Agusan River
Encyclopedia
Agusan River is a river
located in the eastern part of Mindanao
island in the Philippines
, draining majority of the Caraga Region and some parts of Compostela Valley
province. It is the third largest river basin of the Philippines
with a total drainage area of 10,921 km² and an estimated length of 350 kilometers from its origin. The headwaters of the river is found in the mountains of Compostela Valley
, near its border with Davao Oriental
and east of Tagum City
. It flows through the wide Agusan River valley which measures 177 kilometres (110 mi) from south to north and varies from 32-48 kilometers (20–30 miles) in width. It finally drains into the Butuan Bay
at its mouth in Butuan City
. The river is also the third longest river in the Philippines
.
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. 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 declared by former President Fidel V. Ramos
as a wildlife sanctuary in 1996.
province to Santa Josefa, Agusan del Sur
to Veruela, Agusan Del Sur
, the middle Agusan River basin is the section of the river from Sta. Josefa
to Amparo, Agusan del Sur
while the lower Agusan River basin is from Amparo to its mouth at Butuan City
, Agusan del Norte
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
located in the eastern part of Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
island in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, draining majority of the Caraga Region and some parts of Compostela Valley
Compostela Valley
Compostela Valley is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. The province, called Comval for short, used to be part of Davao del Norte until it was made independent in 1998. It is the third newest province of the Philippines, behind Dinagat Islands and Zamboanga...
province. It is the third largest river basin of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
with a total drainage area of 10,921 km² and an estimated length of 350 kilometers from its origin. The headwaters of the river is found in the mountains of Compostela Valley
Compostela Valley
Compostela Valley is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. The province, called Comval for short, used to be part of Davao del Norte until it was made independent in 1998. It is the third newest province of the Philippines, behind Dinagat Islands and Zamboanga...
, near its border with Davao Oriental
Davao Oriental
Davao Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Mati and borders Compostela Valley to the west, and Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur to the north. Davao Oriental is the easternmost province of the country with Pusan Point as the easternmost...
and east of Tagum City
Tagum City
Tagum City is a First Class City of the 1st Congressional District of the Province of Davao del Norte, Philippines and serves as its provincial capital...
. It flows through the wide Agusan River valley which measures 177 kilometres (110 mi) from south to north and varies from 32-48 kilometers (20–30 miles) in width. It finally drains into the Butuan Bay
Butuan Bay
Butuan Bay is a bay in the northeast section of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is part of the Bohol Sea. The Agusan River empties into the bay. Butuan City lies at the base of the bay....
at its mouth in Butuan City
Butuan City
The City of Butuan is the regional center of Caraga, serving as an administrative region of the Philippines; it is a highly urbanized city. It is located at the northeastern part of Agusan Valley, Mindanao, sprawling across the Agusan River. It is bounded to the north, west and south by Agusan del...
. The river is also the third longest river in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
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. The marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
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
Sago
Sago is a starch extracted in the spongy center or pith, of various tropical palm stems, Metroxylon sagu. It is a major staple food for the lowland peoples of New Guinea and the Moluccas, where it is called saksak and sagu. A type of flour, called sago flour, is made from sago. The largest supply...
and peat swamps forest and is a home to endangered and endemic flora and fauna. As a consequence, it was declared by former President Fidel V. Ramos
Fidel V. Ramos
Fidel "Eddie" Valdez Ramos , popularly known as FVR, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.Prior to his election as...
as a wildlife sanctuary in 1996.
Watershed
The Agusan River basin is divided into three sub-basins on the basis of topographic features: upper Agusan River basin, middle Agusan River basin and lower Agusan River basin. The upper Agusan River basin is the section from its headwaters in the mountains of Compostela ValleyCompostela Valley
Compostela Valley is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. The province, called Comval for short, used to be part of Davao del Norte until it was made independent in 1998. It is the third newest province of the Philippines, behind Dinagat Islands and Zamboanga...
province to Santa Josefa, Agusan del Sur
Santa Josefa, Agusan del Sur
Santa Josefa is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Agusan del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 22,730 people in 4,333 households.-Barangays:Santa Josefa is politically subdivided into 11 barangays.* Angas...
to Veruela, Agusan Del Sur
Veruela, Agusan del Sur
Veruela is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Agusan del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 36,222 people in 6,960 households....
, the middle Agusan River basin is the section of the river from Sta. Josefa
Santa Josefa, Agusan del Sur
Santa Josefa is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Agusan del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 22,730 people in 4,333 households.-Barangays:Santa Josefa is politically subdivided into 11 barangays.* Angas...
to Amparo, Agusan del Sur
Agusan del Sur
Agusan del Sur is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Prosperidad and borders, from the north clockwise, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, and Misamis...
while the lower Agusan River basin is from Amparo to its mouth at Butuan City
Butuan City
The City of Butuan is the regional center of Caraga, serving as an administrative region of the Philippines; it is a highly urbanized city. It is located at the northeastern part of Agusan Valley, Mindanao, sprawling across the Agusan River. It is bounded to the north, west and south by Agusan del...
, Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga, a region in Mindanao. Its capital is Cabadbaran City and it borders Surigao del Norte to the north, Surigao del Sur to the east, Agusan del Sur to the south, and Misamis Oriental to the west...
See also
- Caraga Region
- Agusan del NorteAgusan del NorteAgusan del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga, a region in Mindanao. Its capital is Cabadbaran City and it borders Surigao del Norte to the north, Surigao del Sur to the east, Agusan del Sur to the south, and Misamis Oriental to the west...
- Agusan del SurAgusan del SurAgusan del Sur is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Prosperidad and borders, from the north clockwise, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, and Misamis...
- Compostela ValleyCompostela ValleyCompostela Valley is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. The province, called Comval for short, used to be part of Davao del Norte until it was made independent in 1998. It is the third newest province of the Philippines, behind Dinagat Islands and Zamboanga...
- Agusan Marsh