The Loboc River (also called Loay River) is a river in the
Bohol province of the
Philippines
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
. It is one of the major tourist destinations of Bohol.
The source of the Loboc River is located in the town of
Carmen
''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the O ...
, almost in the center of Bohol. From Carmen, the river takes a westerly course for a distance of about then flows due south into the Mindanao or
Bohol Sea
The Bohol Sea, also called the Mindanao Sea, is a sea located between the Visayas and Mindanao islands in the Philippines. It lies south of Bohol and Leyte and north of Mindanao. Siquijor and Camiguin are its two major islands.
The major ...
. Its drainage area of approximately, , is bordered by a horseshoe-shaped chain of mountain peaks rising to an elevation of . Rainfall is distributed almost uniformly throughout the year, thus Loboc River has a steady and high base flow.
Attractions
The Loboc river passes through the town center of the
Municipality of Loboc, offering a riverside view of the
Loboc church
San Pedro Apostol Parish Church, commonly known as Loboc Church and alternatively as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Extremadura, is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Loboc, Bohol, Philippines, within the jurisdict ...
across the highway. Various activities on the river, including the
river cruise
A river cruise is a voyage along inland waterways, often stopping at multiple ports along the way. Since cities and towns often grew up around rivers, river cruise ships frequently dock in the center of cities and towns.
Descriptions
River d ...
and standup paddleboarding
typically feature a scenic trip upriver to Busay falls,
or to various points in the river where visitors can enjoy buffets, cultural presentations, firefly watching,
birding
Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device such as binoculars or a telescope, ...
, and even
paddleboard yoga.
Prior to an
earthquake that struck Bohol in 2013, night cruises on the Loboc river also featured lightshows through colored lights installed on the river banks. However, the lights were severely damaged due to the said earthquake.
Hydroelectricity
There is one
hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is Electricity generation, electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other Renewable energ ...
plant on the Loboc River. Construction on the plant began in 1955, completed in 1957 and an expansion completed in 1968.
See also
Other significant rivers in Bohol:
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Abatan River
The Abatan River is a river in western Bohol, Philippines. The river winds through the towns of Catigbian, Antequera, Balilihan, and Maribojoc to its mouth at Cortes.
The river is navigable for up to for boats drawing 4 ft, and up to f ...
*
Inabanga River
The Inabanga River is the largest river in Bohol, Philippines. It is long and up to deep at its mouth at the town of Inabanga.
Its name means "Rented River", from the root word ''abang'' which means "rent". Due to drownings and attacks by cr ...
References
External links
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{{Protected areas in Central Visayas
Rivers of the Philippines
Landforms of Bohol
Tourist attractions in Bohol