Mt. Kanlaon Presentation

Mt. Kanla on One of the major volcanoes of the Philippines

Introduction Kanla-on, variously referred to as Kanlaon Volcano and Mount Kanla-on (also spelledCanlaon), is an active volcano in the  Philippines. A stratovolcano on Negros island, it straddles the provinces of Negros Occidental and  Negros Oriental in the Visayas region (10°24.7'N, 123°7.9'E), approximately 36 kilometers southeast of Bacolod City. It is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines , part of the Pacific ring of fire.

Introduction The country's largest active volcano and Visayas' highest mountain is Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island. As the highest mountain in the Visayas, it is majestic. As the country's largest active volcano, it is fearsome. Its majesty lies in its forests, waterfalls, lagoons, and culminates in its crater, vast and desolate. However, this seat of majesty is also the source of Mt. Kanlaon's volcanic wrath. It is, after all, one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines.

Physical features Kanlaon has an elevation of 2,435 meters and a base diameter of 30 km and is dotted with  pyroclastic cones and craters. The summit of Kanlaon contains a broad elongated northern  caldera with a crater lake. A smaller but more active crater lies in the south. The volcano has three hot springs on its slopes: Mambucal Hot Springs on the northwest, Bucalan Hot Spring, Bungol Hot Spring. Its adjacent volcanic edifices are Mt. Silay and Mt. Mandalagan, north of Kanlaon.  Canlaon City now stands beside the mountain.

Physical features Elevation:2435 metres Location: Negros Island, Philippines Prominence:2435 metres Coordinates: 10’24’4”N, 123’7’54”E Type: stratovolcano Last eruption: 2006

Eruptions The most active volcano in central Philippines, Kanlaon has erupted 25 times since 1886. Eruptions are typically phreatic explosions of smallto-moderate size that produce minor ashfalls near the volcano. Its 1996 eruption killed 7 mountaineers - in an account vividly recalled to the blogger by Rey Castellos, the guide who rescued some of the foreign climbers and witnessed the eruption, barely making it alive. The blogger himself personally experienced this volcanic wrath when, on his climb to Mt. Kanlaon in February 9, 2008, Mt. Kanlaon spewed ash and stream - a phreatic eruption which obscured everything in the mountain. The ensuing rains and violent weather ultimately prevented him

The Legend of Mt. Kanlaon The place that Mt. Kanlaon holds for the people of Negros is irreplaceable and important in many aspects of their life. Culturally, Kanlaon is central to the loyal mythology, named after no less than Kan Laon, the supreme deity. Some tribes also hold Kanlaon to be center of the universe - its crater a portal into the unknown source of fire and energy. Attesting to the plurality of legends the mountain has inspired, children also grew up to the tales of "La-on and the Seven-Headed Dragon" .

The Legend of Mt. Kanlaon In this tale, a dragon appeared from the mountain, wreaking havoc in the whole island. In order to appease the dragon, the people had to sacrifice one beautiful maiden each year, until they have run out of women, save for the king's daughter. The King, agonized, offered a reward to anyone who could kill the dragon. Then comes a prince named La-on, whose affinity with nature and animals helped him slay the dragon - winning the princess' hand and earning the mountain as a tribute for his feat, hence Kan Laon, meaning "The Exalted" Laon, later becoming Kanlaon.

Economically, the highland domain of Kanlaon is the source of vegetables and fruits in the same way that Benguet is the 'Salad Bowl' of Luzon. It provides a home for a lot of communities, who earn their livelihood from the forest products. Ecologically, Kanlaon is another biodiversity haven, home to about 197 species of flora and an impressive roster of fauna, such as the endangered Philippine spotted deer and the Visayan Warty Pig. Of course, the geologic importance of Kanlaon attracts foreign tourists who want to see the country's third most active volcano (next to Mayon and Taal) in its volcanic glory. But also because of this danger, close coordination with DENR is a must when climbing the mountain.

An adventurous trip to Kanlaon! The most comprehensive trip to Kanlaon involves taking the Wasay and Guintubdan trails. The Wasay trail starts from the mountain resort of Mambucal, requiring two arduous days of trek just to reach the crater. Invariably, it has been compared to trekking in Mt. Halcon and is said to be one of the most difficult and longest trails in the Visayas. The first day passes by dipterocarp forests, set in rolling slopes. The culmination of the seven-hour hike is Harding Sang Balo (Garden of the Widow), a campsite with a nearby water source. Here marks the transformation of the forest from the tall diperocarps to the montane variety.

