TOPOGRAPHY AND VEGETATION

Topography    

The mainland portion of the province has a varied terrain ranging from flat, to rugged to mountainous.  A mountain range located along the boundary of the municipalities of Tubod, Bacuag and Mainit is Mt. Diwata.   On the north eastern part of Sison – Placer – Mainit boundary is Mt. Buhangin with an elevation of 664 meters and flanking the western side along the boundary of Mainit – San Francisco is Mt. Tendido with an elevation of 865 meters.  Two common mountain range namely:  Mt. Satellite having an elevation of 1,016 meters and Mt. Agudo with 1,018 meters above sea level are found in Malimono. Adjoining the municipality of Alegria and the municipality of Kitcharao in Agusan del Norte is Mt. Kabutan with an elevation of 975 meters.  At the southeastern part bordering Surigao del Sur and Municipality of Claver lies Mt. Legaspi with an elevation of 1,170 meters above sea level.  The terrain in Siargao Island is predominantly rolling to steep.  The highest elevation is 291 meters above sea level located along the middle Bucas Grande Island.  On the western and southern sides of the island are broad expanse of mangrove swamps and broad reef flats.  The island is proximate to the Philippine Deep which is 10,700 meters below sea level and considered as the deepest part of the trench.

SOIL TYPE

The soils in the province is basically clay and sandy loam types. The soils in the mainland area is generally classified as loam soil characterized as permeable, moderately drained and highly suitable for agricultural development. The Dinagat island soils, is dominated by Dinagat clay loam which comprised 70%, 20% of Cabatohan loam, and 10% of Bolinao clay steep phase. It is characterized as friable, slightly sticky and granular in nature.The soil type in Siargao island is : 80% Bolinao clay, 60% Cabatohan clay and 10% Jamoyaon clay loam. The island of Bucas Grande is highly acidic due to the presence of mineral ores thereby needing careful soil management.