Abra River

The Abra River, also called Lagben River, is the seventh largest river system in the Philippines in terms of watershed size. It has an estimated drainage area of 5,125 square kilometres (1,979 sq mi) and a length of 179 kilometres (111 mi) from its source near Mount Data in Benguet province.^[1]

Abra River Lagben River
Abra River mouth Show map of Luzon Abra River (Philippines) Show map of Philippines
Location
Country	Philippines
Region	Cordillera Administrative Region Ilocos Region
Province	Abra Ilocos Sur Benguet
Physical characteristics
Source	Mount Data
• location	Benguet, Cordillera Administrative Region
• elevation	2,310 m (7,580 ft)
Mouth	South China Sea
• location	Caoayan, Ilocos Sur
• coordinates	17°30′47″N 120°23′45″E
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	206 km (128 mi)[1]
Basin size	5,125 km2 (1,979 sq mi)[2]
Discharge
• average	350 m3/s (12,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• right	Tineg River

History

In 1823, an Augustinian priest, Fr. Bernardo Lago arrived on the town of Pidigan, where he built a church and a rectory atop a hill near the river, marking the official start of Catholicism in Abra.^[3]

In 2022, the Abra River Fault, which runs along the river, triggered a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Abra.^[4]

Geography

The Abra originates in the southern section of Mount Data. It descends westward to Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, and flows into Abra. At a point near the municipality of Dolores, it is joined by the Tineg River, which originates in the uplands of Abra.^[5] There are also other small rivers like the Binongan River, Ikmin River, and other rivers connecting to Abra River.^[6]

Crossings

This is listed from mouth to source.

1. Quirino Bridge ( N2 (MacArthur Highway), Santa–Bantay boundary, Ilocos Sur)
2. Old Quirino (Banaoang) Bridge (Santa–Bantay boundary, Ilocos Sur)
3. Calaba Bridge (Ilocos Norte–Abra Road, Bangued)
4. Don Mariano Marcos Bridge (Abra–Kalinga Road, Tayum–Dolores boundary)
5. Sto. Tomas Bridge (Manabo, Abra)
6. Aluling Bridge (Tagudin–Cervantes–Sabangan Road (Cervantes)
7. Cervantes–Mankayan–Abatan Road (Cervantes, Ilocos Sur)
8. Magmaguey Bridge (La Paz, Abra)^[7]