Panglao Island

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Panglao is an island in the Philippines located in the Central Visayas. Politically, it is divided into two municipalities: Dauis and Panglao, both of Bohol Province. Panglao Island is located southwest of the island of Bohol and east of Cebu.

1 Historical background
2 Geography
3 Biodiversity
4 External links

[edit] Historical background

In early history, Panglao was known to Chinese, Malay, Siamese and Indonesian traders. In 1803, Spanish Explorers came to the shore of Panglao Island in search of fresh water. At the time a couple of natives on the seashore were making fishing devices called "panggaw". One of the Spanish Explorers asked the name of the island. The natives who thought the visitors were asking what they were making - then replied "panggaw". Hence, from that term, was derived the name Panglao. Currently Panglao Island is the one of the top tourist destination in the Philippines.

[edit] Geography

Panglao Island has a terrain that range from plain, hilly to mountainous. Panglao Island is made of Maribojoc Limestone, the youngest of the limestone units found in the western area of Bohol. The limestone composition halted the development of an airport as coralline limestone is soluble which causes formation of caves and sinkholes. One interesting geological feature found in the island is the Hinagdanan Cave which has an underground water source. The cave is an important water source as the island has no rivers or lakes.

[edit] Biodiversity

About 250 new species of crustaceans and 2500 new species of mollusks were found around the island. The discovery was the work of the Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project. It is claimed that Panglao alone has more marine biodiversity than Japan and the Mediterranean sea.