The Cagayan River is a very popular site for whitewater rafting in the Philippines and has been promoted by the Department of Tourism as the main tourist attraction of Cagayan de Oro.
Etymology
The original name of the river is Kalambaguasasahan River, because of the presence of Lambago trees (Hibiscus tiliaceus, a member of the Malvaceae tree family that only thrives in low altitude areas like seashores, riverbanks and other areas reached by tidal streams)[1] along the river banks. During the arrival of the Spaniards in Cagayan de Oro, the name was changed to Cagayan River.[2][3]
The name of the river Cagayan comes from the Malayo-Polynesian word "Ag", which means water. "Kagay" means river and "Kagayan" is place with a river.[4] This river is not to be confused with the country's longest and largest river of the same name located in northern Luzon, despite sharing similar etymology with each other.
Geography
Course
The river's headwaters is found in the Kalatungan Mountain Range, in the central portion of the province of Bukidnon. It flows northward towards Cagayan de Oro for about 90 kilometres (56mi)[5] before emptying into Macajalar Bay.
Drainage Area
The river drains an area of approximately 1,521 square kilometres (587sqmi).[5] About 80% of the drainage basin is located in the Province of Bukidnon and the rest is in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.
Tributaries
The main tributaries of the Cagayan de Oro River are the following:
The river's mouth is located in Cagayan de Oro. After a 90-kilometre (56mi) course from the mountains of Bukidnon, the river finally discharges its load to Macajalar Bay.
Tourism
Whitewater rafting and kayaking
Whitewater rafting, kayaking and river trekking[6] has been one of the tourism activities being promoted in the river. The city administration and the Department of Tourism made it as the banner tourism activity in Cagayan de Oro.[7] The jump-off point of the river, whitewater rafting is at Barangay Mambuaya, a 30-40 minute ride from the city proper.
Recently, whitewater rafting in the Cagayan River is gaining popularity through the years after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other famous personalities in the country have tried the challenging whitewater rafting in the river.