Cagayan River (Cagayan de Oro)

: "For the Cagayan River in Luzon, see Cagayan River.Geobox River
name = Cagayan River (Cagayan de Oro)
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =


image_size =
image_caption = Whitewater rafting along the Cagayan River
country = flagicon|Philippines Philippines
region = Northern Mindanao
district =
district1 =
city = Cagayan De Oro City
length = 90
length_round = 2
watershed = 1521
watershed_round = 2
discharge_location = Macajalar Bay
discharge =
discharge_round =
discharge_max =
discharge_max_round =
discharge_min =
discharge1_location =
discharge1 =
source_name =
source_location = Kalatungan Mountain Range
source_district = Bukidnon
source_region = Northern Mindanao
source_country = Philippines
source_lat_d = 7
source_lat_m = 57
source_lat_s = 27
source_lat_NS = N
source_long_d = 124
source_long_m = 48
source_long_s = 57
source_long_EW = E
source_elevation = 2286
source_length =
mouth_name = Mouth of Cagayan River
mouth_location = Macajalar Bay
mouth_district = Cagayan de Oro City
mouth_region = Northern Mindanao
mouth_country = Philippines
mouth_lat_d = 8
mouth_lat_m = 28
mouth_lat_s = 56
mouth_lat_NS = N
mouth_long_d = 124
mouth_long_m = 38
mouth_long_s = 50
mouth_long_EW = E
mouth_elevation = 0
tributary_left =
tributary_left1 =
tributary_right = Kalawaig River
tributary_right1 = Tagite River
tributary_right2 = Bubunaoan River
free_name =
free_value =

Cagayan River, often called "Cagayan de Oro River," is one of the rivers draining the northern central part of the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. The river has its headwaters in the Kalatungan Mountain Range found in the central part of the province of Bukidnon. It traverses the municipalities of Talakag, Baungon and Libona, picking up tributaries along the way. It finally empties into the Macajalar Bay at Cagayan de Oro City in the province of Misamis Oriental.

The river serves as the natural boundary between the province of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte and between Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro City, based on the administrative order issued by the defunct Department of Mindanao and Sulu during the American occupation of the Philippines. In Cagayan de Oro, it is the dividing line between its two Congressional districts.

The river is a very popular site for whitewater rafting in the Philippines and has been promoted by the Department of Tourism as the main tourist attraction of Cagayan de Oro.

Etymology of Name

The original name of the river is Kalambaguhan River, named because of the presence of "Lambago" trees ("Hibiscus tiliaceus", a member of the "Malvaceae" tree family that only thrives in low altitude areas like seashores, riverbanks and other areas reached by tidal streams) [ [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag/2005/08/26/feat/streaming.through.kalambagohan.s.history.html Streaming through Kalambagohan's history] ] along the river banks. During the arrival of the Spaniards in Cagayan de Oro, the name was changed to Cagayan. [ [http://choicagayandeorocity.blogspot.com/2008/01/history-of-cagayan-de-oro-city-byatty.html Cagayan de Oro: History] ] [ [http://www.cagayan-de-oro.com/legend.htm Welcome to Cagayan de Oro City: History & legend] ]

The name of the river "cagayan" comes from the Malayo-Polynesian word "ag", which means "water". "Kagay" means "river" and "kagayan" is "place with a river". [ [http://heritage.elizaga.net/history/index.html History of Cagayan de Oro] ]

Geography

Course

The river's headwaters is found in the Kalatungan Mountain Range, in the central portion of the province of Bukidnon. It flows northward towards the city of Cagayan de Oro for about 90 kilometers"Principal River Basins of the Philippines", Published by the National Water Resources Board, October 1976 (p. 12)] before emptying into the Macajalar Bay.

Drainage Area

The river drains an area of approximately 1, 521 square kilometers. About eighty (80) percent of the drainage basin is located in the province of Bukidnon and the rest is in Lanao del Norte and Cagayan de Oro City.

Tributaries

The main tributaries of the Cagayan River are the following:
* Kalawaig River
* Tagite River
* Bubunaoan River

Mouth

The river's mouth is located in Cagayan de Oro City. After a 90-kilometer course from the mountains of Bukidnon, the river finally discharges its load to the Macajalar Bay.

Tourism

Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking

Whitewater rafting and kayaking [Whitewater Kayaking with KayakDomain.com [http://www.kayakdomain.com] ] has been one of the tourism activities being promoted in the river. The city administration and the Department of Tourism made it as the banner tourism activity in the Cagayan de Oro [ [http://www.cagayandeoro.gov.ph/?page=tourism&cat=8 Cagayan de Oro Tourism Website] ] . The jump-off point of the Cagayan River whitewater rafting is at "Mambuaya", a 30-40 minute ride from the city proper.

At present, whitewater rafting in the river is gaining popularity and President Gloria Arroyo, president of the Philippines [ [http://www.sei.dost.gov.ph/finals_coll/coll03/files/Water_Rafting.htm Whitewater Rafting] ] and many Philippine TV/Movie personalities have tried whitewater rafting in the river.

ee also

* Cagayan de Oro
* Macajalar Bay
* Bukidnon

References and Footnotes