Mount Apo

Mount Apo

(Apo Sandawa) , Mindanao Mountain

Bundok Apo

The Grandfather of Philippine Mountains
Elevation 2,954 m (9,692 ft)[1][2]
Prominence 2,954 m (9,692 ft)[1]
Ranked 98th
Listing Country's high point
Ultra prominent peaks
Location
Mount Apo

Philippines

Location Mindanao, Philippines
Range Apo–Talomo
Coordinates 6°59′15″N 125°16′15″E / 6.98750°N 125.27083°ECoordinates: 6°59′15″N 125°16′15″E / 6.98750°N 125.27083°E[1]
Geology
Type Stratovolcano
Age of rock Pliocene-Quaternary[3]
Volcanic arc/belt Central Mindanao Arc
Last eruption Unknown
Climbing
First ascent 1880 by Joaquin Rajal, governor of Davao; Joseph Montano, a French anthropologist; Jesuit missionary Father Mateo Gisbert, etc.[4][5]
Easiest route Kidapawan-Magpet Trail[6]

Mount Apo is a large solfataric, potentially active stratovolcano in the island of Mindanao, Philippines. With an elevation of 2,954 metres (9,692 ft) above sea level, it is the highest mountain in the Philippine Archipelago and is located between Davao City and Davao del Sur province in Region XI and Cotabato province in Region XII. The peak overlooks Davao City 45 kilometres (28 mi) to the northeast, Digos City 25 kilometres (16 mi) to the southeast, and Kidapawan City 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the west.

The first two attempts to reach Mt. Apo’s summit ended in failure: that of Jose Oyanguren (1852) and Señor Real (1870). The first recorded successful expedition was led by Don Joaquin Rajal in October 10, 1880. Prior to the climb, Rajal had to secure the permission of the Bagobo chieftain, Datu Manig. It is said that the Datu demanded that human sacrifice be made to please to god Mandarangan. Fortunately, the datu agreed to waive this demand, and the climb commenced on October 6, 1880, succeeding five days later. Since then, numerous expeditions followed. These and more are described in colorful narrations by Fr. Miguel Bernad, S.J. On May 9, 1936, Mount Apo was declared a national park by President Manuel L. Quezon. A note on the etymologies: Mt. Apo is said to be named after a nobleman named Apong, who got killed while mediating the battle between two suitors of his daughter Saribu. Another proposed origin of the name is from the word Apo itself, which in Filipino tongues means “master” or “grandfather”.

Conservation

Mount Apo Natural Park

On May 9, 1936, Mount Apo was declared a national park with Proclamation no. 59 by President Manuel L. Quezon, followed by Proclamation no. 35 of May 8, 1966 then Proclamation no. 882 of September 24, 1996.[7] On February 3, 2004, the approval of Republic Act no. 9237 established Mount Apo as a protected area under the category of natural park with an area of 54,974.87 hectares (135,845.9 acres); with two peripheral areas of 2,571.73 hectares (6,354.9 acres) and 6,506.40 hectares (16,077.7 acres) as buffer zones, provided for its management and for other purposes.[8]

Although a declared a Natural Park, the current climbing trails are littered with rubbish by irresponsible climbers, opening paths for soil erosion across the already denuded mountain sides. Some mountain and social climbing groups conduct climbs after the Holy Week/Easter, the peak climbing season, to clean the affected areas.

UNESCO World Heritage list

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) submitted Mount Apo on December 12, 2009 for inclusion in the UNESCO world heritage list. The mountain is considered by DENR as 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.[3]

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.

Nepenthes copelandii lower pitcher on Mount Apo

Climate

Typhoon Jelawat (2012) September 20, 2012, Typhoon Bopha December 9, 2012, Typhoon Haiyan November 8, 2013,

A dry Season of March and April

Flora and fauna

The mountain is home to over 272 bird species, 111 of which are endemic to the area. It is also home to one of the world's largest eagles, the critically endangered Philippine eagle, which is the country’s national bird.[9]

Bodies of water

The Marble River and Matingao River Tributary of Kabacan River in flow of Pulangi River to Drain into the Mindanao River in Cotabato City.