An adventurous trip to Kanlaon! The next day is a feast for the eyes. Although a total of 164 different obstacles lie in wait on this most difficult leg of the journey, dubbed by local guides as the "Killing Me Softly" trail, there are beautiful sights such as the lagoons (Samoc lagoon, PMS lagoon). These lagoons are actually old craters of Kanlaon. The breathtaking Margaha Valley is next, and finally, after crossing the valley ridge, the cone-shaped summit-crater. Said to be the center of the universe in some myths, the crater of Kanlaon is vast and deep, devoid of vegetation and is comprised of pyroclastic material. There is a sense of fear and wonder in camping in the summit area - the volcano can erupt anytime.

An adventurous trip to Kanlaon! The third day is the descent to Guintubdan. This could only take five hours, and is easier than the Wasay trail. The highlight is seeing the Twin Falls of Guintubdan. There are other waterfalls in the area, although they have to be visited separately.

An adventurous trip to Kanlaon! There are a myriad of side trip possibilities. To begin with, one can stay at Mambucal Resort prior to the climbing, dipping in its hot sulfur springs or swimming in the pools. There is also a lagoon and an available trek to several waterfalls. There are also the nearby mountains such as Mts. Silay and Mandalagan (N), and Mt. Talinis, also known as Mt. Cuernos de Negros (S). The nearby islands of Guimaras and Siquijor are also good options -- although Guimaras is more of a possibility when climbing using these trails (Siquijor is more proximate if using the Canlaon City Trails). Climbing Mt. Kanlaon - the active volcano and the majestic mountain - is truly a profound experience that must not be missed in one's lifetime!

An adventurous trip to Kanlaon! An easier option, fast getting popular, is the reverse of the above itinerary: you go up via Guintubdan and descent via Wasay. Considering that there is a risk of having to abort your climb on bad weather if climbing via Wasay, this is the itinerary of choice for those who want to make sure they can reach the summit.

TRIVIA

The 1996 eruption of Mt. Kanlaon claimed the lives of 3 climbers: the rest had to be rescued by helicopters. It was a dramatic volcanic event, with ash being spewed 1.5 kilometers up in the air. Rey Estelloso, the guide during that fateful incident, says he was just 16 when the eruption happened and they could even see flaming cinders being hurled from the crater, exploding in the ground like grenades. He also says that Kanlaon is one of the the country's deadliest climbing destinations. One climber who fell on the Margaha Valley ridge had to eat tissue paper for seven days before being rescued! Truly one must exercise caution in climbing Kanlaon.

Mt. Kanla-on National Park Features For a more enlightening park experience, an unhurried quiet walk with a small group (ten to twelve at the most) lets the visitor sense the unique environment. Traveling slowly through the dense forest, one will discover each area somewhat different from the other; various kinds of unique plant life, from the enigmatic strangler fig (a tree-killing vine that grows into a gigantic tree while strangling its host) to delicate orchids and the ferns and epiphytes of the mossy forest. Wildlife sounds abound beneath the triple-canopy forest and if your group is quiet and observant, a number of these animals can be seen. Mt. Kanla-on National Park is the home of many species of birds including the endemic hornbill, colorful parakeets, and even migratory birds from northern Asia. The huge but harmless monitor lizards scramble over fallen logs and Draco the "flying" lizard might glide overhead. Although there are several harmless species of snakes which are rarely encountered, avoid handling any because the poisonous cobras make their home here too.

Mt. Kanla-on National Park Features At the ridge top, panoramic scenes of sheer rock walls and cliffs with the lush cover of the dwarf forest, clash with the Margaha Valley's cogon grass and shrub-covered floor. Mornings come late and the evenings early in the Valley. Pastel patches of greens, yellows, olives, ochres and tans from agricultural lands below are suddenly cut by the deep blue sea with cloud formations hugging the curve of the horizon. The phenomenal clouds over Makawiwili Peak are illustrative of the complex balance of Nature's forces Man has started to respect.

Mt. Kanla-on National The best time to hike through Mt. Park Kanla-on National Park is during the dry season between February and May. However, with proper equipment, the season between February and May. However, with proper equipment, the rainy season can give the visitor an entirely different park experience with the proliferation of "wet season" flora and fauna.

•The park contains more than 40-km of foot trails. Depending on your physical condition, entry point, and time restraints, hikes lasting from a few hours to several days can be planned.

*Mount Kanlaon National Park (MKNP) -- a 25,000 ha. forest reserve in the heart of Negros Island

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