Geography of Negros Occidental Where Best Places can be found

Negros Occidental is located in the western side of Negros Island, the fourth largest island in the Philippines with a total land area of 972,607 hectares or 9,726.06 sq. kms.

The province is approximately 375 kilometers long from north to south. It is bounded by the Visayan Sea in the north, Panay Gulf on the west, Tanon Strait and Negros Oriental province on the east and Sulu Sea on the south. Negros is basically volcanic, making its soil ideal for agriculture. Eighty percent of all arable land is cultivated.

Mount Kanlaon is one of the mountain ranges found in the heart of Negros Island. One of the country’s 13 most active volcanoes, Kanlaon is the highest peak in Central Philippines. At an elevation of 2,465 meters above sea level, the most dominant and attractive feature of which is its active summit-crater. Mt. Kanlaon has a land area of 24,577.6 hectares, with rainforest and verdant vegetation sliced from the cities of Bago, La Carlota, San Carlos and Canlaon (in Negros Oriental) and the towns of Murcia and La Castellana.

The trek trough ridges and deep gorges for 14.5 kilometers shows a panorama of lowlands and carved mountains. An 8.5 kilometer ascent along sights of refreshing waterfalls and treacherous trails best capture the moods of this unpredictable volcano. Rare endemic species such as the Bleeding Heart Pigeon and the Negros Fruit Dove are protected in this park, which makes bird watching a prime attraction. Other birds include woodpeckers, bulbuls, babblers, warblers and flycatchers. The Guintubdan Nature Camp in La Carlota City is one of the best take-off points in climbing Mt. Kanlaon.

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