The Lake Venado, of section of North Cotabato has no outflow from the lake. The lake usually loses two-thirds of its size during dry months and summer due to evaporation. Its largest size is during the rainy season.

Lake Maag and Lake Jordan are located in the section of Davao Del Sur.

The Tudaya Falls located Barangay Santa Cruz Davao del Sur its Flow into the Sibulan River to Drain and Empties in Davao Gulf.

Lake Agko is a steaming blue and boiling mud lake where hot and cold springs converge. It stands at an elevation of 4,200 feet above sea level.

Marbel Falls, Mawig Falls,

Geothermal energy

The Mt. Apo 1 and Mt. Apo 2 geothermal plants, each possess a rated capacity of 54.24 megawatts. Owned and operated by Energy Development Corporation(EDC) the power plants were commissioned in February 1997 (Mt. Apo 1) and June 1999 (Mt. Apo 2) respectively, under a build-operate owner contract arrangement. Located in Barangay Ilomavis, Kidapawan City, North Cotabato is the Mindanao Geothermal Production Field with a power output of 108.48 MW, currently the only power plant of its kind in Mindanao.[10]

The Philippine National Oil Company geothermal plant supplies electricity to Kidapawan and its neighboring provinces, its completion boosted the city's economy.

Indigenous peoples

Six indigenous groups, the Manobos, Bagobo, Ubos, Atas, K’Iagans and Tagacaolo, live in the area of Mount Apo. They consider the mountain to be sacred ground and a place of worship. A number of genealogies of Lumad leaders in South Central Mindanao trace their roots to Mount Apo. For the Lumads, the term "Apo" was coined from the name of their great grandparent Apo Sandawa.[9]

Hiking activity

Hikers at the peak

At 2,954 meters (9,692 ft), Mount Apo is the highest Mountain & volcano 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. Arguably the easiest route to the National Park is through Kidapawan City with an average hike taking 3–4 days roundtrip. In the classification system used by local popular mountaineering website PinoyMountaineer.com, the difficulty of the hike is 7 out of 9. Various sights along the trail include Lake Venado, the highest lake in the Philippines, the solfataras and the old crater near its summit. The mountain may be climbed year-round or one can register and join the city's Summer Climb or the Annual October Trek / Climb.

Hydrological features

Mount Apo is a headwaters catchment area of several major river systems of Marble River, Matingaw River , Kabacan River and Pulangi River a major tributary of the Rio Grande de Mindanao, The Tudaya Falls and Sibulan River , Digos River to Flowing into Davao Gulf

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Philippines Mountain Ultra-Prominence". peaklist.org. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  2. ↑ (2011-04-06). "The World Factbook - Philippines". Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved on 2011-03-14.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "UNESCO - Mount Apo Natural Park". UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  4. ↑ Montano, Dr. Joseph. "Voyage Aux Philippines et en Malaisie", p. 246. Labrairie Hechette, Paris, 1886.
  5. ↑ Maso, Miguel Saderra. "Volcanoes and Seismic Centers of the Philippines", p.27. Department of Commerce and Labor, 1904.
  6. ↑ (2007-10-08). "Mt. Apo/Kidapawan-Magpet Trail". Pinoy Mountaineer. Retrieved on 2011-04-23.
  7. ↑ "Protected Areas in Region 11". Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Philippines. Retrieved on 2011-03-23.
  8. ↑ "Details for Republic Act no. 9237, Mount Apo Protected Act of 2003". Philippine Clearing House Mechanism for Diversity. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Profile - Mt. Apo Natural Park". Philippine Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
  10. ↑ "Geothermal Operating Sites - Mindanao Geothermal Production Field". Energy Development Corporation. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mount Apo.