The Chocolate Hills – tsokolateng burol , in Tagalog -, so named because its cover of green grass turns brown when it dries between December and May , are in Bohol (Philippines) and are made up of about 1,260 hills, spread over more than 50 square kilometers. They are in the center of the Philippine island of Bohol and are sharp hills called “The Chocolate Hills” or Chocolate Hills. Its height varies from 30 to 120 meters compared to the surrounding plains.
These conical hills, which are separated by flat plains and contain numerous caves and springs, are similar to others of calcareous rock found in Slovenia, Croatia, Puerto Rico or Cuba.
It is a characteristic landform of certain karst landscapes, that is to say, arisen from a combination of the dissolution of the rock by the effect of rain, surface and underground waters .
Originally the components that form it were deposited in the sea by accumulation of limestone skeletons of marine organisms (corals, mollusks …) and later, during the Pliocene, about five million years ago, the calcareous rock was fractured and raised above the level. from the sea due to tectonic processes.
In fact, there is a plaque made of bronze in the viewpoint of the municipality of Carmen that says the following:
“The unique landform known as the Chocolate Hills of Bohol was formed centuries ago by the rise of coral deposits and the action of rainwater and erosion. The grassy hills were once coral reefs that arose of the sea in massive geological change. Wind and water put the finishing touches for hundreds of thousands of years. “
Regarding its name, its origin is much simpler. When the country goes from its usual tropical state to a dry season, the color of the hills radically changes from green to brown, hence this nomenclature. According to locals and geographers, these hills when they turn brown resemble pieces of chocolate as far as the eye can see.
If you want to visit them, Bohol’s main transportation hub is Tagbilaran. Once there, we will have to take a bus in the direction of Carmen City and ask the driver to stop at Chocolate Hills. The journey lasts approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes and its cost will depend on the bus company that we hire.
The entrance is very well signposted, but we cannot forget that climbing the hills is prohibited. You will have to settle for the observation deck located at the entrance of the famous Chocolate Hills.
It is such a famous tourist attraction in Bohol that it even appears on the provincial flag and seal to symbolize the province’s abundance of natural appeal and was declared the third National Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage list. .
Have you ever visited them?
