Hardly an hour after the old man left, there was a thundering noise followed by the cracking of the earth. The next instant the entire orchard sank into a colossal pit which was eventually filled with water. Henceforth, the villagers called it Lake Sampalok.

The city's biggest and premier lake is located within the city proper. It has an area of 104.0 hectares, a maximum depth of 27.0 meters. Approximately 85% of its volume is of uniform depth. Sampalok Lake is sunk in a shallow depression, revealing its volcanic origin.

It appeared that this rich valley used to be the domain of a Diwata who had wanted to keep her realm free from the intrusion of humankind. She did not want her wild game and her fruit trees to be molested by mortal men. Thus she was angered when they built rocky pathways that criss-crossed her valley. She caused a strong earthquake and a severe storm that transformed her valley into a lagoon.

The villagers living on the other side of the surrounding hills, gaping at the sight they beheld the following morning, named it Lake Kalibato, taken from the criss-crossing pathways of the valley. (Kali must have been a conjunction of the Spanish Calle or Street, while Bato means rock or stone.)

A crater lake located in Barangay Sto. Angel, Calibato has an area of 42 hectares and maximum depth of 135 meters. Calibato's greatest volume of water in storage is approximately 29,600 cubic meters.

Calibato supplies the city and nearby towns with abundant fish.

Pandin is considered oligotrophic because of the abundant plant and fish life.

A fairy showed up to inform them that their prayer would be granted provided, however, that the baby to be born should not be allowed to set foot on mother earth; otherwise, something terrible would befall to the family.

Barangay San Lorenzo also has Yambo Lake. Yambo is adjacent to Pandin Lake. It has a normal surface area of 28.5 hectares.

Yambo, like Pandin is considered oligotropic, and is suitable for swimming, outings and picnics.

Only 4.5 kms. from the city proper, Bunot is known for its cultured tilapia and fishpens for Nilotica fingerlings. Bunot has a normal surface area of 30.5 hectares with a maximum depth of 23 meters. 

Bunot is a convenient site for picnics. It is a real haven for nature lovers. Ideal for swimming amd relaxation.

The story of Lake Muhikap is akin to the legend of Lake Pandin and Lake Yambo. It tells about the couple who had a very sickly daughter named Munica. The couple were both very religious and they kept praying to god for the good health of their only child. They made a promise to do anything if God would answer their prayer. God granted their prayer on condition that Munica must not set foot on mother earth.

One day while Munica was sewing her dress, the ball of thread she was using fell to the ground. Her parents were not around to retrieve it, so Munica recovered the ball by herself. While doing so, she fainted and immediately fell into the ground. She suddenly sank with the entire neighborhood, and a lagoon was formed. This body of water was later called Muhikap in honor of the unfortunate but very industrious girl. The name of the lake was taken from Munica, the girl's name, and Mahikap meaning industrious. 

Located in Barangay Sta. Catalina, Mohicap Lake is a 14.5 hectare-lake. It is one of the main suppliers of water resources in the city. Its waters provide a generous source of tilapia for Metro Manila and suburbs.

A few kilometers north of the city proper was a village which had become known then for its ancient tree which had a hollow trunk. The villagers had had it that on moonlight nights they could see a beautiful, re-haired lady washing her long hair with the hollow trunk serving as her wash basin. The tree was called Palakpak. There was also a river nearby where a big fish appeared each night that the beautiful lady was around. The villagers would not catch it, believing that it must be her pet.

One day a stranger came to the village. He tried to solve the mystery about the red-haired lady and the big fish. And so one moonlit night, he waited for her appearance. Seeing the lady in her pristine glory, the stranger approached her. All of a sudden there was thunder and lightning. The earth quaked with terrible intensity, while the river swelled alarmingly into a lake.

Both the beautiful lady and the big fish were gone, but in their place was a lake that nurtured a large quantity of shrimps which when cooked turned red. The material well-being of the villagers having been uplifted, they since then had affectionately called their village "Palakpakin," and their principal source of livelihood, Hipong Palakpakin.

Palakpakin Lake in Brgy. San Buenaventura is similar to Sampalok Lake. With an area of 43 hectares, it has a maximum depth of 7.5 meters.

Residents around the lake rely on income from fish pens and fish cages that grow cultured tilapia and silver carps.