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MOUNT BULUSAN (VOLCANO)
LOCATION: Sorsogon Province
ELEVATION: 1548 meters above sea level
LEVEL: Major Climb, Level II, Moderate
JUMP OFF POINTS: Irosin and Bulusan Sorsogon
INFORMATION:
Mt. Bulusan is one of the popular climbing destinations in
the Bicol region the other being Mt. Mayon, Mt. Isarog and
Mt. Iriga which is also known as Mt. Asog. Towering 1,584
meters above sea level, Bulusan volcano appears like a crawling
giant in the midst of a forest. Declared a national park in
1935, it covers 3,673 hectares of rainforest that harbors
rare plants and animals. Located 60 kilometers south of Legaspi
in the Sorsogon province, the jump off point is in the towns
of Irosin and Bulusan.
Bulusan Volcano is located at the south central part of Sorsogon
Province. It covers a surface area roughly 400 square kilometers
The volcano forms part of the Bicol Volcanic Chain, which
stretches from Camarines Norte in the north to Sorsogon in
the south. The chain, sometimes called volcanic belt, is composed
of active and geologically young volcanoes most probably related
to the Philippine Trench. Bulusan is classified as a composite
volcano and is made up of lava flows and domes. It is flanked
by several cones namely: Mt. Homahan, Mt. Binactan, Mt. Batuan,
Mt. Juban, Mt. Calaunan, Mt. Tabon-Tabon, Mt. Calungalan and
Mt. Jormajan. Beside the active volcano is an old ridge called
Sharp Peak, which is 1215 meters high and 1.8 kilometers to
the northeast. Between Bulusan and Jormajan is the Natakop
lava dome.
The earliest recorded eruption of Bulusan Volcano occurred
in 1852. This was followed by periods of eruptive activity
in 1886, 1892, and 1894. Another 22 years elapsed before Bulusan
showed signs of restiveness. On January 16, 1916, the volcano
ejected mud and ash for five days, thereby triggering landslides.
Dust emissions and lava out pouring characterized the volcano’s
eruptive activity from Oct. 1918 to March 1919. Bulusan's
series of 17 eruptions during May 1919 to May 1922 were of
short duration ranging from 15 to 30 minutes each. Other eruptions
were recorded in June 1928 and December 25, 1933 and then
the volcano rested for 45 years. On June 28, 1978, it suddenly
ejected ash-laden steam clouds, which formed in a dark column
of smoke 1500 meters high. Andesitic basalt ash was ejected
and blown by winds as far as Barcelona in the northeast about
15 km. from the volcano. The eruptions which followed in 1979,
1980, 1981 and 1983 were all pheatric and as mild as the previous
ones. A total of 60 barangays within the territorial jurisdiction
of six municipalities (Barcelona, Bulusan, Casiguran, Gubat,
Irosin and Juban) are covered by the Bulusan Volcano hazard
zones established by PHIVOLCS. These barangays lie within
4-10 km. from the summit of Bulusan Volcano.
LEGENDS:
Bulusan Lake has interesting legends. It was said that a
village once stood where Bulusan Lake is currently located.
It was ruled by a ruthless pagan chieftain. One day, the chieftain
conquered one village in Mindanao and brought back slaves
from the conquered villages. In the middle of the voyage back
home, a typhoon struck devastating the fleet. The captured
slaves prayed for their safety. The chieftain upon noticing
the salves praying asked that they pray for the safety of
the fleet in exchange for their freedom. After that, the storm
abated and they were able to get back to their kingdom safely.
The chieftain broke his promised and made the lives of the
slaves more difficult. One day, one of the salves reminded
the chieftain on his promise of freeing them but the chieftain
instead laughed and replied that since he is on dry land,
he is "god." Then suddenly waters poured in from
they skies engulfing the entire village killing everything
on it. The salves who were out on the fields working were
saved. They founded the town which is today known as Bulusan,
Sorsogon.
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