Caballo Island

Caballo Island

Caballo Island (bottom) and the larger Corregidor Island (top)
Geography
Location Manila Bay
Coordinates 14°22′N 120°37′E / 14.367°N 120.617°E / 14.367; 120.617Coordinates: 14°22′N 120°37′E / 14.367°N 120.617°E / 14.367; 120.617
Length 1.21 km (0.752 mi)
Width 0.32 km (0.199 mi)
Highest elevation 116 m (381 ft)
Administration
Region Calabarzon
Province Cavite
Additional information
Official website Fort Hughes

Caballo Island (which means "Horse Island" in Spanish) is a bluff, rocky island located at the entrance to Manila Bay in the Philippines. It is about 1.2 km (0.75 mi) long with the highest elevation at 381 feet high. Caballo, along with the larger Corregidor (2 km to the north), divides the entrance to the bay into two broad and deep channels, known as the North and South Channel.[1]

The whole island was formerly occupied by Fort Hughes, a U.S. defense fortification before World War II. It was heavily bombed during the war.[2]

Geological history

Caballo and Corregidor Islands are believed to be the rims of the Corregidor Caldera.[3] The gap between the two islands is only about 1/4 mile with a depth of 7 fathoms and is never used for large vessel navigation.[1]

Caballo today

The island is currently occupied by the Philippine Navy and is off limits to civilians. Remains of the old fortifications, batteries and structures are left rusting in the open after it was abandoned after World War II.[2]

Caballo and Corregidor Islands dividing the entrance to Manila Bay

In November 2014, Filipino peacekeepers from Liberia who were quarantined on the island for 21 days due to concerns about Ebola were cleared to return to the mainland.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, "United States Coast Pilot Philippine Islands Part I", pp.71-72. Washington Government Printing Office, 1919.
  2. 1 2 Feredo, Tony. "Visit to a Nearby Island". Corregidor.org. Retrieved on 2010-09-20.
  3. ↑ Becker, George F., "The Geology of the Philippine Islands", p.53. Washington Government Printing Office, 1901.
  4. ↑ Alvaran, Gerard (December 2, 2014). "Pinoy peacekeepers leave Caballo Island". GMA News. Retrieved 2 December 2014.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/30/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.