“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” ~ Ibn Battuta
Palawan is a long and narrow island in my home country, Philippines with a maximum width of 24 miles (39 km) and 270 mile (434-km). It's popular as one of the top international travel destination for it's unspoiled world class beaches, diving spots and most of all for it's award winning Puerto Prinsesa's Subterrenean River National Park or Underground river.
I've red several travel blogs about this fascinating place but no one mention about it's history and how it was discovered until we actually travelled there (July 14, 2013).
HISTORY
According to the local tour guide, the underground river was first discovered by foreign explorers though it is believed that the early inhabitants were the first to know of the existence, their fear of spirits which they believe inhabited the darkness of the cave prevented them from exploring the depths. :D
In 1898, American Zoologist named Dean C. Worcester was touring the island of Palawan, described and quoted “If accounts are to be believed, of a lake opening to the sea by a subterranean river.” Source.
In March 26, 1971, the underground river formerly known as St. Paul Subterranean National Park was established as a tourist destination.
On November 16, 1999, a proclamation was signed expanding the area from 3,901 hectares to 22,202 hectares and was renamed Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.
On 2010, environmentalists and geologists discovered that the underground river has a second floor. They found a bigger cave dome measuring 300 meters above the underground river, rock formations, larger bats, more river channels, and a deeper cave!
On November 11, 2011, the Puerto Princesa Underground River was chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
welcome aboard!
EXPLORE & EXPERIENCE THE WORLD'S MOST LONGEST UNDERGROUND RIVER
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River was also dubbed as the world's longest undergorund river until Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula was discovered in 2011. To reach the entrance to the river, visitors need to take a boat ride from the town called Sitio Sabang, the journey's starting point. The boat ride is about 15 to 20 minutes.
the sunnies team enjoying the majestic view of the foresty mounatin & torquiose water :D
SABANG BEACH
Though it was a cloudy day, the sorrounding is totally breathaking upon arrival. We are so amazed by the white sand, the greeney mountain reflecting the inviting crystal clear water, and specially the karst landscape formation of St. Paul mountain range, a fine example of karst topography.
Unfortunately, it's not allowed to go swimming in this beach due to the strong current, jellyfishes and to preserve that certain area so we walked along a forest trail where you can encounter some of these species freely roaming around just minding their own business. :D
CABAYUGAN RIVER
The river is 8.2km long and flows underground through natural rock formations of caves, stalactites and stalagmites rise from the floor. They are cave formations formed from the dripping of minerals above.
Can you see a man's face formation also on the last photo??
There are more unique and fascinating stalactites and stalagmites formation inside the massive part of the cave called the Cathedral where you can see an image formation of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Family and the giant canlde. The most part that we enjoyed was when the witty boatman who is also the tour guide inside the cave narrates that after in the cathedral part, it is now time he's gonna take us to the vegetable market part of the cave! where we can see images such as corn, mushroom, carrot, jellyfish & umbrella! I was really entertained.
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It really get so dark as we explore more further and only a portion of the cave is allowed to the public to avoid exploitation. Visitors exit the cave through the same way from the entrance of the cave.
How does it feel inside the word's longest underground river?? It smells sht but because of the bat's shts but it's worth the trip!.
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PH Travel series to be continued...
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