Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park | |
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![]() Entrance to the Puerto Princesa Underground River | |
Location | Palawan, Philippines |
Nearest city | Puerto Princesa |
Coordinates | 10°10′N118°55′E / 10.167°N 118.917°E |
Area | 22,202 hectares (54,860 acres) |
Established | November 12, 1999 |
Governing body | Department of Environment and Natural Resources City of Puerto Princesa |
Type | Natural |
Criteria | vii, x |
Designated | 1999 (23rd session) |
Reference no. | 652rev |
Region | Asia-Pacific |
Designated | June 30,2012 |
Reference no. | 2084 [1] |
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a protected area in the Philippines.
The park is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the western coast of the island of Palawan,about 80 kilometers (50 mi) north of the city of Puerto Princesa,and contains the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River (also known as the Puerto Princesa Underground River). It has been managed by the Puerto Princesa city government since 1992.
It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999,and voted as a New7Wonders of Nature in 2012. It also became a Ramsar Wetland Site in 2012.
A major tourist destination,it is mostly accessed through road trips to the seaside village of Sabang from where one of the many Bangkas (Kayaks) take visitors to the park [2]
In 2010,a group of environmentalists and geologists discovered that the underground river has a second floor,which means that there are small waterfalls inside the cave. They also found a cave dome measuring 300 m (980 ft) above the underground river,rock formations,large bats,a deep water hole in the river,more river channels,and another deep cave,as well as marine creatures and more. Deeper areas of the underground river are almost impossible to explore due to oxygen deprivation.[ citation needed ]
On November 11,2011,Puerto Princesa Underground River was provisionally chosen as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. This selection was officially confirmed on January 28,2012. [3]
The park has a limestone karst mountain landscape. St. Pauls Underground River Cave is more than 24 kilometres (15 mi) long and contains an 8.2-kilometre-long (5.1 mi) underground section of the Cabayugan River. The river winds through the cave before flowing directly into the West Philippine Sea [4] and is navigable by boat up to 4.3 kilometres (2.7 mi) from the sea. The cave includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites,and several large chambers,including the 360-metre-long (1,180 ft) Italian's Chamber with approximate 2.5 million square meters volume.[ clarification needed ] It is one of the largest cave rooms in the world. [5] The lower portion of the river up to six kilometres (3.7 mi) from the sea,is subject to tidal influences. Until the 2007 discovery of an underground river in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, [6] the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River was reputed to be the world's longest underground river.
The area also represents a habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full mountain-to-the-sea ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia. It was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site on December 4,1999.[ citation needed ]
The park has a range of forest formations,the thirteen forest types found in tropical Asia,namely forest over ultramafic soils,forest over limestone soils,montane forest,freshwater swamp forest,lowland evergreen tropical rainforest,riverine forest,beach forest,and mangrove forest. Researchers have identified more than 800 plant species from 300 genera and 100 families. These include at least 295 trees dominated by the dipterocarp species. In the lowland forest,large trees including the dao ( Dracontomelon dao ),ipil ( Intsia bijuga ),dita ( Alstonia scholaris ),amugis ( Koordersiodendron pinnatum ),and apitong ( Dipterocarpus gracilis ) are common. Beach forest species include bitaog ( Calophyllum inophyllum ), Pongamia pinnata ,and Erynthia orientalis. Other plant species include almaciga ( Agathis philippinensis ),kamagong (Diospyros pulganensis) pandan ( Pandanus sp.) anibong,and rattan ( Calamus sp.).
Birds comprise the largest group of vertebrates found in the park. Of the 252 bird species known to occur in Palawan,a total of 165 species of birds were recorded in the park. This represents 67% of the total birds and all of the 15 endemic bird species of Palawan. Notable species seen in the park are the blue-naped parrot ( Tanygnathus lucionensis ),Tabon scrub fowl (Megapodius cumunigii),hill myna ( Gracula religiosa ),Palawan hornbill ( Anthracoceros marchei ),white breasted sea eagle ( Haliaeetus leucogaster ).
There are also some 30 mammal species that have been recorded. [7] Most often observed in the forest canopy and along the shoreline feeding during low tide is the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis),the only primate found in the area. Other mammal species in the park are the Palawan bearded pig (Sus ahoenobarbus), [8] bearcat ( Arctictis binturong ),Palawan stink badger ( Mydaus marchei ) and the Palawan porcupine ( Hystrix pumila ).
19 species of reptiles have been identified,eight of which are endemic. [7] Common species in the area include large predators like the common reticulated python (Python reticulates),the monitor lizard ( Varanus salvator ) and the green crested lizard (Bronchocoela cristatella). Amphibian fauna include ten species. The Philippine woodland frog (Rana acanthi) is the most dominant and frequently encountered. One species, Barbourula busuangensis ,endemic to Palawan was also observed in the area.
