Maria Cristina Falls, Waterfall near Iligan City, Philippines
Maria Cristina Falls is a 98 meter (320 feet) high waterfall on the Agus River near Iligan in Mindanao. The cliff divides the waterfall into two parallel streams that plunge down the rock face and empty into a deep gorge.
Spanish settlers named the waterfall after Queen Maria Christina of Austria during the 19th century. A hydroelectric plant was built at the base of the falls in 1953 and has since supplied power to much of Mindanao.
Twin Falls remains the local nickname for this site, a reference to the double cascade that shapes how residents describe it. The name echoes back to early Spanish settlers who linked the falls to royal imagery.
Guided tours leave from Iligan and bring visitors to the viewing platform above the gorge. The best time to visit is between November and April when the river carries less water and the view is clearer.
A rock outcrop in the middle of the precipice splits the falling water into two separate streams. This natural feature led locals to call the site a twin waterfall long before it received an official name.
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