Cordillera Central (Luzon)
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Topographic map of the Mountain ranges in the northern part of the island of Luzon
The Philippine Cordilleras are formed of several mountain ranges mountains on the main island of Luzon in the Philippines. One distinguishes the Western Cordillera ( Zambales Mountains ), the mean Cordillera ( Cordillera Central) and the Eastern Cordillera (Sierra Madre ). The area between the Sierra Madre and Cordillera Central Caraballo Mountains are the central nodes of the Philippine Cordilleras mountain.
Cordillera Central
The Cordillera Central is the most extensive mountain land on the island of Luzon, it covers an area which accounts for one sixth of the area of the island of Luzon, which corresponds to 18.3 thousand km ². It emerges from the great plain of Luzon and extends to the north coast. The width of the Cordillera varies between 60 and 90 kilometers. It lost several chain-like, almost parallel mountain ranges in north-south direction. We can distinguish three major chains: In the western coastal mountain range ( Malayakette ) the Central Range ( Cordillera Central) and the Metropolis chain to follow. When running in the West Malayakette the greatest heights are around 1800 m in comparison to the main axis of the mountains, the Cordillera Central, possesses the altitudes of over 2700 m. The further east running Polis chain with the highest elevations in Luzon, the Pulag ( 2922 m). To Pulag 1987 Mount Pulag National Park was established on an area of 11,550 hectares. All mountain ranges to the north know a slope up to 1000 m in the coastal area, the highest peaks are located in the southern part. In the west a narrow foreshore accompanies the Cordilleras, to the east a broad- developed zone of gently sloping hills with height differences between 300 and 500 m. The Cordilleras are densely forested and stretch out as far to the Cagayan. The Cordillera Central arise from numerous rivers such as the Agno, Abra and the Rio Chico on the Bergdata have their sources. Other major rivers are the Abulug, the Amburayan and Laoag. In the valley of the Magat Rivers is the Magat Dam, it is the largest reservoir in the Cordillera Central and its hydroelectric plant has a power output of 381 megawatts.
Geology Cordillera Central
The Central Range is composed of granite, volcanic effusions, sandstones, shales and limestones. The bedrock occurs in a central strip to light, but there is no clarity about the actual extension. In the west and east, close to spacious volcanic deposits, mainly andesites. In the Metropolis chain, the andesites in the east of sandstones are overlaid. You are at numerous locations Neogene limestones deposited thereon, and especially on the heights and are remnants of a much more widespread ceiling. The Malayakette other hand, is predominantly porphyritic; sandstones and shales west are attached. This results in a characteristic shape world depending on the rock material: a) igneous rocks: generally irregular shapes prevail. The horizon lines are irregular and jagged. b ) sediment ceiling: here are long and peaceful lines characteristic c ) limestone areas: in Sagada prevail Neogene limestones; on mountain heights, find flat, plateau-like shapes, the system took place in the morphological early days of the area. In the rainy season, these lead to the swamp formation. The largest flat shape is borne by the Zentralkordilliere on top of the mountain and Data to Baguio. Evidence that the Cordillera are relatively young, are features such as steep slope forms and the retreat of the terrace remnants in the valleys.
Caraballo Mountains
The Caraballo Mountains separate the central Luzon plane in which the Pampanga flows from Cagayan Valley. It has this domed, breitwinkelnde Bergland, which reaches heights of 1680 m, also called the central mountain nodes, since the Cordillera Central North Luzon is associated with the Sierra Madre. The Caraballo Mountains form the watershed between the tributaries of Cagayan and Pampanga large parts of the plains of Central Luzon towards Manila Bay drains to.
Eastern Cordillera (Sierra Madre )
The approach from the northeast trending Sierra Madre, bends south to north to south and is now referred to as Ostkordilliere. The highest mountain in the Sierra Madre is the 1850 meters high mountain Anacuao. As the Sierra Madre and the central mountain nodes Carballo mountains, the Eastern Cordillera of Luzon, little is researched. Basement material, andesites and Miocene limestones are the main building materials. The top of the mountain takes to the south gradually, the width of the hill country is lower. Southeast Windwärts the Laguna de Bay, one can speak only of a hill country. The most important nature reserve in the Sierra Madre is the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park. In the middle Sierra Madre is the Angat Reservoir, with more than 90 % of the drinking water for the metropolitan region Metro Manila is taken.