Nine species of bat,two species of swiftlet and whip spider (Stygophrynus sp.) are found in the cave,and the sea cow ( Dugong dugon ) and the hawksbill sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas ) feed in the coastal area of the park.[ citation needed ]
Puerto Princesa Underground River was entered as the Philippine entry – and topped the first round of voting – in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition. On July 29, 2011, after the second round of voting, it was declared 1 of 28 finalists. Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn extended his gratitude to all those who supported and voted for the PPUR. [9] On November 11, 2011, it was provisionally chosen as one of the New7Wonders, together with the Amazon rainforest, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo Island, and Table Mountain. [3]
On January 28, 2012, Malacañang expressed elation over the official inclusion of the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) in the world's New Seven Wonders of Nature. "Confirmation that the Puerto Princesa Underground River is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature is welcome news indeed. Throughout the competition, Filipinos from all walks of life have given time, energy, and resources to this campaign," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said. [10] [11]
Department of Tourism spokesman and Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said the underground estuary made it into the world's New Seven Wonders of Nature after the validation process conducted by the New7Wonders Foundation last year. The voting was criticized, especially the Philippine voting. Nothing in the New7Wonders voting procedure prohibited repetitive voting, making the results subject to government and tourism industry campaigns to vote often for local sites with the financial incentive of increased tourism.[ citation needed ] Philippine President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, in his speech during the official proclamation launch of the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the 28 finalists, urged the country's 80 million cellphone subscribers to vote PPUR via text. [12]
On June 30, 2019, Puerto Princesa underground river was celebrated with a Google Doodle. [13]
A subterranean river is a river or watercourse that runs wholly or partly beneath the ground, one where the riverbed does not represent the surface of the Earth. It is distinct from an aquifer, which may flow like a river but is contained within a permeable layer of rock or other unconsolidated materials. A river flowing below ground level in an open gorge is not classed as subterranean.
Palawan, officially the Province of Palawan, is an archipelagic province of the Philippines that is located in the region of Mimaropa. It is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of 14,649.73 km2 (5,656.29 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Puerto Princesa wherein it is geographically grouped but administered independently from the province. Palawan is known as the Philippines' Last Frontier and as the Philippines' Best Island.
El Nido, officially the Municipality of El Nido, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 50,494 people.
Palawan is the largest island of the province of Palawan in the Philippines and fifth-largest by area and tenth-most populous island of the country, with a total population of 994,101 as of 2020 census. The northwest coast of the island is along the Palawan Passage in the eastern South China Sea, while the southeast coast forms part of the northern limit of the Sulu Sea. Much of the island remains traditional and is considered by some as under-developed. Abundant wildlife, jungle mountains, and some white sandy beaches attract many tourists, as well as international companies looking for development opportunities.
Puerto Princesa, officially the City of Puerto Princesa, is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Mimaropa region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 307,079.
San Vicente, officially the Municipality of San Vicente, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 33,507 people.
The Tubbataha Natural Park, also known as the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, is a protected area of the Philippines located in the middle of the Sulu Sea. The marine and bird sanctuary consists of two huge atolls and the smaller Jessie Beazley Reef covering a total area of 97,030 hectares. It is located 150 kilometres (93 mi) southeast of Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan. The uninhabited islands and reefs are part of the island municipality of Cagayancillo, located roughly 130 kilometers (81 mi) to the northeast of the reef.
Puerto Princesa International Airport is an airport serving the general area of Puerto Princesa, located in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. It is classified as an international airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
The Tabon Caves is a cave system located in Lipuun Point, Panitian, Quezon, Palawan in the Philippines. Dubbed as the country's "cradle of civilization", it is a site of archaeological importance due to the number of jar burials and prehistoric human remains found starting from the 1960s, most notably the Tabon Man. The system is a part of the Lipuun Point Reservation, which has been protected by the Philippine government as a museum reservation to protect the caves and its immediate vicinity from deforestation and to preserve the cultural artifacts present there.
Balabac Island is the southernmost island of the Palawan province, and therefore the westernmost undisputed island in the Philippines, only about 50 kilometers (31 mi) north from Sabah, Malaysia, across the Balabac Strait.
Edward Solon Hagedorn was a Filipino politician who was the mayor of Puerto Princesa, Philippines, and later the representative of Palawan's 3rd congressional district.
The Palawan hornbill is a large forest bird endemic to the Philippines. It is one of the 11 endemic hornbills in the country. It is only found in Palawan and nearby islands of Balabac, Busuanga, Calauit, Culion and Coron. It is locally known as "talusi" in the language Cuyunon. It is threatened by habitat loss, hunting and trapping for the cage-bird trade.
The blue-headed racket-tail, also known as the Palawan racket-tail and locally as kinawihan, is a parrot found in the western Philippines around Palawan. The species was formerly considered conspecific with the blue-crowned racket-tail. It is locally known as 'kilit'. It inhabits humid lowland forest in small flocks. It is threatened by habitat destruction and limited trapping for the cage-bird trade.
The Palawan flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only in the region of Palawan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The falcated wren-babbler is a species of bird in the family Pellorneidae. It is endemic to Palawan.
The Philippine porcupine or Palawan porcupine is a species of rodent in the family Hystricidae endemic to the island of Palawan in the Philippines. It is known locally as durian or landak.
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Jonavi Raisa Bernas Quiray is a Filipino architect, environmentalist and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Philippines Air 2011, Miss ASEAN TV Charm 2010, Mutya ng Pilipinas International 2008, and Mutya ng Palawan 2005.
Biosphere reserves are areas comprising terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems. The biosphere reserve title is handed over by UNESCO. Each reserve promotes solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. Biosphere reserves are 'Science for Sustainability support sites' – special places for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity. Biosphere reserves are nominated by national governments and remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located. Their status is internationally recognized.
Malampaya Sound is a protected inlet of the South China Sea on the northwestern coast of Palawan Island in western Philippines. It is a geographic sound consisting of a complex of sheltered bays, coves, estuaries and islands separated from the sea to the west by the Copoas Peninsula. The sound is within the municipality of Taytay and is an important feature for the ecology and economy of the province of Palawan. It is considered one of the finest natural harbors in the Philippines and one of Palawan's richest fishing grounds.
"We send two billion text messages a day, all we need is one billion text votes for the Puerto Princesa Underground River so (we can accomplish) that in half a day," the President said. "I urge everyone to vote to the maximum for the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature" he reiterated.
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