Mt.

Kanla on
One of the major
volcanoes of the
Philippines
 Introduction

Kanla-on, variously referred to as Kanlaon

Volcano and Mount Kanla-on (also
spelledCanlaon), is an active volcano in the 
Philippines. A stratovolcano on Negros island, it
straddles the provinces of Negros Occidental and 
Negros Oriental in the Visayas region (10°24.7'N,
123°7.9'E), approximately 36 kilometers
southeast of Bacolod City.
It is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines
, part of the Pacific ring of fire.
 Introduction

The country's largest active volcano and Visayas'

highest mountain is Mt. Kanlaon in Negros
Island. As the highest mountain in the Visayas, it
is majestic. As the country's largest active
volcano, it is fearsome. Its majesty lies in its
forests, waterfalls, lagoons, and culminates in its
crater, vast and desolate. However, this seat of
majesty is also the source of Mt. Kanlaon's
volcanic wrath. It is, after all, one of the most
active volcanoes in the Philippines.
 Physical features

Kanlaon has an elevation of 2,435 meters and

a base diameter of 30 km and is dotted with 
pyroclastic cones and craters. The summit of
Kanlaon contains a broad elongated northern 
caldera with a crater lake. A smaller but more
active crater lies in the south.
The volcano has three hot springs on its
slopes: Mambucal Hot Springs on the
northwest, Bucalan Hot Spring, Bungol Hot
Spring. Its adjacent volcanic edifices are Mt.
Silay and Mt. Mandalagan, north of Kanlaon. 
Canlaon City now stands beside the mountain.
 Physical features

Elevation:2435 metres
Location: Negros Island, Philippines
Prominence:2435 metres
Coordinates: 10’24’4”N, 123’7’54”E
Type: stratovolcano
Last eruption: 2006
 Eruptions
The most active volcano in central Philippines,
Kanlaon has erupted 25 times since 1886.
Eruptions are typically phreatic explosions of small-
to-moderate size that produce minor ashfalls near
the volcano.
Its 1996 eruption killed 7 mountaineers - in an
account vividly recalled to the blogger by Rey
Castellos, the guide who rescued some of the
foreign climbers and witnessed the eruption, barely
making it alive. The blogger himself personally
experienced this volcanic wrath when, on his climb
to Mt. Kanlaon in February 9, 2008, Mt. Kanlaon
spewed ash and stream - a phreatic eruption which
obscured everything in the mountain. The ensuing
rains and violent weather ultimately prevented him
 The Legend of Mt. Kanlaon
The place that Mt. Kanlaon holds for the people of
Negros is irreplaceable and important in many
aspects of their life. Culturally, Kanlaon is central
to the loyal mythology, named after no less than
Kan Laon, the supreme deity. Some tribes also
hold Kanlaon to be center of the universe - its
crater a portal into the unknown source of fire and
energy. Attesting to the plurality of legends the
mountain has inspired, children also grew up to the
tales of "La-on and the
Seven-Headed Dragon" .
 The Legend of Mt. Kanlaon
In this tale, a dragon appeared from the mountain,
wreaking havoc in the whole island. In order to
appease the dragon, the people had to sacrifice
one beautiful maiden each year, until they have
run out of women, save for the king's daughter.
The King, agonized, offered a reward to anyone
who could kill the dragon. Then comes a prince
named La-on, whose affinity with nature and
animals helped him slay the dragon - winning the
princess' hand and
earning the mountain as a tribute for his feat,
hence Kan Laon, meaning "The Exalted" Laon, later
becoming Kanlaon.
Economically, the highland domain of Kanlaon is the
source of vegetables and fruits in the same way that
Benguet is the 'Salad Bowl' of Luzon. It provides a
home for a lot of communities, who earn their
livelihood from the forest products. Ecologically,
Kanlaon is another biodiversity haven, home to
about 197 species of flora and an impressive roster
of fauna, such as the endangered Philippine spotted
deer and the Visayan Warty Pig.

