Pages

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Mt. Apo the highest mountain in the Philippines


Mount Apo is the highest mountain in the Philippines with an altitude of 2,954 metres (9,692 ft). It is a large solfataric potentially active stratovolcano on the island of Mindanao. It  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 Raja.
It is the highest mountain in the country and overlooks Davao City-40 km northeast, Digos City-25 km southeast,  and Kidapawan City-20 kilometres (12 mi) west. Its name means "grandchild". Apo is flat-topped, with three peaks, and is capped by a 500-metre-wide (1,600 ft) volcanic crater containing a small crater lake. It is a source of geothermal energy, but the date of its most recent explosion is strange, and none are confirmed in past times.
Mount Apo was declared a national park by President Manuel L. Quezon on May 9.1936. it is the home of over 270 bird species. It has one of the highest land-based biological diversity in terms of flora and fauna per unit area. It has three separate forest formations, from lowland tropical rainforest, to mid-mountain forests, and finally to high mountain forests. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has submitted Mount Apo for inclusion in the UNESCO world heritage list. Mount Apo is considered, by DENR, as the center of endemism in Mindanao.
A part 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.
Possibly the easiest route to Mt. Apo National Park is through Kidapawan City. One can list 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 dunk in to the hot and warm pools sourced from the local hot springs. The completion of PNOC Geothermal Plants in Kidapawan City provisions electricity to Kidapawan and its nearest provinces and also boosts the city's financial system.


No comments:

Post a Comment