Mindoro is the seventh-largest and eighth-most populous island in the Philippines. It is divided into the provinces of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro. The Mindoro Mountain Range is the largest and longest mountain range in the island, with a total length of 200 km (120 mi) north-south and 58 km (36 mi) width east–west. Mount Halcon, at 8,484 feet (2,586 meters), is the island’s highest point and is located in Oriental Mindoro. Mindoro is a center of biodiversity in the Philippines, a megadiverse country, and has a large number of species found nowhere else on the archipelago. Mindoro additionally hosts its ecoregion, the Mindoro rainforests, separate from neighboring Luzon. In precolonial times, the island has been called Ma-i or Mait by Han Chinese traders. Indigenous groups are called Mangyans. The Spaniards called the place Mina de Oro (“gold mine”), from where the island derives the current form of its current name.
Wonders of Mindoro
Puerto Galera is a town on the Philippine island of Mindoro. It’s known for its dive sites and beaches. The long curve of White Beach is backed by bars and resorts. Inland, a forest trail leads to secluded Talipanan Falls, and a hillside 9-hole golf course sits above the coast. Northeast, the waters off Sabang Beach teem with marine life and corals.
Apo Reef Natural Park, located in the Mindoro Strait in the Philippines, is renowned for being the second-largest contiguous coral reef system in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef. It’s also the largest coral reef in the country and is a protected area, offering diverse marine life and a unique diving experience.
The Puerto Galera Mangrove Conservation and Ecotourism area occupies 17.8 hectares of land and water. Established in 2015, this is home to 13 mangrove species dominated by Rhizophora, 6 seagrass species dominated by Thalassia hempricii and live coral reef cover with a variety of soft corals species found at the deeper portion of the reef. This protected site is maintained by the LGU Puerto Galera, supported by the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines, MFI and locals of barangays Tabinay and Dulangan where the mangrove area geographically belongs.
Devil’s Mountain in Mindoro is located in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. It’s known for its unique shape, resembling horns or the stalagmites of caves, and is a popular spot for nature photography. The mountain is approximately 1,362 hectares and 450 meters high.
