KOMODO DRAGON IN THE WORLD'S 7 WONDERS OF NATURE

Welcome to the Underground River also known as the St. Paul Subterranean River here in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. 

Let's also see the Comodo Dragon, our last link to the dinosaur. 

The Philippines Hidden River Is Home to World's Wonder

By Henry Libo-on

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Locally known as the Subterranean River of Puerto Princesa, this underground river is the newest 7 Wonders of Nature as of this writing. 

      

The photo above shows the mountain which the locals also call Sleeping Giant.  According to our tour guide, underneath this mountain is the Puerto Princesa Underground River and the tallest portion of this mountain is where you can find the highest portion of the cave.

For centuries, the native inhabitants of Puerto Princesa, the Tagbanuas, were already knowledgeable about the underground river but they did not pursue its exploration for fear that it might anger the powerful spirits that live inside the innermost part of the river and they do not want to confront it.

However, in the middle of 1800, a researcher from Michigan University, Professor Dean Worcester began his exploration of the underground river and wrote a very extensive account of it. Soon, the academics and the scientific world were introduced into the natural wonders of this river. (Thanks to the Brochure on the Underground River given to me by our tour guide). She also told the story of Professor Worcester with pride and gratefulness.

The underground river is about 8.2 km in length and it flows directly into the sea. So, the tides influence the height of the water inside the river. When there is rain, the crystal blue waters of the river turn to coffee brown. This is the case when I visited the river. That night there was heavy rain. It broke my heart and I want to cry because I traveled a long distance just for this purpose, but the guide said, "come back next time, and explore more of Palawan." And I think, I will.

When it was our turn to explore the underground river, we were loaded into a boat. Nine passengers and one boatman who served as our guide. I was amazed at the images created by stalagmites and stalactites and other minerals that stuck to the rocks. It was nature at its best. We were allowed to explore the one-kilometer length of the underground river. The special permit has to be acquired with the Local Government to explore farther, but this permit is only given to scientists.

When we got out of the underground river, our guide suggested that we can explore or visit other tourist areas on our way back to Puerto Princesa City. But first, we had to explore the areas around the river. I searched for the giant lizard locally known as "bayawak" and I found her at the back of the Rangers' House.

This "Bayawak" is also known as Komodo Dragon. They share a common ancestor as that of the dinosaur. 

(Scientists believe that Komodo Dragons are the last link to the dinosaur. www.bing.com)

Wild Komodo Dragon at the Underground River Ranger Station. 

Source: YouTube by Ray E. 

Thanks. 

As we moved back to the boat that will take us to the port of the village, I looked back one more time at the Underground River and I recalled how it was chosen as one of the 7 Wonders of Nature.

My research revealed that in 2007 and 2009, two expeditions were sent by the European group of Scientists called La Venta Geographical Association. They were the same group of Italian scientists who explored the limestone caves and mountains of Central Asia, the mysterious Venezuelan Tepuis or the Home of the Gods where they explored the unique mountains capped with clouds and mists, the Patagonian Blue Deep, and the Antarctic Glaciers where unique karst topography and remnants of the extinct population were found, to the Mexican Canyons which were hardly explored but where the Pre-Colombian agriculture had its roots to the innermost Naica Caves and Giant Crystals. (denr10org).

The video uploaded by denr10org on YouTube further mentioned that La Venta served as mankind's window to the deepest and most unreachable chambers of our planet. And this is what they have done to the Underground River of Puerto Princesa. They organized a massive discovery of what is inside the inner caves or parts of the underground river.

These are what they discovered: eleven (11) minerals, scientifically and aesthetically unique Speleothems or cave formations, and a 20-Million-Year-Old Miocene Age fossil of a Serenia which is also known as the Sea Cow. Most probably the Serenia was trapped in the middle of rocks and preserved. The scientists found a more in-tact bone of the Sea Cow. Imagine, 20 million years old Serenia fossil preserved for us to see? Wow! According to this video, finding or discovering a Serenia may happen "one in a billion". And here, we have it. The first in the Philippines and the first in this part of the world.

The scientists also revealed the following: 1) the river represents one of the most important underground estuaries of the world, it outflows directly to the sea; 2) it hosts to a complex Karstic or cave systems in the world, unique marine life and organism that they have not found in other caves they explored; 3) unearthed speleothems with unique genetic and aesthetic features such as crystals and egg-shaped formations; 4) the scientists also got samplings from the caves and expect to discover new kind of cave minerals not found elsewhere; 5) the scientists also reported that the river hosts to a unique macro and micro cave formations or karst morphologies that will allow them to conduct a study that is not conducted before - the study of the relationships between tides and the speed of freshwater flow and lastly; 6) they reported that the river has a high amount of energy resulting from its unique thermal equator location, the super marine climate and the right combination of wind, humidity, and strong variable air fluxes. This high energy content allows the river to offset the impact of high tourism making it naturally sustainable.

For a more enjoyable account, please go to YouTube and look for: Official Finalist to the Search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. This was uploaded by denr10.org. This video was produced as an information campaign material before the Underground River was officially declared one of the 7 Wonders of Nature).

Source: YouTube (This video was part of the campaign video to generate votes for PPUR as one of the 7 Wonders of Nature)

On April 21, 2012, the Puerto Princesa Underground River was officially inaugurated as one of the 7 Wonders of Nature.  For your reference, please click this link below to watch the video on YouTube.

http://youtu.be/lFsxwJfXMMw?list=PLE51F761245F95590

Other things to do? 

Precisely, you have so much to see in Palawan. After the trip to the underground river, you can do jungle trekking, wildlife watching, visit the mangrove forests, enjoy the X-zipline, adventure caving or visit the ethnographic museum, among others.

After visiting the underground river, our guide brought us to the Ugong Adventures area and passed by other attractions on the way to Puerto Princesa City. Before I visited the underground river, I have been to El Nido, Taytay, and Roxas. In other words, you have many things to do when you are in Palawan.



How to get there? There are daily flights from Manila to Puerto Princesa City, the capital of the island province of Palawan. The nation's flag carrier, Philippine Airlines have direct flights to Puerto Princesa together with other airline companies. Since there are no surprise visits to the Underground River, you better check-in your hotel and ask them to book you for the next underground river tour. This is a package tour that includes the air-conditioned van, the tour guide, entrance fees, the boat fares, and lunch.

Just visit the websites of the airline companies of your choice, the hotels for your reservation, and other details. Have a nice trip.

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All photos by Henry Libo-on of Touristang Pobre.

Updated on June 06, 2018.
Updated on October 26, 2019.
Updated on September 16, 2020. 

Reviewed on December 22, 2022. 

Reviewed on April 15, 2023.

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Who is Touristang Pobre? 

*He has been a travel writer for WHAT'S ON (In the Visayas & Mindanao), a travel guide circulated in Cebu and other parts of the Vis-Min regions.

*He was a writer and columnist of Negros Daily Bulletin, a local newspaper in Bacolod City and circulated around the province and Western Visayas. 

*He was a former Tour Guide when BTTI or Bureau of Travel & Tourist Industry became the Department of Tourism, circa early '70s. 

*He was a former Executive Assistant to the then Governor of Negros Occidental and later on Mayor of Bacolod City, Honorable Alfredo L. Montelibano, Jr. 

*He was a former OIC-CPDO or City Planning & Development Officer of Bacolod City Government.

*He was a former College Instructor/Professor at Riverside College School of Nursing.

*He is currently based in the U.S. but calls Bacolod City and Negros Occidental his home. 

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