Cagayan River
The Cagayan River, also known as the Río Grande de Cagayán, is the Philippines' longest river and largest river by discharge volume of water. It has a total length of about 505 kilometers (314 miles) and a drainage basin of 27,753 square kilometers (10,715 sq mi). It runs through the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, and Cagayan in the Cagayan Valley region of northeastern Luzon Island.
The river runs through four different provinces: Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, and Cagayan. These provinces have a population of about two million people, the majority of whom are farmers and indigenous tribesmen. The Ibanag people take their name from the ancient name of the Cagayan River, Bannag. The Gaddang tribe lived along the Cagayan River and its tributaries.
The river drains a fertile valley rich in crops such as rice, corn, bananas, coconut, citrus, and tobacco. Dams have been built on two of the river's tributaries, the Magat and Chico Rivers, and several mining concessions have been granted in the mineral-rich Cordillera Mountains near the headwaters of the two tributary rivers. The provincial governments along the river have also created tourism programs that provide river activities, particularly whitewater rafting.
Length: 505 km (314 mi)
