Mount Banahaw (; also spelled as Banahao and Banájao) is an active complex volcano on Luzon in the Philippines. The three-peaked volcano is located at the boundary of Laguna and Quezon provinces. It is the highest mountain in both provinces and Calabarzon region, dominating the landscape for miles around.

Physical characteristics

The andesitic Banahaw volcanic complex is composed of several stratovolcanoes with Mount Banahaw, the largest with a maximum elevation of above mean sea level. The summit is topped by a and caldera that is breached on the southern rim believed to have been caused by the 1730 eruption. Prior to 1730, a lake occupied the summit crater of Mount Banahaw. The resulting Mudflow destroyed the town of Sariaya, Quezon located below the mountain.

Banahaw is also a part of the Makiling-Banahaw Watershed, a reservation of the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) providing steam for power generation, as well as water source for domestic and industrial uses.

Hiking

thumb|Mount Banahaw and scenic [[Lake Sampaloc in San Pablo, Laguna]]

thumb|Aerial view of Mt. Banahaw from the south-west

The mountain is popular not only with pilgrims but also among mountain climbers being the closest over mountain from Manila. Before 2004, hiking activity peaked during Holy Week each year, with climbers numbering in the thousands. At least four trails exist from Dolores, Sariaya, and other towns of Quezon located on its foothills. The most frequently used trails are the Cristalino and Tatlong Tangke, taking an average of 9 and 5 hours, respectively. These two trails originate from Barangay Kinabuhayan in Dolores, and meet near the summit, which is actually the rim of the Banahaw caldera. On the summit are viewpoints, labeled as Durungawan I, II, and III, which are the usual destination for pilgrims and hikers. Other points of interest include the "Kuweba ng Diyos Ama" (Tagalog: Cave of God the Father) and the spring at Brgy. Kinabuhayan, said to have curative powers. Some sections of the mountain were reopened to hikers in 2019, and the mountain observed seasonal openings due to the mountain's religious significance, but most sections of the mountain still remain closed.

Biodiversity

Frogs endemic to Mount Banahaw include Platymantis banahao, Platymantis indeprensus, Platymantis montanus, Platymantis naomii, and Platymantis pseudodorsalis.

Reptiles

The Banahao forest skink (Parvoscincus banahaoensis) is a species of skink endemic to Mount Banahao.

Mammals

Mount Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape is home to four endemic rodents: the Banahaw tree mouse (Musseromys gulantang), the Banahaw tweezer-beaked rat (Rhychomys banaho), the Banahaw forest mouse (Apomys banahao), and the Banahaw lowland forest mouse (Apomys magnus).

See also

  • Sacred mountains
  • List of volcanoes in the Philippines
  • List of active volcanoes in the Philippines
  • List of potentially active volcanoes in the Philippines
  • List of inactive volcanoes in the Philippines
  • List of protected areas of the Philippines
  • Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
  • List of ultras of the Philippines

References

  • Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Mt Banahaw page
  • "Mount Banahao, Philippines" on Peakbagger