Truemors
Mayon Volcano is an active volcano, Southeastern Luzon, Philipines, dominating the city of Legazpi. Called the world's most perfect cone, it has a base 80 miles (130km) in circumference deed rises to 7,943 feet (2.421m) from the shores of Albay Gulf. Popular with climbers and campers, it is the centre of Mayon Volcano National Park (21 square miles [55 square km]). This is one of the Paradise Philippine Treasure.
Mayon is classified by volcanologists as a stratovolcano (composite volcano). Its symmetic cone was formed through alternate pyroclastic and lava flows. Mayon is the most active volcano in the country, having erupted over 50 times in the past 400 years.
Like others volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean, Mayon is a part of the 'Pacific Ring Of Fire'.
Mayon has had forty seven eruptions in recorded history; the first recorded eruption was in 1616, Destruction in 1766, was narrated to the Frenchman Jean Mallatwho was travelling to the Philippines in the 19th-century, He wrote: "The Mayon' a volcano situated a short distance from the pueblo of Albay...The most destructive eruption was in February 01, 1814 which buried settlements of Cagsawa, Camalig and Budiao in the town of Daraga Albay, and the same of Guinobatan...the darkness reached places as distant as Manila and Ilocos region, the ashes, some have vouched , went even to China, and thunderclips were heard in many parts of the Archipelago. 1,200 people perished, only the bell tower of the town's church remained above the new surface. This eruption is most famous for reducing Cagsawa to ruins, leaving us the lonely tower, a romantic reminder of Mayon's fury.
In Mayon's last fatal eruption in 1993, no casualties were recorded, from the 1984 eruption after more than 73,000 people were evacuated from the danger zones.
Five hundred fifty three kilometers from Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, rises a near perfect cone volcano and one of the seven wonders in the world, the famous Mayon Volcano. Its summit measures 2,421 meters above sea level (masl) while its circular base has a radius of about 48 kilometers. Mayon Volcano is surrounded by five (5) municipalities and three (3) cities with a total land area of 5,775.70 hectares. Its symmetrical form at any horizontal direction made this volcano a truly scenic wonder. Mt. Mayon is the most active volcano in the Philippines, records showed that a total of 47 periodic eruptions occurred during the last 323 years. The earliest volcanic eruption occurred in February 1814, which has caused severe destruction and the worst bringing cagsawa in a complete ruin of the town and submersed it to mud, boulders and ash. Another destructive eruption occurred in 1897 and the latest occurred in June 2001. But inspite of the rearing threats faced by Albayanos, Mt. Mayon is still loved and admired regarding it as their fountain of strength and persistence.
Mt. Mayon was first shaped by Republic Act 3915 dated February 1, 1932 mandating the establishment of National Park. On October 24, 1932, it was proclaimed as Forest Reserve per Presidential Proclamation No. 341 and finally on July 20, 1938, Mayon was proclaimed as National Park by the late President Manuel l. Quezon per Presidential Proclamation No. 292 covering an area of 5,458.65 hectares. Recently, on November 21, 2001, Pres. Proclamation No. 413 was signed by then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada declaring Mt. Mayon Volcano as Natural Park.
The area is abundant with varieties of rare and endangered flora, some of which were listed in the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Specied (CITES), among them are the Nepenthes rajali commonly known as pitcher plant and Cyatheaceae spp. or tree ferns. The climb to Mt. Mayon is in turn famous among local and foreign mountaineers. From time to time, Mayon conquest expedition is being undertaken and sponsored by the Department of Tourism (DOT). Reaching the summit will take two (2) days and one (1) night with a stop over at different designated camp site.
Area: 5,775.70 hectares
Highest point: 2,421 masl
Flora and Fauna:
The area is forested from 450 masl to 1,000 masl mostly tree forms and other associated tree ferns. Mossy forest from 800 masl to 1,200 masl. One hundred fifty six (156) species of plants belonging to 36 families are known to occur which includes one (1) dipterocarp species Hopea philippinensis. CITES listed Nepenthes rajali and Cyatheae spp. grows here. Fifty seven (57) species of birds like Otus megalotis (Philippine scops owl), Gallus gallus (Red jungle fowl), Ptilinopus merrily (Merrill?s fruit dove), Loriculus philippinensis (Phil. Hanging Parakeet), Bubophilippinensis (Phil. horned owl), and more than 34 herpetofaunal species and 13 mammalian species have been recorded.
Activities: Mountain climbing/Hiking, camping, bird watching, photography
Amenities: Shade houses, benchesm comfort room, administration building,
ecotrails, and water facilities
How to get there:
The distance from manila by air is approximately 205 statute miles taking a plane to Legazpi City. Flights are available everyday. It is also accessible by land transportation through the Quirino highway and approximately 553 kilometers or 523 miles away. Journey takes about 8 to 10 hours, aircon buses depart daily from Manila to Legazpi.
Recommended tours and other interesting place to visit:
Mayon Skyline Hotel at Buang, Tabaco City
Cagsawa Ruins at Daraga, Albay
Centennial Forest at Lidong, Sto. Domingo, Albay
Mayon Volcano National Park with its diverse natural and cultural resources plus its ecotourism potential is one of the chosen banner sites and a premere ecotourism destination in the Philippines.
References:
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Mayon_Volcano and
Jenny Exconde 'Majestic Mt. Mayon-Cagsawa Ruin Park' (http://www.worldisround.com/articles/53247/index.html
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