Of course, the geologic importance of Kanlaon

attracts foreign tourists who want to see the
country's third most active volcano (next to Mayon
and Taal) in its volcanic glory. But also because of
this danger, close coordination with DENR is a must
when climbing the mountain.
 An adventurous trip to Kanlaon!
The most comprehensive trip to Kanlaon involves
taking the Wasay and Guintubdan trails. The
Wasay trail starts from the mountain resort of
Mambucal, requiring two arduous days of trek
just to reach the crater. Invariably, it has been
compared to trekking in Mt. Halcon and is said
to be one of the most difficult and longest trails
in the Visayas. The first day passes by
dipterocarp forests, set in rolling slopes. The
culmination of the seven-hour hike is Harding
Sang Balo (Garden of the Widow), a campsite
with a nearby water source. Here marks the
transformation of the forest from the tall
diperocarps to the montane variety.
 An adventurous trip to Kanlaon!
The next day is a feast for the eyes. Although a
total of 164 different obstacles lie in wait on this
most difficult leg of the journey, dubbed by local
guides as the "Killing Me Softly" trail, there are
beautiful sights such as the lagoons (Samoc
lagoon, PMS lagoon). These lagoons are actually
old craters of Kanlaon. The breathtaking
Margaha Valley is next, and finally, after crossing
the valley ridge, the cone-shaped summit-crater.
Said to be the center of the universe in some
myths, the crater of Kanlaon is vast and deep,
devoid of vegetation and is comprised of
pyroclastic material. There is a sense of fear and
wonder in camping in the summit area - the
volcano can erupt anytime.
 An adventurous trip to Kanlaon!
The third day is the descent to Guintubdan. This
could only take five hours, and is easier than the
Wasay trail. The highlight is seeing the Twin
Falls of Guintubdan. There are other waterfalls in
the area, although they have to be visited
separately.
 An adventurous trip to Kanlaon!
There are a myriad of side trip possibilities. To begin with,
one can stay at Mambucal Resort prior to the climbing,
dipping in its hot sulfur springs or swimming in the pools.
There is also a lagoon and an available trek to several
waterfalls. There are also the nearby mountains such as
Mts. Silay and Mandalagan (N), and Mt. Talinis, also
known as Mt. Cuernos de Negros (S). The nearby islands
of Guimaras and Siquijor are also good options -- although
Guimaras is more of a
possibility when climbing using these trails (Siquijor is
more proximate if using the Canlaon City Trails).

Climbing Mt. Kanlaon - the active volcano and the majestic

mountain - is truly a profound experience that must not be
missed in one's lifetime!
An adventurous trip to Kanlaon!
An easier option, fast getting popular, is
the reverse of the above itinerary: you go
up via Guintubdan and descent via
Wasay. Considering that there is a risk of
having to abort your climb on bad
weather if climbing via Wasay, this is the
itinerary of choice for those who want
to make sure they can reach the summit.
 TRIVIA
The 1996 eruption of Mt. Kanlaon claimed the
lives of 3 climbers: the rest had to be rescued by
helicopters. It was a dramatic volcanic event, with
ash being spewed 1.5 kilometers up in the air.
Rey Estelloso, the guide during that fateful
incident, says he was just 16 when the eruption
happened and they could even see flaming
cinders being hurled from the crater, exploding in
the ground like grenades. He also says that
Kanlaon is one of the the country's deadliest
climbing destinations. One climber who fell on the
Margaha Valley ridge had to eat tissue paper for
seven days before being rescued! Truly one must
exercise caution in climbing Kanlaon.
 Mt. Kanla-on National
Features Park
For a more enlightening park experience, an unhurried quiet walk with a
small group (ten to twelve at the most) lets the visitor sense the unique
environment. Traveling slowly through the dense forest, one will discover
each area somewhat different from the other; various kinds of unique plant
life, from the enigmatic strangler fig (a tree-killing vine that grows into a
gigantic tree while strangling its host) to delicate orchids and the ferns and
epiphytes of the mossy forest.
Wildlife sounds abound beneath the triple-canopy forest and if your group
is quiet and observant, a number of these animals can be seen. Mt. Kanla-on
National Park is the home of many species of birds including the
endemic hornbill, colorful parakeets, and even migratory birds from
northern Asia. The huge but harmless monitor lizards scramble over fallen
logs and Draco the "flying" lizard might glide overhead. Although there are
several harmless species of snakes which are rarely encountered, avoid
handling any because the poisonous cobras make their home here too.
 Mt. Kanla-on National
Features Park
At the ridge top, panoramic scenes of sheer rock walls and cliffs with the
lush cover of the dwarf forest, clash with the Margaha Valley's cogon grass
and shrub-covered floor. Mornings come late and the evenings early in the
Valley. Pastel patches of greens, yellows, olives, ochres and tans from
agricultural lands below are suddenly cut by the deep blue sea with cloud
formations hugging the curve of the horizon.
The phenomenal clouds over Makawiwili Peak are illustrative of the
complex balance of Nature's forces Man has started to respect.
 Mt. Kanla-on National
Park
The best time to hike through Mt. Kanla-on National Park is during the dry
season between February and May. However, with proper equipment, the
season between February and May. However, with proper equipment, the
rainy season can give the visitor an entirely different park experience with
the proliferation of "wet season" flora and fauna.

•The park contains more than 40-km of foot trails. Depending on your
physical condition, entry point, and time restraints, hikes lasting from a few
hours to several days can be planned.

*Mount Kanlaon National Park (MKNP) -- a 25,000 ha. forest reserve in the
heart of Negros Island
End…