Dinagat Island

Template: Infobox Island / Maintenance / image missing

Dinagat is an island in the east of the Philippines, which is part of the Philippine province of Dinagat Islands and is located in the Philippine Sea.

The seat of the provincial government is located in the municipality of San Jose in the southwest of the island.

Geography

In the north of the island extends the Leyte Gulf, the west lies the island of Leyte, across the street from Surigao. To the south, the province of Surigao del Norte, the northeastern part of the island of Mindanao with their associated islands Gaboc Channel and Nonoc. The islands Awasan Bay, Hanigad and Hikdop, also belonging to Surigao del Norte, located in the southwest. In the east, opens the Philippine Sea. 30 km in the south-east lie the islands of Siargao and Bucas Grande.

The island extends from north to south over a length of 60 km, its width measures 20 miles and its area is 769.2 km ². The highest point is 929 m of Redondo in the north of the island of Dinagat.

The island is a popular tourist destination and is characterized by numerous large and rugged rock formations, interesting caves, mountain lakes and bays. These are a wide for gemstones.

Fauna

In addition to eagles and green turtles live on the island three endemic species of mammals, including the Dinagat rats hedgehogs ( Podogymnura aureospinula ), the Dinagat - Borken rat ( Crateromys australis ) and the Dinagat hair tail rat ( Batomys russatus ). Other species include the Silver Fischer ( Alcedo argentata ), the Mindanaohornvogel ( Aceros leucocephalus), the Brightwings Sunbird ( Aethopyga pulcherrima ), the green back sunbird ( Cinnyris jugularis ), the Rotsteißkakadu ( Cacatua haematuropygia ), the Philippine Tarsier ( Tarsius syrichta ) that Flughundart Desmalopex leucopterus and the Philippine sailing lizard ( Hydrosaurus pustulatus ).

Population, Language and Religion

The ethnic group of Surigaonon is the largest of the ethnic groups native to this area. Other ethnic groups in the province are Filipinos of Chinese, Japanese and Arabic origin. European and American influences in the culture of this area, but just as obvious.

About 95 % of people use the dialect Surigaonon. The languages ​​Cebuano and Boholano are indeed provided with a Tausug accent, but just as common. Other minorities speak Waray - Waray and Tagalog, the most also speak English.

The predominant religion is the Roman Catholic Church. Other common beliefs are the Aglipayan Church and Protestants. In the municipality of San Jose is the headquarters of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, Inc., a pseudo -Christian sect, which was founded in 1965 on Dinagat.

The island is in the indigenous pre-Christian religion was considered " holy land " because here the God of the typhoons was persuaded by Da, the God of peace, to cease its attacks on the islands.

Administrative divisions

On the island can be found - as part of the province of Dinagat Islands - 7 independently managed communities:

  • Basilisa ( Rizal )
  • Cagdianao
  • Dinagat
  • Libjo ( Albor )
  • Loreto in the north, including the island Hibuson in the northwest
  • San Jose in the southwest
  • Tubajon

These communities in turn ( districts ) are divided into a total of 100 barangays.

History

The municipality of Dinagat founded in 1855, is the oldest on the island.

During the Second World War, the waters off the island scene of one of the most important battles of the Pacific War, the air and sea battle of Leyte Gulf, which took place in the Strait of Surigao. Were Dinagat the entrance of the Philippine- American liberation forces was General Douglas MacArthur before returning after Leyte (→ Battle of Leyte ). The U.S. general said Dinagat would be one of the " three islands that protects the ( southern ) Philippines from the enemies in the Pacific. "

Dinagat in 1960 became part of the new province of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands Province in 2006 an independent was established.

Attractions

  • The jungle of Mancono
  • The Cambinli cases and the river at Loreto
  • The island Pangabangan at Libjo
  • Biasong Beach at Diganat
  • Key Iceland at Diganat
San Jose (Dinagat Islands) Dinagat gymnure Chinese Filipino Waray-Waray language Tagalog language Basilisa, Dinagat Islands Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands Dinagat, Dinagat Islands Libjo, Dinagat Islands Loreto (Dinagat Islands) Tubajon, Dinagat Islands
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