Trending in social media nowadays are interesting beaches like Boracay, Siargao, Coron and even Caramoan. However, little is known about some of the unfrequented yet
Instagram-worthy places in Northern Samar Province like Biri Rocks, sand dunes of Catarman and Bobon, and rock formations of Palapag. Sculpted by erosion, these extraordinary formations may be gone in years to come, but they demonstrate that what we love and revere today is very different from a century ago or after a hundred years from now.
Rock formations in Biri Island is a scenic look-off, situated in San Bernardino Strait, are identified as Magasang, Magsapad, Macadlaw, Puhunan, Bel-at, Caranas, and Pinanahawan. Based on the geologic mapping done by the UP-National Institute of Geological Sciences in 2010, these bedded rocks belong to the Early Miocene (approximately 15-20 million years old) “Macadlaw Rock Formation” while the volcanic part mostly andesitic rocks and agglomerates are part of the “Biri Volcanic Complex”. The most “instagram worthy” rock formations are Magasang, Magsapad, and Bel-at Rock Formations (Photos 3c and 3d), which seemingly look-like barriers protecting the island from vicious waves of the Philippine Sea and San Bernardino Strait. For easy access particularly during high tide, bridges were built by the local government to connect Biri to the main island.
Another picturesque but underrated coastal wonder that somehow resemble Biri Rocks, is Rakitdakit Rock Formation situated in Palapag, Northern Samar (Photo 3a). This prominent monadnock is a coastal bluff composed of tilted beds of calcareous sandstone and mudstone cropping out of the reef flats and tide pools of Palapag (Photo 3b). This rock sequence is classified under late Early Miocene-early Late Miocene (around 5 to 15 million years old) Catbalogan Formation. Here, waves crashing against the rocks is a sight to behold.
Both Biri and Rakitdakit rocks are believed to have been formed by processes of sedimentation under the sea gradually uplifted to their current positions thru tectonic movements around Samar being strategically located adjacent to the Philippine Trench and Philippine Fault lines. The current stunning photographic attributes of these coastal bluffs are products of million years of exposures to impacts of winds, waves, sea level change and other geomorphic and erosion processes.
Other iconic coastline features that could be photographed in the said Province are the sand dunes in the municipalities of Bobon and Catarman (Photos 2a to 2c). These are manifestations of accreting shorelines despite of the impacts of strong winds and waves coming from the Pacific Ocean. Abundant sand are supplied by nearby large river systems and massive near-shore coral deposits.
Since Samar is located within the typhoon path of the Philippines and these coastal geomorphic features are constantly being exposed to the crashing forces of the sea, heavy storms and surges, there is a big possibility that these natural coastal wonders will be lost in the near future. Moreover, humans tramping across these geomorphic bluffs can also sped up their collapse and demise; added to this is the inevitable global sea level rise brought about by climate change. So, before these rocks are eaten up by the eroding power of pounding waves of the Pacific Ocean, let us enjoy these beauty and splendor.
By: Marine Geological Survey Division