Enchanted river
The Hinatuan Enchanted River is a lagoon-river on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It flows into the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean at Barangay Talisay, +Hinatuan, +Surigao del Sur. It is found between the boundaries of Barangays of Talisay and Cambatong. It earned the moniker "enchanted river" from the diplomat Modesto Farolan who described the river in his poem entitled "Rio Encantado".
The Hinatuan Enchanted River is a
deep spring river on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It flows into
the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean at Barangay Talisay, Hinatuan, Surigao
del Sur. It is found between the boundaries of Barangays of Talisay and
Cambatong. It earned the moniker "enchanted river" from the diplomat
Modesto Farolan who described the river in his poem entitled "Rio
Encantado".
Hinatuan Bay, which is the habitat of various species of
turtles, is located at its mouth. Its mouth also offers a safe anchorage
against storms and typhoons.
Exploration
The first exploration to the underground cave of the
Hinatuan Enchanted River was made by Alex Santos in 1999. The major exploration to the underground cave
system started eleven years later when a group of three cave divers led by Dr.
Alfonso Amores with team members Bernil Gastardo and Emgee Guillermo entered
the cave in February 2010. The major exploration led to the discovery of a
hidden underground cave opening at 30 meters depth. Succeeding expeditions have been made that led
to the discovery of the underwater cave's chamber. During its sixth expedition
on June 17, 2014, Dr. Amores perished after failing to exit the narrow entrance
to the cave due to a cardiac arrest at 40-meter depth inside the narrow tunnel
to the Mayor's Chamber of the underground cave in the Hinatuan Enchanted River.
Explorations have continued in March 2015 aiming to discover
its unexplored area beyond its 82 meters depth and is now led by Bernil
Gastardo under contract with GIZ, University of San Carlos-Biology Department,
and DENR-BMB under the project Hinatuan Enchanted River Underwater Cave System
Rapid Source Assessment (HERUCS). Beginning on March 20, a collaborative 5-day
assessment and mapping of the ecosystem was conducted by the University of San
Carlos and the Filipino Cave Divers (FCD).
Legends
The river's unusual colors and unexplored depths has
inspired various local legends. One story tell of fairies that added the colors
of sapphire and jade to the river to make its unique shade. Local fisherfolk
also report seeing fish in the river that cannot be caught through any means.
According to locals, the river was called the Enchanted River because of the
engkantos that dwell there.Their legends also say that the river is haunted by
supernatural beings which act as its protectors.
