Guintacan
Guintacan, also known as Kinatarkan, is an island of the province of Cebu in the Philippines. It lies about 25 kilometres (16 miles) off the west coast of Cebu and 12 kilometres (7 mi) northeast from Bantayan Island. The island is within the municipality of Santa Fe and comprises three barangays: Hagdan, Kinatarkan and Langub.
![]() Southern portion of Guintacan Island | |
![]() ![]() Guintacan | |
Geography | |
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Location | Visayan Sea |
Coordinates | 11.325°N 123.8917°E |
Area | 13.34 km2 (5.15 sq mi) |
Length | 6.8 km (4.23 mi) |
Width | 2.5 km (1.55 mi) |
Administration | |
Region | Central Visayas (Region VII) |
Province | Santa Fe |
Municipality | Santa Fe |
Demographics | |
Population | 7,208 (2015 census) [1] |
Pop. density | 540/km2 (1400/sq mi) |
The island has an elongated elliptical shape, about 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi) long (N-S) and 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) wide (E-W). Offshore are numerous coral reefs and seagrass beds. The topography of the island is hilly and along the eastern coastline is a large lagoon.[lower-alpha 1] The coast of the island is dominated by numerous towering rock cliffs, which are interrupted by some flat beaches. The vegetation of the island consists of dense tropical vegetation, in the interior there are also large intensive agricultural areas.
A number of sinkholes have formed at various locations on the island.[2] While one appeared in 2014, it is thought that others had developed some years earlier. As from August 2014 their cause is still being assessed.
The island can be reached by ferry from Daanbantayan, and from Santa Fe by pump boat. There is a lighthouse - LS Guintacan[3] - to the southeast of the island (⛯ 11°18′06″N 123°53′28″E).
References
- Census of Population (2015). Highlights of the Philippine Population 2015 Census of Population. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- Philippine Star, Jessica J Agua (7 August 2014). "DENR to re-assess sinkhole". Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- Coast Guard District, Central Visayas Lightstations