Kanlaon, also known as Mount Kanlaon and Kanlaon Volcano (; ; ), is an active stratovolcano and the highest mountain on the island of Negros in the Philippines, as well as the highest point in the Visayas, with an elevation of above sea level. Mount Kanlaon ranks as the 42nd-highest peak of an island in the world.
The volcano straddles the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, approximately southeast of Bacolod, the capital and most populous city of Negros Occidental and whole island. It is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines and part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Physical features
Kanlaon has a peak elevation of at its highest point, although it is in some sources, with a base diameter of and is dotted with pyroclastic cones and extinct craters lining to the north-northwest. Just below and north of the summit is the active Lugud crater. North of Lugud is a caldera known as Margaja Valley, with a small, often seasonal crater lake.
The volcano has three hot springs on its slopes: Mambukal Hot Springs on the northwest, Bucalan Hot Spring and Bungol Hot Spring. Its adjacent volcanic edifices are Mount Silay and Mount Mandalagan, north of Kanlaon.
Canlaon, the component city that has jurisdiction on the Negros Oriental side of the volcano, lies on its lower slope about ESE of the summit.
Hiking Destination and Trails
The volcano is a favorite spot for mountain climbers and is the centerpiece of Mount Kanlaon Natural Park, a national park originally established on August 8, 1934.
The hiking trails usually start in the center of the Guintubdan village. Locals have been active in international cooperation working with several European institutions to introduce the pioneering Unified Hiking Marker System as the first inland tourist location in the Philippines. The system is unified across a number of countries. This makes the mountain more attractive for tourists in an ecologically responsible way.
Trails & Hiking Markers System
In 2016, first three hiking trails have been marked, with additional and more extensive trails added in 2017 from the center of the Guintubdan village including a trail to the top. The works have been implemented by the Mendel University, in cooperation with De La Salle University Bacolod and DENR. The project has been financed by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila in the framework of Czech Aid Development program. Three color-coded trails using the colors of the Philippine flag were opened:
Red Trail from Guintubdan to Buslugan Falls (marked in 2016) Yellow Trail from Guintubdan to Oro Falls (marked in 2016) Blue Trail from Guintubdan to Salas Park new Pavilion (marked in 2016) Red Trail from Guintubdan to Mt. Kanla-On Summit (marked in 2017) Adventure Trail and additional new trails (marked in 2017)
Hiking Markers Standard on Mt. Kanla-on
This system uses three bars – usually one color in between two white bars, with different meanings attached to different colors: red indicates the most difficult or summit trails, blue for difficult trails and yellow and green for easy or interconnecting trails. These marks may be posted on wooden boards or metallic plates. Basic trail markers are square, 10x10 cm in size. The volunteers marking these trails usually prepare sheet metal or cardboard matrices to keep the signs uniform in size. Any change of direction is marked with arrows of the same color and similar design.
Eruptions
The most active volcano in central Philippines, Kanlaon has erupted 30 times since 1819. Eruptions are typically phreatic of small-to-moderate size that produce minor ash falls around the volcano. In 1902, the eruption was classified as Strombolian, typified by the ejection of incandescent cinders, lapilli, lava bombs and gas fumes. However, its eruptive history has not yet been recorded and larger Vesuvian eruptions generated by this stratovolcano has not yet been known.
Volcanic activity at Kanlaon is continuously monitored by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the government's bureau that monitors the volcanoes and earthquakes in the nation, although unlike Mayon and Pinatubo, the volcano has never been studied in-depth and its age is not yet accurately calculated. Kanlaon Volcano Observatory is located at the campus of La Carlota City College in the barangay of Cubay, La Carlota City in Negros Occidental.