Mactan Island description and photos - Philippines: Cebu Island (Topic)

Mactan Island description and photos - Philippines: Cebu Island. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Mactan Island.

Photo and description

Mactan is a small island located a few kilometers from the east coast of Cebu, opposite the city of the same name. Mactan and Cebu are connected by the Marcelo Fernana and Mactan-Mandaue bridges. The island is part of the province of Cebu and consists of two large cities - Lapu Lapu City and Cordoba. It is on Mactan that Cebu International Airport is located, which is the second most important in the Philippines.

Before the Spanish colonization of Mactan in the 16th century, predominantly Muslim communities lived on the island. In 1521, the Portuguese navigator Fernand Magellan arrived here, who became involved in inter-tribal strife and was killed by the leader Lapu-Lapu. Later, at the site of Magellan's death, a 30-meter memorial to his name was erected.

In 1730, Augustinian monks founded the city of Opon on Mactan, which in 1961 was renamed Lapu Lapu City in honor of the warlike leader revered by the Filipinos as a fighter for independence.

Today Mactan is a large industrial center - there are about 35 enterprises, many of which are considered one of the most successful in the country. Interestingly, over half of these businesses are Japanese-owned. It produces furniture, ukuleles and other musical instruments.

But, of course, tourism plays one of the leading roles in the island's economy. First of all, Mactan is known as a resort with many beautiful beaches, historical sites and entertainment centers. The proximity to the island capital, Cebu, has influenced the development of the local tourism infrastructure. The only oceanarium in the Visayas region is located here.

Since Mactan is a coral island, a variety of water sports are especially popular: diving, snorkeling, aquabike, windsurfing. Mactan and the neighboring island of Olango are separated by the Hilutangan Canal up to 300 meters deep, which is perhaps the main "diving" attraction of the island. Other famous diving spots in Mactan include the coral reef at the Shangri La Mactan, the Vista Mar wall up to 40 meters deep, the sandy slope of Tambuli, at the bottom of which the remains of the plane rest, Whale Rock, Kon-Tiki wall and the Marigondon underwater cave.

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Topic: Mactan Island description and photos - Philippines: Cebu Island.