The Surigao Landscape
Mountains, Rivers, and Quakes
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The Surigao Landscape
The Surigao Landscape
7 August 2025 Feature | Surigao Historical Society | Local History
Mountains, Rivers, and Quakes
Surigao’s land is shaped by fire, carved by water, and shaken by the earth’s restless motion. Its mountains, rivers, and geological rifts are not only physical features but historical forces—molding how people live, where they build, and what they believe.
To understand Surigao is to read its terrain like a living manuscript—written in volcanic ridges, flowing currents, and fault lines that still groan beneath the soil.
The Mountain Chains: Legacy of Ancient Volcanoes
The province’s eastern spine is mountainous, especially in Surigao del Norte. These elevations are the weathered remnants of volcanic activity that defined the region’s prehistoric landscape. Mountains and hills rise abruptly from coastal plains, creating natural barriers and microclimates.
The book mentions rugged terrain dotted with fertile valleys, where native settlements developed in relative isolation. These highlands sheltered communities like the Mamanwa, who preferred the interior forests, relying on swidden farming and forest resources.
Surigao’s terrain also discouraged full-scale conquest during the Spanish period, especially in upland barangays. The Diwata Range, while more prominent in Agusan, extends influence into northern Surigao, anchoring the region’s ecological and spiritual geography.
Rivers and Lakes: Lifelines of Culture and Commerce
Major rivers such as the Surigao River, the Mainit River, and tributaries flowing into Lake Mainit played essential roles in both sustenance and mobility. In early periods, rivers served as the primary routes for trade, migration, and religious outreach.
Lake Mainit, shared with Agusan del Norte, is among the Philippines’ largest inland lakes.
Surrounded by fertile plains and forested ridges, it supported fishing, irrigation, and rice cultivation. Early settlements in Mainit, Kitcharao, and Jabonga took advantage of this abundance.
These waterways also figured prominently in myths and local belief systems, which regarded rivers and lakes as dwelling places of spirits or “anito.” Stories passed down speak of guardian creatures and omens tied to river behavior—symbolizing nature's power and unpredictability.
Fault Lines and Earthquakes: The Ground Beneath
Surigao sits atop the Philippine Fault Zone, a major tectonic boundary responsible for frequent seismic activity. The Surigao segment of this fault is notorious for producing destructive earthquakes.
One of the most documented was the 1879 quake, which devastated Spanish-era stone buildings in Surigao town, including churches and administrative structures. The quake marked a turning point in local architecture: stone was largely abandoned in favor of more flexible materials.
More recently, the 2017 Surigao Earthquake (Magnitude 6.7) struck with significant intensity, damaging hospitals, roads, bridges, and schools. It also displaced thousands, once again highlighting the vulnerability of communities built near active faults.
These events underscore the geophysical reality of Surigao—beautiful, resource-rich, but ever unstable.
Winds, Rains, and the Challenge of the Pacific
Surigao’s position along the Pacific seaboard makes it one of the most typhoon-exposed provinces in the country. Strong rains feed rivers and lakes but also trigger flooding and landslides, especially in logging-damaged watersheds.
Historical records note typhoons that wiped out harvests, disrupted fishing communities, and destroyed coastal settlements. The seasonal rhythm of disaster and rebuilding has ingrained resilience in Surigaonon culture.
Indeed, Surigaonons developed agricultural and architectural practices attuned to this volatility—light dwellings, elevated storage, and inter-barrio cooperation during emergencies.
Geography as Destiny
As Surigao Across the Years emphasizes, the province’s terrain is both a natural fortress and a challenge. It enabled the persistence of indigenous identities, hampered colonization, and shaped Surigao’s development in ways unique among Philippine provinces.
This geographic duality—fertile but flood-prone, majestic but seismically active—defines the Surigao experience. Nature here is not passive landscape but active participant in the region’s history.
Five Questions to Spark Your Curiosity
How has the Philippine Fault influenced Surigao’s urban planning and architecture?
What is the geological history behind Lake Mainit and its surrounding mountains?
In what ways have Surigao’s rivers supported both commerce and spiritual beliefs?
How do Surigaonons prepare for and recover from major earthquakes and typhoons?
What myths or legends reflect the community’s relationship with the natural landscape?
Explore Further, Engage Deeper
This story is just one of many hidden within the pages of Surigao Across the Years. To explore more: Interact with the book through Artificial Intelligence (AI):
Visit the customized GPT by Open AI HERE and the Book Section of the Surigao Historical Society HERE
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