Panglao Island

Panglao Island

Aerial view of Panglao Island
Geography
Location Bohol Sea
Coordinates 09°36′N 123°49′E / 9.600°N 123.817°ECoordinates: 09°36′N 123°49′E / 9.600°N 123.817°E
Area 80.5 km2 (31.1 sq mi)
Length 16 km (9.9 mi)
Width 7.5 km (4.66 mi)
Country
Philippines
Region Central Visayas
Province Bohol
Demographics
Population 68,051 (as of 2010)[1]
Density 845.4 /km2 (2,189.6 /sq mi)

Panglao is an island in the north Bohol Sea, located in the Central Visayas Region of the Visayas island group, in the south-central Philippines.

Geography

Panglao Island, Bohol

The island has an area of 80.5 square kilometres (31.1 sq mi). It is within Bohol Province, and is divided into two municipalities: Dauis and Panglao. Panglao is located southwest of the island of Bohol and east of Cebu.

Panglao has a terrain that ranges from plain, hilly to mountainous. Panglao 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.

Panglao is a popular tourist destination in the Philippines, and includes several small islands, such as Gak-ang, Pontod, and Balicasag.

In 2010 Panglao Island counted a total population of 68,051 people.[1]

History

Panglao was known to Chinese, Malay, Siamese and Indonesian traders.

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. The project found that Panglao alone has more marine biodiversity than Japan and the Mediterranean sea.[2]

Tourism

Alona Beach overview

Panglao Island is one of the main tourist destinations on the Philippines. Alona Beach is the most popular tourist spot on the island, noted for its white sand and clear water. Like Boracay, this place has become crowded due to opening of more and more restaurants and bars. Still the diving around the island is one of the best of the Philippines. Especially Balicasag Island is really worth diving at. If you can avoid to go there in the very high season Alona Beach is still a beautiful place.

Panglao Island International Airport

Panglao Island International Airport is a controversial airport projecton Panglao Island in the province of Bohol, Philippines. It is intended to become Bohol's international airport to support its tourism industry, especially on Panglao Island which is being promoted as an alternative destination for Boracay Island.

The airport is very close to Tagbilaran Airport which currently serves as the gateway to Panglao Island and the rest of Bohol for domestic air travelers. It also is less than 2 hours travel time from Mactan-Cebu International airport, which is a gateway to the Central Philippines for international tourists.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010". 2010 Census of Population and Housing: Bohol. National Statistics Office, Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Pedroso, Kate (2 March 2007). "Panglao, Bohol: a center of marine biodiversity". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 15 June 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Panglao Island.