Agusan River

The catchment area of ​​Agusans

Template: Infobox River / Obsolete

The Agusan is a river that flows through almost the entire east of the Philippine island of Mindanao from south to north.

Geography

It rises in the mountains of the province of Davao del Norte, flowing through the whole province of Agusan del Sur, before he opens on the north coast of the province of Agusan del Norte with Butuan City Butuan Bay, part of the Mindanaosee.

The Agusan is about 390 km long and thus, before the Rio Grande de Mindanao, the largest river in Mindanao and one of the largest streams in the country. However, he is only passable to 260 km.

The river forms in its course a fertile valley with a width of 65 up to 80 km between the central highlands of Mindanao (in the west ) and the Diwata Mountains in the east. His most important nature reserve is the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary.

History

Through the excavations at the archaeological site of Butuan City could be proved that the region along the lower reaches of Agusan was a major gold supplier for the South East Asia region from the early Middle Ages. It was a trade center to be documented, which maintained trade relations to Persia.

When the Spanish colonists came to Mindanao, the river Agusan was the best way to penetrate the hinterland of Caraga. The Spanish missionaries used the waterway on rafts and canoes to reach the settlements along the shore.

At the time of the Philippine-American War sunken Philippine revolutionaries large boulders in the passage at the height of the islands of Pungtod to keep the American attackers from reaching the city of Butuan via flow path.

Culture

A boat trip on the river along the barangays reveals much about the history, culture, arts and crafts and the people of Butuan. In honor of the patroness of Agusan, of St. Anne, the Abayan festival is celebrated on the last Saturday in July. This flower processions are held on the river and conducted race with Barotos ( small rowing boats).