Western Cordillera ( Zambales Mountains )
The Zambales Mountains form the western front of the Philippine Cordilleras. The shapes of the mountains are very different; in the north, where the foothills in the Gulf of Lingayen involve limiting peninsula in the west, are long-range Verebnungen in the low-lying flat hills. In the latitude of Lingayen the real mountain country that reaches a height of 1000 meters very quickly begins. The central largest elevations reach 2037 meters on the mountain Tapulao.
Climatology
In the Philippines, there is a tropical maritime climate ( " muggy greenhouse climate " ), the high and constant average temperatures (20-30 ° C ), extreme humidity and many rainfall (10 to 12 humid months ) is characterized. It is mainly determined by the wind regime of the monsoon, which roughly divides the year into two halves hygro: rainy season and dry season. From November to April dominate the relatively dry northeast monsoon from May to October, the southwest monsoon humid. The average monthly temperatures are in the lowlands between 25 ° C in December and January and 29 ° C in May, the hottest month. The annual rainfall is 2000 mm / year, and they vary greatly by region. In the East North Luzon fall about 3500 mm / year, without a proper drying time. 1500-2000 mm annually measured the west. Most it rains there at the time of the southwest monsoon (from May and October). The northeast monsoon ( from November to April) introduced her rather dry air.
A more differentiated, one can distinguish three different seasons in the Philippine Cordilleras, where the cycle but does not always occur constant and the altitude of the area is responsible for the temperature distribution: the rainy season (June to November), the cool dry season (December to February) and the hot dry season ( March to May). In the cool dry season, temperatures in the highlands fall in Baguio (1500 m) down to 6 degrees Celsius and in higher altitudes and ground frosts can occur.
Rough classification of the climates of the Philippine Cordilleras:
- West coast of Zambales Mountains: Typical South East Asian monsoon climate with a long dry season
November to May and an intense rainy season from June to December.
- Inland Cagayan Valley: Short dry season from March to May and not very intense rainy season
June to February.
- East coast of Sierra Madre: No pronounced dry season, most rain falls from November
Until January.
National parks and protected areas in the Philippine Cordilleras
Mount Pulag National Park, Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Mount Data National Park, Balbalasang - Balbalan National Park, Angat Watershed Forest Reserve, Tirad Pass National Park with the national memorial in honor of Gregorio del Pilar, Kalbario - Patapat National Park, Peñablanca Protected Landscape & Seascape, Cassamata Hill National Park, Fuyot Spring National Park, Minalungao National Park, Bangan Hill National Park, Salinas Natural Monument, Bessang pass Natural Monument, Pamitinan Protected Landscape, Marikina Watershed Forest Reserve
Volcanic activity
In the Philippine Cordilleras there are only two active as described volcanoes. The Pinatubo last erupted in the period from 1991 to 1995 and the 1135 meter high Cagua, north of the Sierra Madre, the last in 1860 broke out. Three other volcanoes are known as potentially active, the Mariveles, the Natib and Patoc.
Culture
In the field, which largely coincides with the Cordillera Administrative Region, live a variety of indigenous tribes, such as the Igorot, Ifugao, Ibaloi. The Ibaloi had to mummify a unique technique, its significant members of society until their Christianization, they have become known as Kabayan mummies. In the central massif of the Central Cordeliera some of the oldest cultural testimonies of the people found on the territory of the Philippines: the petroglyphs of Bontoc have been classified as national cultural heritage of the Philippines. The central and eastern Cordillera house important archaeological sites, which are collectively referred to as archaeological sites in Cagayan Valley and allowed a reassessment of the settlement history of the island archipelago.
The famous cities of the Cordillera Central are Banaue and Baguio. Famous are the located in Banaue rice terraces, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites of UNESCO.
The Spaniards were not successful in their colonial rule in the inaccessible area. After independence, the lack of understanding between the central government and the Igorot continued, led to the formation of the resistance movement Cordillera People's Democratic Front ( CPDF ) and violent incidents.
Gallery
In Banaue
The Pantabangan Reservoir
A 600-year old Baletebaum in the Sierra Madre