Wawa Dam, Gravity dam in Rodriguez, Philippines
Wawa Dam is an early 20th-century dam structure in the Montalban Gorge, located in the eastern part of Rizal province in the Philippines. The construction spans the river between rock walls in the Sierra Madre mountains, roughly an hour from Manila.
American engineers built the facility in 1909 as part of the first modern drinking water supply for Manila. Its use was later abandoned when newer systems further north in the Angat watershed became operational.
Local folklore connects the site to Bernardo Carpio, a mythological giant who, according to tales, left massive boulders near the dam during an escape.
Visitors can reach the site using public transport from Manila, though the trip involves multiple transfers. Access to the grounds requires walking a forest trail upriver from the town of Rodriguez, which can become slippery during rain.
The surrounding rock formations and caves in the Pamitinan Protected Landscape served as shelters during prehistoric times. Archaeologists discovered stone tools and artifacts inside the caves that are now housed in national museums.
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