THE CHOCOLATE HILLS
Leamae Pelaez
The Chocolate Hills (Cebuano: Mga Bungtod sa Tsokolate, Filipino: Mga Tsokolateng Burol, or Mga Burol na Tsokolate) are a geological formation in the Philippine province of Bohol.[1] There is a minimum of 1,260 hills and possibly up to 1,776, spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometers (20 sq mi).[2] They are covered in green grass that turns a chocolate-brown during the dry season, hence the name.
The Chocolates hills are featured on the provincial flag and seal to symbolize the abundance of natural attractions in the province.[3] The site is on the Philippine Tourism Authority's list of tourist destinations in the Philippines,[4] and it has been declared the country's third national geological monument, as well as being proposed for inclusion in UNESCO's World Heritage List.[4]
During the dry season, the grass-covered hills dry up and turn chocolate-brown.[4] The vegetation is dominated by grass species such as Imperata cylindrica and Saccharum spontaneum. Several Compositae and ferns also grow on them. In between the hills, the flatlands are cultivated with rice and other cash crops. However, the natural vegetation on the Chocolate Hills is threatened by quarrying activities.[8]
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