Allah Valley

Allah Valley
Allah Valley at Surallah, South Cotabato
Allah Valley is located in Philippines
Allah Valley
Allah Valley
Location in the Philippines
Area2,520 km2 (970 sq mi)
Geography
LocationMindanao
CountryPhilippines
State
RegionSoccsksargen
Population centers
List
Borders on
  • Roxas-Matulas Range (north)
  • Daguma Mountain Range (south)
Coordinates6°25′N 124°42′E / 6.417°N 124.700°E / 6.417; 124.700 
Rivers
Source: area[1]

The Allah Valley (at times also spelled Alah) is a large valley of the Allah River in the provinces of South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat on the island of Mindanao, Philippines. It is formed by the Roxas-Matulas Range in the north and the Daguma Mountain Range in the south.[1]

It is accessible via the Allah Valley Airport in Surallah, South Cotabato.[2]

The valley is known for its natural environment, such as Lake Sebu, Lake Holon, Baras Bird Sanctuary, and Esperanza Hot and Cold Springs.[3] On the other hand, it is adversely affected by flooding, siltation, riverbank migration, unstable agriculture production, and upland degradation,[1] as well as illegal logging.[4]

The entire valley was declared a watershed forest reserve in 1985 through the signing of Proclamation No. 2455. The 102,350-hectare (252,900-acre) protected area also includes Lake Sebu, the Tasaday-Manobo Special Forest Reserve, the Datu Ma Falen Civil Reservation, and the National Cultural Minorities Settlement Reservation located within the valley.[5]

The bestselling Lonely Planet described Lake Sebu as a place located in a “bowl of forests and mountains.” The 42,450-hectare landscape consisting the domains of the Allah Valley is recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a cultural landscape in Mindanao.[6]

  1. ^ a b c Silverio L. Tandog (2012). "A Presentation to the Collaboration Workshop for the Agusan River Basin" (PDF). Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 2, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  2. ^ "Allah Valley Airport (AAV)". World Airport Codes. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  3. ^ "Status Report: April 2013- September 2013". Eco-Cultural Tourism Development Project. Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  4. ^ Louie O. Pacardo (February 23, 2014). "Checkpoints vs illegal logging in Central Mindanao planned". Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM), Inc. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  5. ^ "Proclamation No. 2455, s. 1985". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  6. ^ "9 spectacular places to visit in Mindanao".