Lake Dapao

Lake Dapao is a deep water lake located in the province of Lanao del Sur, southwest of Lake Lanao, in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is one of the deepest lakes in the country, reaching a maximum depth of 120 m. It has an estimated surface area of 1011 ha. The lake receives water from local run-off and several small rivers.

In 1965, the lake and its vicinity was declared as a protected national park under Republic Act 4190 that covers an area of about 1500 km2.

Plants growing in the lake includes hydrilla (Hydrilla spp) and the filamentous alga (Clodophora spp). The lake is also rich in fish that includes dalág (Ophicephalus striatus), Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), goby (Glossogobius giurus) and catfish (Clarias spp).

It was reported that the endangered Barbodes tumba and other endemic cyprinids were once widely distributed in the lake; however, none were found during fieldwork in 1982 and the former is believed to be locally extinct.