Apo reef
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Location of the apo reef |
The Apo Reef is located in the center of the Mindoro Strait , between the Palawan Archipelago and Mindoro Island in the Philippines . It is located within the Apo Reef Marine Natural Park about 1 km west of two much larger, triangular coral reefs .
geography
Located on the southeastern edge of the South China Sea , it is only 2½ hours by boat from the diving island Pandan Island on the west coast of Mindoro (15 nautical miles), 6–8 hours from Puerto Galera on the northeast coast of Mindoro and 4–6 hours from the island's capital Coron on Busuanga / Palawan (21 nautical miles from the island's northeasternmost point) away. The eponymous Apo Island should not be confused with the Apo Island of the same name near Negros .
The Mindoro Strait is an important sea route for domestic and international shipping routes to China , Korea and Japan . In order not to run aground in the shallows, there is a large lighthouse on it (coordinates: 12 ° 40 ′ N , 120 ° 25 ′ E ). Its radio beacon is also an important point of reference for air traffic.
history
The reef was plundered with dynamite and later cyanide fishing until well into the 1990s . Large areas have not yet recovered from it. With the presidential decree of September 6, 1996, the Apo Reef became part of the Apo Reef Marine Natural Park . 8 park rangers are permanently stationed on the Apo Island to enforce the total fishing ban.
nature
Among the 47 species of migratory and native birds there is also the endangered collar pigeon (also Nicobar pigeon , Caloenas nicobarico ). Soups - ( Chelonia mydas ) and hawksbill turtles ( Eretmochelys imbricata ) use the seclusion to lay their eggs. In a study from 1981 190 coral species were counted. 78 genera of invertebrates such as clams, (Tridacnidae), lobsters ( Pasulirus ), the conch ( Charonia tritonis ) and the Nautilus , also called Nautilius, are only a part of the underwater world. There are also dolphins and 385 species of fish observed so far, including sharks , rays , manta rays and whale sharks .
use
The reef is world famous among divers and snorkelers, in the region only the Tubbataha reef and the reef system around the Cagayan archipelago , both in the Sulu Sea , are comparable.
Coordinates: 12 ° 42 ' N , 120 ° 29' E