Island. The island is home to Taal
Volcano (300 meters; 948 feet high) with a crater more than 2 kilometers
(1 mile) wide. The island of Corregidor, which served as the focal
point in the defense of the city of Manila during World War II, is the
tiny tadpole-shaped island at the entrance to Manila Bay in the center
left. Photo courtesy of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space
Administration of the United States). |