Rio Grande de Mindanao (Mindanao River) | |
Tamontaka River, Cotabato River, Pulangi River | |
Rio Grande de Mindanao
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Country | Philippines |
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Regions | Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN, ARMM |
Tributaries | |
- left | Allah River, Buluan River |
- right | Pulangi River, M'lang River , Simuay River |
Cities | Malaybalay City, Valencia City, Kidapawan City, Koronadal City, Cotabato City |
Source | Kitanglad Mountain Range |
- location | Brgy. Kalabugao, Impasugong, Bukidnon, Northern Mindanao |
- coordinates | 8°27′15″N 125°09′46″E / 8.45417°N 125.16278°E |
Mouth | Illana Bay |
- location | Cotabato City, SOCCSKSARGEN |
- elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
- coordinates | 7°13′25″N 124°14′47″E / 7.22361°N 124.24639°ECoordinates: 7°13′25″N 124°14′47″E / 7.22361°N 124.24639°E |
Length | 320 km (199 mi) |
Basin | 23,169 km2 (8,946 sq mi) |
Drainage map of Mindanao River
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The Rio Grande de Mindanao, also known as the Mindanao River, is the second largest river system in the Philippines, located on the southern island of Mindanao. It has a drainage area of 23,169 km2 (8,946 sq mi), draining the majority of the central and eastern portion of the island, with a total length of approximately 320 km (200 mi). It is an important transportation artery on the island, used mainly in transporting agricultural products and, formerly, timber.
Its headwaters are in the mountains of Impasugong, Bukidnon, south of Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental, where it is called the Pulangi River. Joining the Kabacan River, it becomes the Mindanao River. Flowing out of the mountains, it forms the center of a broad, fertile plain in the south-central portion of the island. Before its mouth in the Illana Bay, it splits into two parallel sections, the Cotabato and Tamontaka, separated by a 180 m (590 ft) hill.
Population centers along the river include Cotabato City, Datu Piang, and Midsayap.
The Rio Grande de Mindanao has its source in the Central Mindanao Highlands near the northern coast of the island, specifically on the northeastern part of the province of Bukidnon, where it is known as the Pulangi River. It then flows southward across the Bukidnon Plateau, fed up by its tributaries along the way and then emerges onto the Cotabato plains, depositing fertile mountain silt as it widens and arcs westward through the Cotabato River Basin. It finally empties into Illana Bay at its mouth at Cotabato City.
As the Mindanao River meets Illana Bay, it branches out into two distributaries, the Cotabato in the north and the Tamontaka in the south at Cotabato City.