Makiling
| Makiling | ||
|---|---|---|
 Satellite image of the area around the mountain |
||
| height | 1090 m | |
| location | Luzon Island , Philippines | |
| Coordinates | 14 ° 8 '7 " N , 121 ° 11' 35" E | |
|
||
| Type | Stratovolcano | |
| Last eruption | unknown | |
The Mount Makiling , also sometimes referred to as Mount Maquiling called, is a mountain in the province of Laguna on the Philippine island of Luzon . It is a currently inactive volcano that rises up to 1090 m above sea level.
Nature reserve
The mountain is part of the Mt. Makiling (MFR) forest reserve, which has been established since 1910 and covers an area of 4244 hectares . The highest point of the reserve is peak 2. The reserve is located about 65 km south of Metro Manila and encloses the municipalities of Los Baños , Bay and Calamba City in the province of Laguna and the town of Sto. Tomas in Batangas Province . Furthermore, the MFR is divided into six main zones based on the watershed bounding it .
The base of the mountain is covered with towering dipterocarp forest , while the summit is covered with small moss-covered forest. The shape of Mt. Makiling is reminiscent of a reclining woman, which is why there are many myths surrounding the mountain among the locals. According to a legend, the profile shows the sleeping Maria Makiling , a mystical goddess who, according to popular belief, guards the mountain. In other legends it is said that Maria Makiling lives in the mountain and protects it from harm by people.
The reserve is rich in biodiversity, both native and exotic, including a range of crops, flowers, and ferns. The vegetation consists of an estimated 2048 different plant species. In the same way, the area offers an equally diverse fauna, with 44 mammals, 241 birds, 69 reptiles and 21 amphibians. The reserve also has many interesting natural sights, such as the Mudspring , the Makiling Botanical Garden and the numerous panoramic views from the mountain ranges of this area.
Around 1225 people are registered in the area around the mountain, living in a total of 280 households. Most of these families live in areas where the terrain is not yet so steep. The majority of the residents of the reserve come from an immigrant group of originally 19 families who settled here between 1898 and 1899, at the time of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War . The land at the foot of the mountain has been cultivated since then, so that today it is characterized by agroforestry , agricultural farms, plantations, but also by sections of primeval forest and grassland areas.
Legend
As already mentioned, there are many legends about the mountain, mostly about Maria Makiling, a diwata (a kind of forest fairy) who is seen as the protector of the mountain. They should represent the contours of the mountains in a lying position.
One of the most popular stories tells of an enchanted woman who lived in the quiet woods at the foot of Mt. Makiling. People called her Maria Makiling because of her homeland. She is said to have been a young and beautiful woman because she combined the beauty and tranquility of the surrounding landscape. She was kind and compassionate to the people who lived there and shared with them, free of charge, the abundant resources that this area had to offer, the fish in the nearby lake, the fruits of the trees and the yields of the fields. People could borrow anything they needed from her, because her friendliness was known far and wide.
One afternoon a hunter was wandering through their realm. When he saw the beauty, he immediately fell in love with her and she returned his feelings. They then met and talked every day and they promised to love each other forever. One day Maria was waiting for him again, but he did not show up and he did not come to see her for the next few days and months either. Then she found out that he had found and married a human woman, whereupon she was very disappointed and sad. She was deeply offended and realized that people were not to be trusted because they were different from her and she immediately felt taken advantage of by them. Her sadness and frustration turned into anger and from then on she refused the trees to grow the fruit. The animals and birds withdrew and as a result, hardly any fish could be found in the lake. Since then people have rarely seen her and when they did, they only met her on moonless nights.
Climbing area
Mt. Makiling is a popular destination for mountaineers and climbers. The two main routes start at UPLB College in Forestry and in Barangay San Miguel, a district of Sto. Tomas .
The UPLB route is usually used more often and takes 4–5 hours to the summit of Peak 2. Since the Typhoon Xangsane caused major damage to this route in September 2006 , the route has not been accessible for an indefinite period since October 2007. The second route from Sto. Tomas leads past various other heights of the nature park. It is far more difficult and it takes 6-7 hours to reach the peak. Both routes are well established and safe, although there have been reports of accidents and injuries on these routes and especially on the Sto in recent years. Tomas route gave. Climbers also report encounters with leeches along the way.
Attractions
- Jamboree Place , a campsite at the foot of Mount Makiling, which belongs to the University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños and is used by the scout organization of the Philippines. In 1959 the course hosted the 10th World Scout Jamboree .
- The Mud Springs is generally regarded as the volcanic crater of Mount Makiling.
- National Arts Center , a patch of land at the foot of Mount Makiling in the neighborhood of UP Los Baños, which is run by the Philippine Cultural Center and the location of the Philippine High School for the Arts, a special school for young art students.
- Pook ni Maria Makiling , an environmental tourist site adjacent to the Jamboree site and part of the National Arts Center and UP Los Baños
- University of the Philippines, Los Baños
credentials
- ↑ a b c PinoyMountaineer: Mount Makiling September 1, 2007 (Retrieved October 26, 2007).
- ↑ The legend of Maria Makiling.
Web links
- http://www.makilingchallenge.tk - The Makiling Challenge, a running competition organized by students.
- University of the Philippines Los Baños
- University of the Philippines System
- Images of the area around Mount Makiling
- Mount Makiling Bird Area Site