Bataan National Park
| Bataan National Park | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bataan National Park near Mabayo, Morong | |
.svg)  Location in Luzon .svg) Location in the Philippines | |
| Location | Bataan, Philippines |
| Nearest city | Balanga, Bataan, Philippines |
| Coordinates | 14°39′N 120°36′E / 14.650°N 120.600°E |
| Area | 23,688 hectares (58,530 acres) |
| Established | December 1, 19455 |
| Governing body | Department of Environment and Natural Resources |
Bataan National Park is a protected area of the Philippines located in the mountainous interior of Bataan province in the Central Luzon Region. Activities in the park include nature viewing, bird watching, and trekking to its several peaks and waterfalls.[1]
History
[edit]The park was first established in 1945 under Proclamation No. 24 with an initial area of 31,000 ha and included portions of the fenced area of Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The park was reduced in 1987 to its present size of 23,688 ha (58,530 acres) and is now wholly located in Bataan province.
Geography
[edit]The park is located 101 km (63 mi) from Manila; its mountains can be seen across Manila Bay from the city. It straddles the northern half of Bataan Peninsula near its border with Subic Bay Freeport Zone, encompassing the Bataan towns and cities of Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Balanga, Bagac and Morong.[2] Mount Natib, with its 6 by 7 km (3.7 by 4.3 mi) forested acorn-shaped caldera, is located in the middle of the park.
Environment
[edit]Bataan National Park is covered by tropical jungle on rugged terrain with significant geological features such as rivers, springs and waterfalls. Pasukulan and Dunsulan falls are found within the park, as are important species of flowers and ground orchids. It is also home to several wild monkeys and other varieties of insects and birds.[3] It has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Ecotourism Sites in Region 3" Archived December 31, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Biodiversity Management Bureau. Retrieved on December 31, 2014.
- ^ "Region 3 – Protected Areas". Department of Environment of Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
- ^ "National Parks in Luzon". VisitPhilippines.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
- ^ "Bataan Natural Park and Subic Bay Forest Reserve". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
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