First published: 13/09/19.

Gablabcebu 1

Chocolate Hills Natural Monument

Chocolate Hills Natural Monument (On tentative list)

Chocolate Hills Natural Monument by GabLabCebu

I visited the Chocolate Hills as a child, and though I don't remember a lot from that age, I do remember the majesty of these wonders. The Philippines as a whole is quite rich and diverse in its karst landscapes, and these hills are one of the most unique, aesthetically perfect, and extensive (high concentration across 3 municipalities) of them all. Neighboring Cebu also has an interesting karst landscape in the form of the Dalaguete Range, and on a clear day, one can see the extremely jagged mountain ridge from the sea. The view of them from a boat ride in Moalboal reminded me a bit of the ruggedness and beauty of the Dolomites. As neighboring extensive karst hillscapes raised by tectonic conditions and aesthetically refined by erosional forces, maybe they would go well together as a World Heritage Site. I know that there are already so many karst landscapes on the list, but I think that these karst sites in the Visayas fill a special niche of aesthetics and extensiveness in an insular highland setting that an OUV can be established that is distinct from any other karst landscape out there.

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