Unique Chocolate Hills, captivating fantastic landscapes

When it comes to captivating holidays in the Philippines, many represent an exotic landscape with scorching sun, snow-white beaches and clear waters. However, there is one natural attraction that will turn all the views of travelers about a tropical paradise.

Amazing corner with fantastic views, reminiscent of alien landscapes, has become a popular tourist route.

Hills in the form of cones

On the island of Bohol (Bohol) is a unique natural formation, about which the local people put down legends. The area, called the Chocolate Hills, causes a lot of controversy among scientists.

This unusual sight is loved by travelers from all over the world who dream of enjoying magical beauty.

Many still find it hard to believe that more than a thousand hilly geological formations, within which there are no karst caves, are not the work of human hands. Brown cones of ideal shape were first named Carmen Hills, while one holidaymaker from America did not compare them with chocolate truffles, since then the name Chocolate Hills has taken root, and the popularity of the island has grown several times.

Ancient legends about the origin of the sight

The indigenous population keeps several legends about how the Chocolate Hills actually appeared. Philippines once upon a time was the territory on which the giants lived, who organized a real battle for the right to be a winner. For many days they threw huge boulders into each other, competing, who would throw further. In the end, the giants reconciled, without cleaning up, and on the island there were traces of their fierce battle in the form of an open surface, on which the mountains of sand and stones covered with grass grew over time.

There is another, very romantic legend about a strong giants who fell in love without a memory in an ordinary girl. And when the young beauty died, the youth's grief was so great that he cried without stopping, remembering how happy he was with his beloved. His tears froze and turned into great mountains, reminiscent of a terrible loss.

Numerous versions of scientists

The geologists studying the Chocolate Hills, too, can not unequivocally tell about their origin. The main version is as follows: natural formations in the form of an ideal cone consist of solid limestone, which is not prone to weathering, and under them lies a layer of clay resistant to the influence of groundwater.

According to another theory, such hills were formed after the eruption of active volcanoes, and traces of their vital activity were covered with bark. Some experts are sure that millions of years ago this territory was the bottom of the ocean, on which the calcareous deposits grew. After draining the pond, heavy rains and strong winds made their contribution, sharpening Chocolate hills in the form of cones.

Not the most popular, but it is the judgment of scientists that the coral deposits in this place gradually rose under the influence of soil erosion, being covered with vegetation and limestone bark. But to the general conclusion about the appearance of amazing hills, no one has come yet, the only thing in which all the experts agree - in the man-madeness of the grassy hills. It is believed that no civilization could create such a magnificent creation.

Natural formations

Scattered in a chaotic order Chocolate hills (Philippines), whose height varies from 50 to 150 meters, have a smooth shape without any protrusions. On their surface grows a green shoot, and after the hot sunlight dries it, perennial herbs change their color to brownish, giving the name of the local landmark.

Reminiscent of this chocolate roller coaster of education against the background of emerald dense forests seem very bright and impressive. For the first time visited tourists on the island can not even believe that this is a natural beauty, to which people did not put their hands.

Pride of the Government of the Philippines

One of the most spectacular landscapes of the island state is, undoubtedly, the exciting Chocolate Hills. The Philippines even applied for the inclusion of attractions in the list of new wonders of the world. Now the natural formations are under the protection of UNESCO and are the pride of the islands. And the government opens new resorts for everyone who comes from the farthest corners of the globe to personally enjoy the stunning picture.

Beautiful landscapes

The landscape, of course, does not differ by a special variety, but it does not always look the same. At sunrise or sunset, the sun's rays fall on the dark mountains, giving them tender shades. And by the light of the moon, an already incredibly beautiful sight seems to be an extraterrestrial landscape: mysterious long shadows rest on the hills, changing ideas about reality. Illuminated by silvery geological formations attract the eyes of all lovers who specially visit the romantic area.

In addition, the Chocolate Hills (Philippines), photos of which really remind mountains of finely grated cocoa, are adored by children who sincerely believe in the reality of what is happening.

And from the height of a specially equipped viewing platform at any time of the day you can admire the picturesque panorama of the extraordinary miracle of nature.

Chocolate Hills (Philippines): how to get to?

The cone-shaped relief formations, recognized as a national monument, are of great interest to scientists and ordinary tourists, are put on the coat of arms and flag of the island of Bohol. Independently, not within the tour, you can get to them on the highway from the administrative center of Tagbilaran to the village of Carmen, which is not only a local landmark, but also a luxury resort.

On a concrete road that crosses the island in half, always a busy traffic, and local buses go with a periodicity of 20 minutes. The cost of an exciting excursion is 50 pesos.

Located on the plain Chocolate Hills is captivated by its charm of everyone who visits the fabulous territory. Fantastic species of grass-grown formations are remembered for a long time, because in nature there are no analogues like this.