Lake Lanao and the People Who Lives Around It 0
Lake Lanao is the second largest lake in the Philippines next to Laguna de Bay. Located in Lanao del Sur, the lake has become one of the water sources for the streams and rivers in Iligan. Marawi sits closest to Lake Lanao. A city dominated by the culture of the Maranaos under the religious influence of Islam.
Mindanao State University-Marawi, a sister university of the school where I study, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology belongs to the MSU System. MSU-Marawi upholds a magnificent view of the mountain ranges that surround Lake Lanao. The most popular site is the lying lady (on the right), shows a silhouette of a lady lying on the mountain ranges.
Touring around the lake would be ideal for people who wanted to find a scenic imagery of nature. The lake has provided food and water access for the people who lived around it. It is also Lake Lanao that supplies water to the Agus River system where hydroelectric power plants are made to produce electricity the powered big portion of Mindanao.
Dugout canoes are visibly the most common vessels used by the fishermen in Lake Lanao. It has been inculcated along the culture of the Maranaos. Growing up in a nearby city from Marawi, just about 45 minutes travel time was enough to spread out rumors that the mysterious Lake Lanao is a volcanic crater.
In the mid 1990s, the water in the lake fell to an alarming level, almost dry. However, later in that decade, the water level rose up and replenished the beauty that should have been in the grasp of Lake Lanao.
The cultural group that has benefited and lived with the lake are the Maranaos. Even before Christianity was brought by the Spaniards in the 16th century, the Maranao people were already bound by the teachings of Islam. They were the greatest enemies of the Spanish rulers during their colonialism in the Philippines. Along with the flourishing status of Islam, the Arabs who spread the religion carried with them the knowledge of their architecture. So now, they are marvelous to be witnessed.
The domes, the crescent moon at the top of the dome and the symmetric architecture of the mosques are really astounding. Marawi is the capital of the province of Lanao del Sur. Coming to Marawi is a trip to the heart of the Maranao culture.
credit to: Micketymoc
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