Surigao City, Provincial capital in Mindanao, Philippines.
Surigao City is a provincial capital in northeastern Mindanao where three bodies of water converge to form a natural crossroads. The city stretches along the coast with residential neighborhoods spreading from the waterfront boulevard inland toward forested hills.
Spanish missionaries founded a settlement here in 1655, turning a fishing village into an administrative seat. The elevation to city status came in the 20th century as the mining industry drew workers from surrounding provinces.
The city's name comes from a Visayan word meaning water currents, referring to the meeting point of three bodies of water that shape daily life here. Fishermen still follow traditional methods passed down through generations, selling their catch at the waterfront market each morning.
Most travelers use this city as a transit point to the islands and spend a night here before taking ferries onward. Money changers and small hotels sit near the port area, where taxis and motorcycles wait for passengers.
The location at the confluence of three seas creates unusually strong tidal currents that make boat entry and exit challenging at certain times of day. Fishermen know the changing tides by heart and adjust their departure times accordingly to navigate the waters safely.
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