HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE HILLS

The Chocolate Hills are an unusual geologic formation that consists of over 1,200 conical mounds, each varying in height from 30 to 50 meters. The hills are made of limestone and are covered with lush green vegetation, which gives them their iconic chocolate color.

The formation of the Chocolate Hills began millions of years ago during the Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene era, when the island of Bohol was still underwater. During this time, marine life and coral reefs flourished in the warm waters of the Bohol Sea.

As the tectonic plates shifted and the sea levels changed, the coral reefs were pushed upwards, creating a limestone plateau. Over time, rainwater and other forms of erosion began to wear away at the limestone, creating the unique karst landscape that we see today. The hills were then sculpted by the elements, with rainwater and wind shaping the limestone into the conical mounds that we see today.

The limestone in the Chocolate Hills is composed of calcium carbonate, which makes it soluble in water. This means that the hills are prone to erosion and the slow dissolving of the limestone by rainwater over time, which is one of the reasons why the hills are constantly changing shape.

The unique composition and formation of the Chocolate Hills make them a geological wonder that continues to fascinate geologists and visitors alike.

WHAT MAKES CHOCOLATE HILLS WORTH VISITING?