The Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) is officially one of the New7wonders of nature, authorities said Saturday. Bernard Weber, Founder-President of New7Wonders, announced that the 8.2-kilometer navigable river made it to the list, according to the New7Wonders site.
“When your very own President Aquino came out in support of the PPUR campaign, I knew that this country was taking the New7Wonders of Nature seriously, Fans of PPUR all over the world responded to his call for action by voting in record numbers and today’s confirmation is the well-earned reward for this extraordinary display of enthusiasm,” Weber added.President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino himself campaigned for PPUR's victory, noting that its inclusion in the New7Wonders would not only "bolster a sense of national pride" but will also provide employment. "We must also remember that the tourists we can potentially attract will redound to thousands of employment opportunities; our success here will ultimately breed success for Filipinos everywhere," Aquino had said.
These news might help boost Philippine tourism and comes just weeks after the Department of Tourism unveiled its new tourism slogan "It's more fun in the Philippines," to attract more foreign travelers.
Puerto Princesa Underground River is located some 50km north of the city of Puerto Princesa, on Palawan island in the Philippines. It consists of a limestone karst mountain landscape, several large chambers containing significant formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and an 8.2 km. navigable underground river that winds through a cave before flowing directly into the West Philippine Sea. At the exit, a flawless lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water’s edge.
