Philippine Mountains

Mt. Apo (Kidapawan Summit)

Philippines are composed of 7,100 islands, and mostly are hilly or mountainous. It is grouped into three island-groups, namely the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The Philippine mountains and its small islands are volcanic in origin and in general, have moderate elevation. Situated in the tropical latitude, these mountains have tropical vegetation and rich in flora and fauna.

The Philippine Mountain Ranges

• Sierra Madre is the longest mountain range in the Philippines, located in the north-eastern coast of Luzon; starts in the province of Cagayan in the north and ends in Quezon in the south east of Laguna de Bay. Tails to the west reaching the province of Nueva Viscaya to form Caraballo Mountains, with which it sticks with the Cordillera Central Mountains. 

• Cordillera Central or Gran Cordillera mountain range is the highest mountain range in the Philippines, comprises about 1/6 of the whole Luzon Island. Located in the northern central part of Luzon bounded by the provinces of Benguet, Abra Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province and Ifugao; terminates in the north at Pasaleng Bay Ilocos Norte. Links with the Sierra Madre mountains through the Caraballo Mountain in Nueva Vizcaya. The Cordilleras consists of two to three mountain ranges that are found in northwestern Central Luzon: the Caraballo del Sur and Caraballo Occidentalles . The Caraballo Del Sur forms the nucleus of the system and has its highest peaks in the border between the provinces of Abra, Ilocos Norte and Cagayan. The Caraballo Occidentalles, is further divided into two ranges: the Cordillera Norte and Cordillera Central.Some notable sites are located in Cordilleras mountain range like World Heritage site Banaue Rice Terraces, the Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Tirad Pass, Sagada and Pagudpod.

• Caraballo Mountains Range is located in the central part of Luzon, Between Cordilleras Central mountains and Sierra Madre mountains. The Caraballos de Baler start where the Sierra Madre and the Cordilleras meet. They are found south of Cagayan Valley, northeast of the Central Plains of Luzon.Caraballo Mountains are the location of the headwaters of the Cagayan River.

• Zambales Mountain Range is located on the western side of Luzon. Separates Luzon's Central plain from the South China Sea and Extend out as the Bataan Peninsula to the south enclosing to Manila Bay. Mt. Pinatubo is an active volcano situated in this mountain range.

• Mindoro Mountains begins with Mount Halcon and is further divided into three: the northwest ends at Calavite Point and is a landmark for ships, the east originates from Lake Naujan,the west follows Mindoro Strait.Saint Paul Mountains is located on the northern coast of Palawan. The World Natural Heritage Site of St. Paul Underground River is a notable site in this mountain range.

• Kitanglad Mountains dominates the northern central portion of Bukidnon in Northern Mindanao,  directly north of the neighboring Kalatungan Mountain Range and one of the few remaining rainforests in the Philippines, hosting the rare and endemic Philippine Eagle

• Zamboanga Cordillera Mountains a very mountainous terrain in Zamboanga Peninsula.

• Pantaron or Central Mindanao Cordillera Mountains stretches from Camiguin in the north to Sarangani in the south