Cape Santiago

Cape Santiago (Spanish: Cabo Santiago, Filipino: Kabo Santiago) is the southwestern point of the island of Luzon located within the municipality of Calatagan in Batangas, Philippines. It is a cape at the southern tip of Calatagan Peninsula which faces the South China Sea to the west and Pagapas Bay, an arm of Balayan Bay, to the east. The cape has been the site of a navigational aid since the 1890s.

For the geographical feature in Taiwan, see Cape Santiago (Taiwan). For other uses, see Cape Santiago (disambiguation).
Cape Santiago
View of the cape from the lighthouse
LocationCalatagan, Batangas, Philippines
Coordinates13.7713°N 120.6525°E / 13.7713; 120.6525

Cape Santiago is located about 130 kilometres (81 mi) southwest of Manila. It is administratively part of the barangay of Bagong Silang.

Geography

Cape Santiago is located about 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi) southeast of the Port of Calatagan where ferries bound for Lubang Island operate. It is 91 to 116 metres (299 to 381 ft) high, wooded, and fringed by a drying reef extending 0.16 kilometres (0.099 mi) offshore.[1] There are depths of 7 to 9 metres (23 to 30 ft) at the edge of the reef, increasing steeply to more than 91 metres (299 ft) deep about 0.8 kilometres (0.50 mi) offshore.[1]

A dangerous coral rock lies 6.4 kilometres (4.0 mi) southeast of the cape in the Verde Island Passage known as Minerva Rock, named after an Australian ship that struck on it in 1834.[2]

A lighthouse marks a low rocky promontory about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) west-northwest of the south extremity of the cape. A conspicuous windmill stands about 0.4 mile east-southeast of the lighthouse.[1]

Cape Santiago Lighthouse
Cape Santiago Lighthouse as viewed in November 2018.
Main article: Cape Santiago Lighthouse (Philippines)

The lighthouse at Cape Santiago is the oldest structure in Calatagan built in the 1890s during the Spanish colonial period. Made of brick and lime cement, this red round structure is 51 feet (16 m) tall modeled after the medieval castles in Europe.[3] It is currently in a deteriorated condition with its original light source missing, replaced by an automatic light bulb donated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency that is no longer being used due to lack of funding.[3]

References
  1. "U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Philippine Islands Sailing Direction, Section 3". Manila Bureau of Printing. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  2. "Military notes on the Philippines: September 1898". United States. Adjutant-General's Office. Military Information Division. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  3. "Historical lighthouse in Calatagan needs rehabilitation". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 27 October 2007. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
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