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Thursday, May 27, 2004
The silent grandeur that is....
By Karen May L. Oreiro, UP Masscom Intern
While beaches are crowded, city-dwellers who wish to escape the unforgiving heat can put lakes on the top of their list of getaway destinations.
For trekking enthusiasts and camping afi cionados, where better to spend their down time than in a place where they can do what they love to do and plunge into one of nature’s own coolers to beat the heat at the same time?
For adventurers and travelers alike, or for people who just want to escape the hassles and heat of urban life, or for those interested in limnology (the study of the biological, chemical and physical features of lakes), Lake Danao Natural Park is the perfect getaway.
Nestled at the heart of Leyte Central Mountain Ranges, 18 kilometers away from Ormoc city, this forest habitat and lake ecosystem covers 2,193 hectares of land, 60 percent of which is still intact virgin forest cover. The inland lake itself covers 148 hectares of the total land area.
Lake Danao, which is famous for its guitar shape when viewed from the top, boasts of placid, chilly, crystal-clear waters. It is also considered the largest lake in Eastern Visayas and is ideal for swimming and boating.
With its cool invigorating climate and serene environment, it is a refuge for heat-stricken, stressed out individuals who want a taste of solitude and peace.
To get to the camping site, one has to paddle across the lake using little bancas which can be rented, then hike up a rocky trail. The climb is punishing but the reward is breathtaking.
The top of the hill offers a view of the entire lake set off by an untouched landscape of soaring tree ferns, lush vegetation and wild foliage.
One of the lake’s unwavering lures is its unspoiled mountain ranges, an attraction to mountain climbers and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
These mountains are characterized by rolling to rugged terrain and gentle slopes. Visitors who trek up the mountains are guided by a park ranger.
The hike to the mountains’ peak, which is way beyond the camping site, is torture. Loose rocks and steep trails are ruthless and unforgiving. But the sights are overwhelming, worth every muscle flexed. It brings you closer to nature and makes you appreciate its beauty more.
As much as the mountains are good venues for trekking, another spectacle is the sight of rare birds like the bleeding heart pigeon, blue-naped parrot and rufous hornbill as elevation increases up the mountain slopes.
It is also host to wild orchids and giant ferns. Lake Danao Natural Park’s untamed and unpretentious charm truly captivates both local and foreign visitors.
There are so many things to explore in this majestic paradise. A day? So little time. It is always worth another visit to truly capture the silent grandeur that is – Lake Danao.
(May 27, 2004 issue)
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