Mount Banahaw

Mount Banahaw
Mt. Banahaw in 2007 Elevation2,158 metres (7,080 feet) Location Lucban, Quezon, Luzon, Philippines
Majayjay, Laguna, Luzon, Philippines Coordinates 14°4′0″N, 121°29′0″E Type Complex volcano Age of rockunknown Last eruptionUnknown

Mount Banahaw (alternatively Banáhao) is a dormant volcanic complex located on the boundary of Majayjay, Laguna and Lucban, Quezon in Luzon, Philippines. It is considered to be sacred by the local residents because of its "holy water"and "puwesto"s, or holy sites. These are composed of natural features with shrines located in or on them, revealed to a man by the "Santo Boses" or Holy Voice. It has another of this mountain and it was named as Mount Banahaw de Lucban.

Physical characteristics

Height: 2,158 m asl
Crater: breached by 1.5 km x 3.5 km at its southern rim; 210 m deep
Major adjacent volcanic edifices:

Mount San Cristobal (at western slope)
Mount Banahaw de Lucban (at northeastern slope)
Buho Masalakot Domes (at southwestern slope)
Mount Mayabobo

Maars: Lake Dagatan and Lake Ticab
Thermal Areas:

Tiaong-San Pablo hot/warm springs
Bakia warm/cold springs
Sampaloc warm springs
Mainit hot/warm springs
Cagsiay hot/warm springs

Composition of Lava: Andesitic

Hiking activity

Mt. Banahaw is a traditional pilgrimage site for locals, being considered a 'holy mountain'. It is also popular among mountain climbers being the closest >2000-meter mountain to Manila. Hiking activity peaks during Holy Week of each year, with climbers numbering thousands. At least four trails exist, from Dolores, Sariaya, and other towns in Quezon. The most frequently trails are the Cristalino and the Tatlong Tangke, taking an average of 9 and 5 hours, respectively. These two trails originate from Brgy. Kinabuhayan, Dolores, and meet near the summit of Banahaw. At the summit, which is actually a rim encircling the caldera, viewpoints are numbered as 'Durungawan I,II, and III'. These viewpoints are the usual destination for pilgrims and hikers. Other points of interest include the 'Kweba ng Diyos Ama' (Cave of God the Father) and the spring at Brgy. Kinabuhayan, said to have curative powers.

Due to incessant climbing activity, the mountain trails have become littered with trash. In March 2004, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ordered a 5-year suspension of hiking activity in the mountains, covering the Dolores and Sariaya trails. It is scheduled for reopening on April 5, 2009. [1]