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Western Samar - Splendor Between Mountain
Brief Description
The province of Samar, occupying the southwestern part of Samar Island, is a rugged land with bountiful waters on the west and low mountain ranges on the east. Caught between mountain and sea, Samar is no stranger to rain, which it experiences in varying degrees for the most part of the year.
Samar is blessed with a lush rainforest harboring tropical flora and fauna, crossed by multiple navigable rivers, pocked by mysterious caverns and refreshing waterfalls. A tourist wanting something out of the ordinary may experience all these wonders of nature and still only be a few hours from civilization.
The favored route to this part of the island is through the 2.16 kilometer long San Juanico Bridge from Leyte Island following a plane trip via Manila-Tacloban. From the south or west, Calbayog City and its capital town of Catbalogan are accessible both by plane and sea, with the Pan Philippine Highway connecting the coastal towns.
Geography
The province occupies a total land area of 1,342,863 hectares. It is bounded on the north by Northern Samar, on the east by Eastern Samar, on the west by the Samar Sea, and on the south by the Leyte Gulf.
The physical environment of Samar includes almost every kind of topography: mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, plains, coasts, and islands. It has a much lower highland system compared to other provinces. The central upland core is formed from a broad plateau with local relief sight ranging from 700 to 1,000 feet. Numerous streams in the island have cut sharp valleys on the surface of this plateau and the overall landscape is hilly and rugged.
Political Subdivision
Samar is composed of 25 towns and one city, Calbayog. Capital is Catbalogan.
Population
As of the 1990 census, the total provincial population was 533,733.
Language/Dialects
Waray-waray and Cebuano are the major dialects spoken.
Climate
The province has no distinct dry and wet season. Rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. April to July are the best months to visit, when the climate is ideal for trips to the beach and for treks inland.
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