Mount Apo

Mount Apo
The Grandfather of Philippine Mountains
Elevation	2,954 m (9,692 ft)
Prominence	2,954 m (9,692 ft)  Ranked 98th
Listing	Country high point Ultra
Location
Mount Apo Mindanao, Philippines
Coordinates	[1]
Geology
Type	Stratovolcano
Age of rock	Unknown
Last eruption	Unknown
Climbing
First ascent	1880 by Don Joaquin Rajal and party
Easiest route	Hike

Mount Apo is a large solfataric potentially active stratovolcano on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is the highest mountain in the country and overlooks Davao City-40 km northeast, Digos City-25 km southeast, and Kidapawan City-20 km west. Its name means "master" or "grandfather". Apo is flat topped, with three peaks, and is capped by a 500 m wide volcanic crater containing a small crater lake. It is a source of geothermal energy, but the date of its most recent eruption is unknown, and none are verified in historical times.

Mount Apo is one of the most popular climbing destinations in the Philippines, and the summit is easy to reach. The first recorded climb was on October 10, 1880 by a party led by Don Joaquin Rajal.

Conservation

On May 9, 1936, Mount Apo was declared a national park by President Manuel L. Quezon. The mountain is home to over 270 bird species, with more than a hundred that are endemic.

Although a declared National Park, the current climbing trails are littered with rubbish, opening paths for soil erosion across the already denuded mountain sides. Some mountain and social climbing groups conduct climbs after the main Easter climbing season to clean the affected areas.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has submitted Mount Apo for inclusion in the UNESCO world heritage list. Mount Apo is considered the center of endemism in Mindanao. It has one of the highest land-based biological diversity in terms of flora and fauna per unit area. It has three distinct forest formations from lowland tropical rainforest to mid-mountain forests and finally to high mountain forests.

A portion of the eastern slopes are also within the scope of the UNESCO Hydrology Environment Life and Policy (HELP) Network. The Davao HELP Network is focused on building collaboration among watershed stakeholders.

Arguably the easiest route to Mt. Apo National Park is through Kidapawan City. One can register in the city's Summer Climb or the Annual October Trek / Climb. At the foot of Mt Apo is Lake Agco Resort, where tourists can dip in to the hot and warm pools sourced from the local hot springs. The completion of PNOC Geothermal Plants in Kidapawan City supplies electricity to Kidapawan and its neighboring provinces and also boosts the city's economy.

Hiking activity

At 2954 meters, Mount Apo is the highest mountain in the Philippines. This majestic peak is one of the country's most popular climbing destinations.

Several trails lead to the summit, coming from North Cotabato and Davao provinces. An average hike requires 2–4 days. Various sights include Lake Venado, one of the highest lakes in the Philippines, and the old crater of Mt. Apo near its summit. In the classification system used by local popular mountaineering website PinoyMountaineer.com, the difficulty of the hike is 7 out of 9. The mountain may be climbed year-round.

See also

• Active volcanos in the Philippines
• Potentially active volcanos in the Philippines
• Inactive volcanos in the Philippines
• Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
• Volcano

References

External links

• Mount Apo on Summitpost
• Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Mount Apo Page
• PinoyMountaineer: Mt. Apo Kidapawan-Magpet Trail
• PinoyMountaineer: Mt. Apo Kapatagan-Kidapawan Traverse Trail
• Global Volcanism Program: Apo
• UNESCO Tentative World Heritage List
• PinoyMountaineer: Mt. Apo