The Agusan River is third longest river in the Philippines, located in the north-eastern part of Mindanao island, draining majority of the Caraga region and some parts of Davao de Oro. It is the country's third largest river (after the Cagayan River and Rio Grande de Mindanao) with a total drainage area of 11,937 square kilometres (4,609 sq mi)[2] and an estimated length of 349 kilometres (217 mi) from its origin.[1][3][4]
| Agusan River Rio Grande de Agusan | |
|---|---|
 The Agusan River and Magsaysay Bridge in 2019 | |
 Agusan River drainage basin | |
  Agusan River mouth  Agusan River (Philippines) | |
| Location | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | |
| Province | Agusan del Sur |
| Cities/municipalities | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Mount Tagubud, Pantukan, Davao de Oro |
| • location | Davao del Norte |
| • coordinates | 7°26′35″N 126°13′16″E / 7.443°N 126.221°E |
| • elevation | 1,022 m (3,353 ft) |
| Mouth | Butuan Bay |
• location | Butuan |
• coordinates | 9°01′00″N 125°30′40″E / 9.01667°N 125.51111°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 349 km (217 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 11,937 km2 (4,609 sq mi)[2] |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | |
| • right | |
Geography
editThe headwaters of the river are found in the mountains of Davao de Oro, near its border with Davao Oriental and east of Tagum. It flows through the wide Agusan River valley which measures 177 kilometers (110 mi) from south to north and varies from 32–48 kilometers (20–30 miles) in width.[5] It finally drains into Butuan Bay at its mouth in Butuan.
One of the prominent features in the Agusan River basin is the presence of the Agusan Marsh covering a total area of 19,197 hectares (47,440 acres). The marsh serves a flood retention basin for the Agusan River, cutting the high discharge of water causing flash floods in the lower reaches of the river. Aside from that, the marsh harbors unique and pristine habitats like the sago and peat swamps forest and is a home to endangered and endemic flora and fauna. As a consequence, it was designated a wildlife sanctuary by then-President Fidel V. Ramos in 1996.[4]
Watershed
editThe Agusan River basin is divided into three sub-basins on the basis of topographic features: the upper Agusan River basin, the middle Agusan River basin, and the lower Agusan River basin. The upper Agusan River basin is the section from its headwaters in the mountains of Davao de Oro to Santa Josefa, Agusan del Sur to Veruela, Agusan del Sur, the middle Agusan River basin is the section of the river from Santa Josefa to Amparo, Agusan del Sur while the lower Agusan River basin is from Amparo to its mouth at Butuan.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Kenneth Kimutai too (July 24, 2018). "Longest Rivers In The Philippines". worldatlas.com. WorldAtlas. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
- ^ a b Vicente B. Tuddao Jr. (September 21, 2011). "Water Quality Management in the Context of Basin Management: Water Quality, River Basin Management and Governance Dynamics in the Philippines" (PDF). www.wepa-db.net. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ Kundel, Jim (June 7, 2007). "Water profile of Philippines". Encyclopedia of Earth. Archived from the original on September 21, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
- ^ a b "Technical Assistance To The Republic of the Philippines For A Master Plan For the Agusan River Basin" (PDF). Asian Development Bank. December 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2007. Retrieved August 9, 2008.
- ^ Plains of Mindanao
External links
edit
Media related to Agusan River at Wikimedia Commons
