Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary (World Heritage)
Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary, the sixth World Heritage Site in the Philippines since 2014, and the first on Mindanao Island.
Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary: Facts
| Official title: | Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Natural monument | Wildlife reserve, which is characterized by the diversity of its habitats for plants and animals; Home to various endangered plants and animal species, many of them endemic; a total of 1380 species, of which 341 are endemic to the Philippines |
| Continent: | Asia |
| Country: | Philippines |
| Location: | East of Mindanao Island |
| Appointment: | 2014 |
| Meaning: | Complete, intact and extremely diverse mountain ecosystem with numerous endangered animal and plant species |
Geographically, it is a north-south running mountain ridge in the southeast of Mindanao, which reaches between 75 and 1637 meters in height.
A whole range of plants and animal species find typical and elementary important habitats here. In this respect, Mount Hamiguitan presents itself almost like a showcase for different habitats on water and on land.
The species living there find extremely different soil and climatic conditions depending on the altitude. Many of these species are critically endangered worldwide, eight of them cannot be found anywhere else but here. These endemic species include the Philippine eagle and the Philippine cockatoo.
Historic city of Vigan (World Heritage)
Historic city of Vigan, the coastal city was founded in the 16th century and was an important trading hub in Spanish colonial trade.
The cityscape impressively shows the mixture of different cultures, here Spanish, Chinese and Filipino style features are harmoniously combined.
Historic city of Vigan: facts
| Official title: | Historic city of Vigan |
| Cultural monument: | Coastal city with a colonial Spanish cityscape, founded in the 16th century; once the most important transshipment point in the maritime trade network to Manila and a hub on the Acapulco route across the Pacific to Mexico; Buildings including cathedral, bishop’s palace and stately mansions as well as wooden houses of the rural population; architectural style as a mixture of Spanish, Mexican, Chinese and Filipino influences; best preserved Spanish colonial city in Asia |
| Continent: | Asia |
| Country: | Philippines |
| Location: | Vigan, in the northwest of the island of Luzon |
| Appointment: | 1999 |
| Meaning: | Unique fusion of Asian and European architecture |
National Park »Underground River« near Puerto Princesa (World Heritage)
National Park »Underground River« near Puerto Princesa, the world heritage protects a spectacular karst landscape in the east of Palawan.
National Park »Underground River« near Puerto Princesa: Facts Hide table
| Official title: | National Park “Underground River” near Puerto Princesa |
| Natural monument: | National park of 39 km² total area; spectacular limestone landscape with an underground navigable river (longest underground river in the world, up to eight meters deep) under the karst massif; Estuary into the South China Sea; Retreat for a number of animal and plant species; diverse flora and fauna |
| Continent: | Asia |
| Country: | Philippines |
| Location: | Coiba National Park |
| Appointment: | 1999 |
| Meaning: | High biodiversity; spectacular karst landscape and Asia’s most important forest area |
The main attraction is the 8 km long and at around 4 km longest navigable underground river in the world. On his way to the South China Sea, he created a grandiose cave system with rooms up to 60 m high.
