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Monday, November 14, 2011

MT. HIBOK-HIBOK IN CAMIGUIN







Hibok-hibok (also called Catarman) is a stratovolcano and makes the island of Camiguin, about 12 miles (20 km) north of Mindanao, Philippines. The summit is covered with loose ejecta and four small craters are nearby.


Mt. Hibok-Hibok is the lone active volcano in the island of Camiguin Philippines. After its last eruption, the Philippine Government created the Commission on Volcanology known as PHIVOLCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology & Seismology) and a PHIVOLCS Observatory Station was established in order to monitor any unusual seismic activities for the safety of visitors and residents of the island.






The furrowed flank of Mt. Hibok-Hibok rises majestically behind the capital town of Mambajao.  Mt. Hibok-Hibok is a popular hiking destination in Camiguin island.  The sharp-edged ridges, down whose sides run deeply cut channels from past magma flows, pose a great challenge to mountain climbers. One has to be seasoned enough to climb and manoeuvre over loose rocks and boulders in order to reach the volcano’s peak and be rewarded with the sight of its crater lake and a spectacular vista of the entire island of Camiguin. On a clear day, one can see on the horizon the silhouette of its neighbours, the island of Bohol, Cebu and Negros.





Around the summit of Mt. Hibok-Hibok are several small craters filled with water. These craters were small cracks in the volcano’s peak, where once lava flowed, and which hardened into bowl shapes and eventually filled with water and formed shallow lakes. Being active, numerous steam vents and outlets are at the sides and apex of the volcano.







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