Paradise Philippines

Todays Highlight; Abra Province - a Paradise in the Philippines

Abra province is located between mountain ranges and Ilocos ranges and extremely strong and rigid countryside, it has a number of rivers that start in the mountains and run through Abra province. Abra is rich in natural and historic sites. You shouldn’t miss the historic legacy left by Spaniards in most small municipalities such as old Catholic Churches.

The province boasts rivers cut niches in the Valleys throughout the province. The longest river in the province is Abra river. Also, don’t miss Libtec Underground River in Dolores. Have a grim view looking across the river to watch it disappear in a cave, leaving fields and background. There are many legends and superstitions associated with great photographic opportunities.

With an area of 3,975 sq km or 1.3% of the whole land area of the Philippines, the province of Abra nestles on the western side the Cordillera in Luzon. Its deep valley, wide plains and sloping hills are shut off by rugged mountains, exept on the western portion where the Abra river flows towards to coastal plains of Ilocos Sur. Its provincial boundaries are defined by Ilocos Norte and Kalinga-Apayao on the north. Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur on the south and Kalinga-Apayao on the east.

Abra was created a politico-military province in 1846, prior to which it comprised part of the old Ilocos province and later of Ilocos Sur when Ilocos was divided into two provinces in 1818. Civil government was established in Abra on August 19, 1901, but in February 1905, it was re-annexed to Ilocos Sur. Abra remained a sub-province for twelve years, regaining it’s status as a province only after the passage of Act 2683 in March 1917. Since the 1970 Cencus, the province has had 22 municipalities and 5 municipal districts with Bangued, the provincial capital.

Language or dialect generally spoken in Abra province are Tinggian, Itneg, Apayao, Isinai, Kangkanai, Aklanon, Banuanon, Ilocano, Tagalog and English. Abra’s population as of 2000 Census is 209,490. Abra’s economy is agriculture and livestock based. The Province of Abra is now known as the “Natural Dye Capital of the Philippines” because with its abundant natural dye producing plants.

Related links for Abra, The Philippines

• WOW Philippines - Abra

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This entry was posted on Sunday, July 8th, 2007 at 4:29 pm and is filed under Philippines Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.