Caballo Island Explained

Caballo Island
Coordinates:14.3667°N 157°W
Location:Manila Bay
Length Km:1.21
Width Km:0.32
Elevation M:116
Country:Philippines
Country Admin Divisions Title:Region
Country Admin Divisions:Calabarzon
Country Admin Divisions Title 1:Province
Country Admin Divisions 1:Cavite
Country Admin Divisions Title 2:City
Country Admin Divisions 2:Cavite City
Website:Fort Hughes

Caballo Island (which means "Horse Island" in Spanish) is a bluff, rocky island located at the entrance to Manila Bay in the Philippines. It is about 1.2km (00.7miles) long with the highest elevation at 381 feet high. Caballo, along with the larger Corregidor (2 km to the north), divides the entrance to the bay into two broad and deep channels, known as the North and South Channel.[1]

The whole island was formerly occupied by Fort Hughes, a U.S. defense fortification before World War II. It was heavily bombed during the war.

Geological history

Caballo and Corregidor Islands are believed to be the rims of the Corregidor Caldera.[2] The gap between the two islands is only about 1/4 mile with a depth of 7abbr=offNaNabbr=off and is never used for large vessel navigation.[1]

In November 2014, Filipino peacekeepers from Liberia who were quarantined on the island for 21 days due to concerns about Ebola were cleared to return to the mainland. At that time West Africa was having an outbreak of the disease.[3]

Current tenants

The island was as of 2010 occupied by the Philippine Navy and off limits to civilians. Remains of the old fortifications, batteries and structures have been left rusting in the open after it was abandoned after World War II.[4]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, "United States Coast Pilot Philippine Islands Part I", pp.71-72. Washington Government Printing Office, 1919.
  2. Becker, George F., "The Geology of the Philippine Islands", p.53. Washington Government Printing Office, 1901.
  3. News: Alvaran. Gerard. Pinoy peacekeepers leave Caballo Island. 2 December 2014. GMA News. December 2, 2014.
  4. Feredo, Tony. "Visit to a Nearby Island". Corregidor.org. Retrieved on 2010-09-20.