Maria Cristina Falls

In the suburbs of Iligan City lies the Philippines’ second-highest waterfall, the Maria Cristina Falls. This waterfall is fed by the River Agus and is found on Mindanao Island. It is often used as a landmark, or representation, of the host city – Iligan, which is also renowned as ‘City of Majestic Waterfalls’, as it possesses over 20 waterfalls in all.

Highlights and Features

Maria Cristina Falls is often referred to as the ‘twin falls’, as the flow of water is separated by a rock at the brink of the fall. Some describe it as the ‘now-you-see-now-you-don’t falls’, as often times 90% of the flowing water is utilized for the generation of hydroelectricity by the power plants. Still, the grandeur and natural beauty associated with the cascading torrents is splendid and alluring enough to draw the attention of many visitors.

The fall is open to public viewing only on Sundays, and other days of special occasions, when the power plant is shut for an hour or so, allowing the river to return to its full flow. There is also a viewing deck on the third floor of the NPC building, from which tourists can catch a great view of the falls, even if they are not in full flow. Also one can find lots of pictures of the Maria Cristina Falls in an adjacent glass room, in the same building. Swimming here is strictly prohibited, due to the fact that currents can become unexpectedly and uncontrollably strong.

The National Power Corporation has recently taken the initiative to develop the National Power Nature Park in the adjoining area of the waterfall, so that tourists and visitors can enjoy adventure sports like rock climbing and trekking. Also, there are seating arrangements and a souvenir shop where one can purchase painted T-shirts and other items related to Maria Cristina Falls. Other amenities are still being installed. In fact, under the President’s Mindanao Super region development plan, the entire area has been subjected to a 1.856 billion peso upgrade.