Mount Pico de Loro, also known as Mount Palay-Palay, is a dormant volcano located on the border of Cavite and Batangas, in the island of Luzon, Philippines. It is the highest mountain in the province of Cavite, with an elevation of 2,257 ft (688 m) above sea level and the highest peak of the Mounts Palay-Palay–Mataas-na-Gulod Protected Landscape.[1] The mountain is one of the ancient volcanic features of Bataan Arc.[2]
| Mount Pico de Loro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,257 ft (688 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,640 ft (500 m) |
| Coordinates | 14°12′51″N 120°38′47″E / 14.21427°N 120.64645°E[1] |
| Geography | |
.svg)  Mount Pico de Loro Location in Luzon .svg) Mount Pico de Loro Location in the Philippines | |
| Location | Mounts Palay-Palay–Mataas-na-Gulod Protected Landscape, Luzon |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Calabarzon |
| Provinces | |
| Municipalities | |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Volcanic arc/belt | Bataan Arc |
| Last eruption | Unknown |
History
editPico de Loro was first named by Spanish sea-farers which means "Parrot's Beak" as its pointed summit resembles the shape of a parrot's beak from afar and it is commonly used as a signal by sea-farers to turn east to get to Manila Bay.[3]
Governance
editUnder the Proclamation No. 1315 s. 2007 [4] of the Philippine government, the Mounts Palay-Palay–Mataas-na-Gulod Protected Landscape is placed under the protection and jurisdiction of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Geology
editPico de Loro is found within the Talahib Andesite rock formation (Avila, 1980). This is seen as being comparable to the Nasugbu Volcanic Complex (MGB, 2005). The Talahib Andesite is visible in western, central, and southeastern Batangas. It is overlain by the Mapulo Limestone (Avila, 1980), which is regarded to be identical to the Calatagan Formation in the upper sections of Talahib River's western branch and also along the Laiya River. The andesite crystal structure is vesicular and amygdaloidal, with flow banding. Additionally, fine-grained, porphyritic, and medium-grained equigranular phases are included. Intercalated with the flows are thin pyroclastic strata. Propylitization of andesite is widespread, resulting in the formation of chlorite and epidote. Generally, moderate silicification and pyritization occur along shear zones. This unit appears to be equivalent to Wolfe and others' (1980) Banoy Volcanics, which they date to the Middle to Late Miocene.[5]
Hiking activity
edit
Near its summit is a lone vertical cliff feature called the Parrot's Beak or the Monolith that offers a 360-degree view of the protected landscape and the shores of Limbones Cove.[1] Hiking has been closed for rehabilitation purposes since October 1, 2016.[6] Hiking was still prohibited during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which was extended until the middle of 2022 due to trail damage caused by Typhoon Jolina in 2021, and it was under renovation. On December 21, 2022, the Protected Area Management Board of Mounts Palay-Palay–Mataas-na-Gulod Protected Landscape declared a soft opening of hiking activities via online booking with limited participants. The full-open hiking activity is scheduled for January 12, 2023.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Malicdem, Ervin (22 December 2014). "Palay-Palay-Mataas na Gulod Mountain Range: Trail Data, Peaks and Elevation". Schadow1 Expeditions: 5. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.27573.99040. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ Tectonophysics. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers. 1990. p. 266.
- ^ "Pico De Loro (664+)". Pinoy Mountaineer. August 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ^ "Proclamation No. 1315, s. 2007". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ^ Peña, Rolando (2008). Lexicon of Philippine Stratigraphy. Mandaluyong City, Philippines. ISBN 9789719423102.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Gideon, Lasco (17 September 2016). "Mountain News: Pico de Loro closure starts October 1, 2016". Pinoy Mountaineer. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "Mt. Pico de Loro in Cavite to reopen on January 12". RAPPLER. 2023-01-03. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
