Taal Lake was once just an arm of Balayan Bay. A series of major eruptions
in the early 18th century battered the lakeside towns with earthquakes and
volcanic debris. The activity culminated in 1754 with Taal Volcano's largest
eruption that blocked Pansipit River with tephra, eventually submerging some of
the towns by the rising lake waters, as the lake's sole outlet to the sea was
blocked. (Remnants of the old lakeside towns are reported can be seen under the
lake's waters). The poblaciones (town centers) of Lipa, Taal, Sala,
Bauan and Tanauan, formerly located along Taal Lake, were moved away and
reestablished
