Northern Mindanao, Administrative region in Mindanao, Philippines
Northern Mindanao is an administrative region on the island of Mindanao covering five provinces and two major cities. The region stretches from coastal plains to forested mountain ranges inland, where the landscape is shaped by rivers and rugged slopes.
Spanish missionaries founded settlements along the coast and upriver during the 17th century, which later grew into modern towns. The American colonial administration established the current regional structure in the early 20th century and encouraged migration from other parts of the Philippines.
In the lowland cities most people speak Visayan dialects like Cebuano, recalling migration from the central Philippines during the 20th century. Highland communities preserve their own languages and follow traditional farming cycles that often depend on local knowledge of rainfall and soil.
Cagayan de Oro serves as the main gateway to the region, with an airport and ferry connections to other islands. Roads run from coastal centers into mountain villages, and buses link the main cities and provincial capitals on a regular basis.
The Agus hydroelectric plants near Iligan and Balo-i draw water from Lake Lanao and generate a large portion of the electricity for all of Mindanao. These facilities have been operating since the mid-20th century and demonstrate the importance of the region's rivers for energy supply.
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