Description of the attraction
Balbalasang Balbalan National Park was established in 1973 in the Central Cordillera region of Luzon Island. The nearest town - Tabuk - is located 25 km to the west. The park consists of two mountain ranges with numerous streams flowing into the Saltan River, which separates the ranges. Mount Sapoki, located in the western part, reaches a height of 2,456 meters - from it you can see the Ilocos province and the Cagayan Valley. The total area of the park covered with forest is 1388 hectares.
The word "balbalasang" in the local dialect means "forest dominated by Balasang trees." This tree reaches a height of 15 meters, and therefore stands out sharply against the background of others. Local tribes living in the park are its keepers - they set strict restrictions on the use of the forest and determine the punishment for those who violate these rules.
The biodiversity of the park is striking in its scope: it is adjacent to tropical rainforest, pine forest and deciduous forests. There are 83 species of birds in the park, of which 34 are Filipino endemic, and 2 species are found only on the island of Luzon - Isabela's oriole and the bright-breasted fruit pigeon. Among the mammals in the park are bats, civets, deer, macaques, various rodents and warty pigs. The Luzon pygmy fruit bat and brush-tailed rat are critically endangered species. In 2003, several new species of animals were discovered in the park, including the short-footed tree rat, which was believed to be extinct more than 100 years ago, a frog from the genus Platymantis and an unknown species of blind snake.
Until now, the tourist potential of the park is poorly understood. Of the potentially attractive objects, it is worth noting the high mountain peaks, which can give the lovers of mountain climbing an unforgettable experience; the so-called "Eternal Stronghold" - a lonely pine tree growing on top of a huge boulder; the Saltan river and the Spanish path, winding among the mountains and leading to the village of Abra - once used by the Spanish conquistadors. Especially picturesque are the numerous waterfalls hidden in the thickets of the tropical forest.
