Pagsanjan Falls
| Pagsanjan Falls | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 | |
.svg)  Location in Luzon .svg) Location in the Philippines | |
| Location | Pagsanjan Gorge National Park (PGNP) Laguna province, Philippines |
| Nearest city | Municipality of Cavinti |
| Coordinates | 14°15′45.32″N 121°29′59.86″E / 14.2625889°N 121.4999611°E |
| Area | 3.2 hectares (7.9 acres) |
| Established | March 31, 1976 (National park), as Pagsanjan Gorge National Park (PGNP) Proc. 1551 |
| Governing body | Philippine Tourism Authority Department of Environment and Natural Resources |
| Type | Plunge |
|---|---|
| Height of longest drop | 120 metres (390 ft) |
| Number of drops | 3 (one is hidden) [1] |
| Watercourse | Pagsanjan River |
Pagsanjan Falls, also known as Cavinti Falls, is one of the most famous waterfalls in the Philippines. Located in the municipality of Cavinti, in the province of Laguna, the falls is one of the major tourist attractions of the region. The three-drop waterfall is reached by a river trip on dugout canoe, starting from the municipality of Pagsanjan.[2][3]
Shooting the rapids
[change | change source]The bangkeros (boatmen) of Pagsanjan are traditional tour guides who steer their bancas (boats) along the river from their town of Pagsanjan upstream to the falls — but the falls are actually in the neighboring Cavinti municipality.[4][5]
The journey takes passengers through the narrow and verdant Pagsanjan Gorge lined with huge boulders, rocks, and small waterfalls. The ride upstream ends in a natural pool below the falls where an optional raft ride takes visitors through the cascading water to the Devil's Cave behind the falls. The return trip is a thrill ride through fourteen rapids, described locally as "Shooting the Rapids", as the skilled boatmen maneuver their boats through the narrow rocks as they race downstream.[6]
Etymology
[change | change source]Pagsanjan Falls is located in the riparian delta formed by the confluence of the Balanac and Bumbungan rivers. Originally called Pinágsangahán ("branching" or "juncture"), this was shortened to "Pagsanjan" by early Spanish colonists because they found the name very difficult to pronounce.
Protected area
[change | change source]The falls and gorge were declared a National Park with Proclamation 392 on March 29, 1939, and Proc. 1551 on March 31, 1976. The Pagsanjan Gorge National Park[7] covers an area of 152.64 hectares (377.2 acres).[8]
Gallery
[change | change source]
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References
[change | change source]- ↑ mountains-and-beyond (2013-03). "Pagsanjan Falls via the Verticals of Cavinti". Mountains & Beyond. Retrieved on May 27, 2013.
- ↑ Peters, Jens (2005). "Philippines Travel Guide, 2nd edition", p.255-256. Jens Peters Publications, Germany.
- ↑ De Villa, Jill Gale (1988). "Philippine Vacations and Explorations", p.59. Devcon I.P. Inc., Manila.
- ↑ "Pagsanjan, Laguna – The Tourist Capital of Laguna". Retrieved 2020-01-17.
- ↑ "The Philippine Star". Retrieved 2020-01-17.
- ↑ "Shooting the rapids" Archived June 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Pagsanjan.org. Retrieved on April 8, 2012.
- ↑ Pagsanjan nat’l park gets spotlight; LGUs seek return of tourists | Philippines News Agency
- ↑ "Establishing and Managing Protected Areas – List of Initial Components" Archived March 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureaus. Retrieved on February 18, 2011.
