| Mount Banahaw | |
|---|---|
| Banahao | |
 Mount Banahaw, seen fromSampaloc Lake inSan Pablo, Laguna | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,170 m (7,120 ft)[1][2] |
| Prominence | 1,919 m (6,296 ft)[1] |
| Listing | |
| Coordinates | 14°04′03″N121°29′33″E / 14.06750°N 121.49250°E /14.06750; 121.49250[1][3] |
| Geography | |
.svg)  Mount Banahaw .svg) Mount Banahaw | |
 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Calabarzon |
| Province | |
| Cities andmunicipalities | |
| Topo map(s) | Mount Banahaw Relief Map, SRTM-1.jpg |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano complex |
| Volcanicarc/belt | Macolod Corridor |
| Last eruption | 1909 |
Mount Banahaw (IPA:[bɐˈnahaʊ]; also spelled asBanahao andBanájao) is anactivecomplex volcano onLuzon in thePhilippines. The three-peakedvolcano is located at the boundary ofLaguna andQuezon provinces. It is the highest mountain in both provinces andCalabarzon region, dominating the landscape for miles around.[4]
The mountain is considered by many aholy mountain, thus abundokdambana, and is popular amongpilgrims along withmountain climbers. It is located in aprotected area known asMounts Banahaw–San Cristobal Protected Landscape covering 10,901 hectares (26,940 acres) of land.[5][6]
Theandesitic Banahaw volcanic complex is composed of severalstratovolcanoes with Mount Banahaw, the largest with a maximum elevation of 2,170 metres (7,119 ft)above mean sea level. The summit is topped by a 1.5 by 3.5 kilometres (0.93 mi × 2.17 mi) and 210 metres (690 ft) deep crater that is breached on the southern rim believed to have been caused by the 1730 eruption. Prior to 1730, alake occupied the summit crater of Mount Banahaw. The resulting flood destroyed the town ofSariaya, Quezon located below the mountain.[7]
Banahaw is a custompilgrimage site for locals, believed by many as a holy mountain, a spiritually-charged location. The mountain and its environs are considered sacred by local residents; the water from itssacred springs are deemed "holy water" for allegedly having beneficial qualities, issuing forth from locations called"puestos" or "holy sites". These sites are unique natural features composed not only ofsprings, but alsocaves,streams andboulders; with names with biblicalallusions, and shrines erected in, on or around them. These locations were allegedly revealed to a man named Agripino Lontoc by the"Santong Boses" or the "Holy Voices", which also gave the names to these places way back during theSpanish colonial era. Another one of these mountains is the adjacent Mount Banahaw de Lucbán.[7]
Banahaw is also a part of the Makiling-Banahaw Watershed, a reservation of the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) providing steam for power generation, as well as water source for domestic and industrial uses.[8]
The mountain is popular not only withpilgrims but also among mountain climbers being the closest over 2,000-metre (6,600 ft) mountain fromManila. Before 2004,hiking activity peaks duringHoly Week each year, with climbers numbering to the thousands. At least four trails exist fromDolores,Sariaya, and other towns of Quezon located on its foothills. The most frequently used trails are theCristalino andTatlong Tangke, taking an average of 9 and 5 hours, respectively. These two trails originate fromBarangay Kinabuhayan inDolores, and meet near the summit, which is actually the rim of the Banahawcaldera. On the summit are viewpoints, labeled asDurungawan I, II, and III, which are the usual destination for pilgrims and hikers. Other points of interest include the"Kuweba ng Diyos Ama" (Tagalog: Cave ofGod the Father) and the spring at Brgy. Kinabuhayan, said to have curative powers.[7]
Due to incessant climbing activity the mountain trails have become littered with trash. In March 2004, theDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources ordered a 5-year suspension of hiking activity in the mountains, covering the Dolores and Sariaya trails. Reopening was delayed was then scheduled to March 2012, but was further extended to February 2015.[4][9][10] Some sections of the mountain were reopened to hikers in 2019,[11] and the mountain observed seasonal openings due to the mountain's religious significance, but most sections of the mountain still remain closed.[12]
Frogsendemic to Mount Banahaw includePlatymantis banahao,Platymantis indeprensus,Platymantis montanus,Platymantis naomii, andPlatymantis pseudodorsalis.
TheBanahao forest skink (Parvoscincus banahaoensis) is a species of skink endemic to Mount Banahao, Philippines.[13]
Mount Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape is home to four endemicrodents:
TheBanahaw tree mouse (Musseromys gulantang) is a species ofrodentendemic to Mount Banahaw in thePhilippines.
TheBanahaw tweezer-beaked rat (Rhychomys banaho) is a species ofrodentendemic to Mount Banahaw in thePhilippines.[14]
TheBanahaw forest mouse (Apomys banahao) is a species ofrodentendemic to Mount Banahaw in thePhilippines.
TheBanahaw lowland forest mouse (Apomys magnus) is a species ofrodentendemic to Mount Banahaw in thePhilippines.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
