Mount Tagapo

Mount Tagapo
Bundok Susong Dalaga
Highest point
Elevation	438 m (1,437 ft)
Coordinates	14°20′21″N 121°13′57″E / 14.33917°N 121.23250°E / 14.33917; 121.23250Coordinates: 14°20′21″N 121°13′57″E / 14.33917°N 121.23250°E / 14.33917; 121.23250
Geography
Mount Tagapo Location within the Philippines
Location	Talim Island
Country	Philippines
Region	CALABARZON
Province	Rizal
Municipalities	Binangonan Cardona
Parent range	western rim of the Laguna Caldera
Geology
Mountain type	Mountain or ridge peak
Volcanic field	Laguna Caldera
Climbing
Easiest route	Brgy. Janosa Trail from Binangonan

Mount Tagapo, also known as Susong Dalaga mountain, is a conical peak on the lake island of Talim on Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines. The mountain ridge is 438 m (1,437 ft) in elevation and the highest point of Talim Island. The peak falls under the jurisdiction of the towns of Binangonan and Cardona in Rizal province.

The name is derived from the Tagalog word taga, meaning "to chop". The island's name, talim (also in Tagalog), means "blade" in English, probably named after its outline on maps, which looks like a short sword. The peak is also locally known as Bundok Susong Dalaga (Maiden's breast mountain), due to its conical shape.

The peak falls under the jurisdiction of the towns of Binangonan and Cardona, which divide the island almost into two halves, the west (Binangonan) and east (Cardona). In the middle of the 15-kilometre (9.3 mi) long Talim Island island is a volcanic ridge with Mount Tagapo, its highest peak. The island forms the southwestern rim of the Laguna Caldera, a large caldera that occupies the middle section of Laguna de Bay. Mount Sembrano range, across the lake on the Jalajala Peninsula, forms the eastern and the highest peak of the caldera.

Mount Tagapo lies at the latitudinal center of Talim Island at the point, about a third of the island from its southern tip, where a shorter ridge [3.5-kilometre (2.2 mi) long] intersects the island on its eastern side forming a T-junction. Southeast and west of Mount Tagapo peak are craters formed after the formation of the caldera.

Mount Tagapo is a worthwhile destination among local climbers as it is not tall mountain to climb, and climbers are rewarded by the one-of-a-kind panoramic views because of its location at the center of the large Laguna de Bay. The hike to Mount Tagapo starts with a ferry boat ride from the Port of Binangonan. The boat trip could take a while as boats do not leave unless they are full and stop at every barangay ports of Talim Island till it encircles the island before returning to Binangonan Port.