The central Crater Lake is pipped with tiny Vulcan Island. Volcano Island was saved very recently from Korean developers Jung Ang Interventure by the Philippine authorities from becoming a health spa resort and current tourists are able to visit the Island, ascending to the top on horseback.
Taal Lake was previously connected to the sea however, during the 18th century a series of powerful eruptions caused land bridges to form and close off the connection to the sea. After many years of tropical precipitation, the lake water has become a freshwater body which drains into the sea via the short Pansipit River. Due to the previous connection with the sea, the lake is home to many endemic water species, the unfortunately now extinct Freshwater Bull shark (last seen in the 1930’s), the World’s only freshwater Sardine and one of the Earth’s rarest sea snakes. Due to the close proximity of human populations, much of the pristine natural environment has been spoilt with palm oil plantations, overfishing and pollution however as the volcano is still very active in geological terms, much of the surrounding landscape is at high risk of devastation.
Taal Volcano is still active, last erupting in 1977 and showing high volcanic activity again in 1991 although neither too much effect. It is in itself a marvellous location and I should advise that to any who may visit this locale, add a trip to the Volcano Island to your agenda as it may or may not remain for any definite period.
