Mount Banahaw
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Mount Banahaw | |
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Mt. Banahaw in 2007 |
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Elevation | 2,158 metres (7,080 feet) |
Location | Lucban, Quezon, Luzon, Philippines Majayjay, Laguna, Luzon, Philippines |
Coordinates | |
Type | Complex volcano |
Age of rock | unknown |
Last eruption | Unknown |
Mount Banahaw (alternatively Banáhao) is a dormant volcanic complex located on the boundary of Majayjay, Laguna and Lucban, Quezon in Luzon, Philippines. It is considered to be sacred by the local residents because of its "holy water"and "puwesto"s, or holy sites. These are composed of natural features with shrines located in or on them, revealed to a man by the "Santo Boses" or Holy Voice. It has another of this mountain and it was named as Mount Banahaw de Lucban.
[edit] Physical characteristics
- Height: 2,158 m asl
- Crater: breached by 1.5 km x 3.5 km at its southern rim; 210 m deep
- Major adjacent volcanic edifices:
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- Mount San Cristobal (at western slope)
- Mount Banahaw de Lucban (at northeastern slope)
- Buho Masalakot Domes (at southwestern slope)
- Mount Mayabobo
- Maars: Lake Dagatan and Lake Ticab
- Thermal Areas:
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- Tiaong-San Pablo hot/warm springs
- Bakia warm/cold springs
- Sampaloc warm springs
- Mainit hot/warm springs
- Cagsiay hot/warm springs
- Composition of Lava: Andesitic
[edit] Hiking activity
Mt. Banahaw is a traditional pilgrimage site for locals, being considered a 'holy mountain'. It is also popular among mountain climbers being the closest >2000-meter mountain to Manila. Hiking activity peaks during Holy Week of each year, with climbers numbering thousands. At least four trails exist, from Dolores, Sariaya, and other towns in Quezon. The most frequently trails are the Cristalino and the Tatlong Tangke, taking an average of 9 and 5 hours, respectively. These two trails originate from Brgy. Kinabuhayan, Dolores, and meet near the summit of Banahaw. At the summit, which is actually a rim encircling the caldera, viewpoints are numbered as 'Durungawan I,II, and III'. These viewpoints are the usual destination for pilgrims and hikers. Other points of interest include the 'Kweba ng Diyos Ama' (Cave of God the Father) and the spring at Brgy. Kinabuhayan, said to have curative powers.
Due to incessant climbing activity, the mountain trails have become littered with trash. In March 2004, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ordered a 5-year suspension of hiking activity in the mountains, covering the Dolores and Sariaya trails. It is scheduled for reopening on April 5, 2009. [1]
[edit] References
- ^ PinoyMountaineer: Mount Banahaw, 18 August 2007, <http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/08/mt-banahaw-2158.html>. Retrieved on 31 December 2007
- PinoyMountaineer: Mount Banahaw, 18 August 2007, <http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/08/mt-banahaw-2158.html>. Retrieved on 31 December 2007
- Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program: Mount Banahaw
- newsinfo.inquirer.net, Army rescues 16 stranded mountaineers in Quezon 2 airlifted to Solcom hospital