The river's headwaters are at the Caraballo Mountains of the Central Luzon at an elevation of approximately. The river flows north for some to its mouth at the Babuyan Channel near the town of Aparri, Cagayan. The river drops rapidly to above sea level some from the river mouth. Its principal tributaries are the Pinacanauan, Chico, Siffu, Mallig, Magat and Ilagan Rivers. Magat River, is the largest tributary with an estimated annual discharge of 9,808 million cubic meters. It lies in the southwestern portion of the basin, stretching approximately from Nueva Vizcaya down to its confluence with Cagayan River about from the river mouth. Both Magat and Chico Rivers have extensive drainage areas which comprise about 1/3 of the whole basin. The Ilagan River originates from the western slopes of the Sierra Madre and drains the eastern central portion of the Cagayan River basin with an estimated yearly discharge of 9,455 million cubic meters. It flows westward and joins the Cagayan River at Ilagan, Isabela, from the mouth. The Siffu-Mallig system lies on the slope of the Central Cordillera ranges flowing almost parallel to the Magat River. Marshes and swamps are found in some parts of its lower reaches. Cagayan River and its tributaries have deposited sediments of Tertiary and Quaternary origin, mostly limestone sands and clays, throughout the relatively flat Cagayan Valley which is surrounded by the Cordillera Mountains in the west, Sierra Madre in the east and the Caraballo Mountains in the south. The river has a drainage area of about. in the provinces of Apayao, Aurora, Cagayan, Ifugao, Isabela, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. The estimated annual discharge is 53,943 million cubic meters with a groundwater reserve of 47,895 million cubic meters.
Flooding
The Cagayan River and its tributaries are subject to extensive flooding during the monsoon season in Southeast Asia from May to October. The average annual rainfall in in the northern part and in the southern mountains where the river's headwaters lie. Water from the mountains flow down very slowly because of surface retention over the extensive flood plain, the gorges in the gently-sloping mountains and the meandering course of the river. The inundation of the Cagayan River and its tributaries have caused great loss of life and property and substantial losses to the local and national economies. The Philippine government has established several flood warning stations along the river. Experts are specifically monitoring the lower reaches from Tuguegarao to Aparri and the alluvial plain from Ilagan to Tumauini, Isabela.
Flora and fauna
The Cagayan River passes through one of the few remaining primary forests in the Philippines. It supports the lives of numerous endemic and endangered species, like the Luzon bleeding-heart pigeon, Philippine eagle and a rare riverine fish, locally called ludong. The ludong spawns in Cagayan River's upper reaches in Jones, Isabela. In late October until mid-November, the fish travel down the river to release their eggs at the river mouth near Aparri. In February, ludong fry by the millions are again caught in fine nets as these travel upstream. Due to the dwindling number of ludong caught yearly, local governments have imposed a ban on catching the fish and its fry, but the ban has failed.
People
The river traverses four provinces: Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela and Cagayan. These provinces have an approximate population of two million people, mostly farmers and indigenous tribesmen. The Ibanag people derive their tribe's name from Cagayan River's ancient name, Bannag. The Gaddang tribe lived in the upper reaches of the Cagayan River and its tributaries.
Economic importance
The river drains a fertile valley that produces a variety of crops, including rice, corn, bananas, coconut, citrus and tobacco. There are dams in two of the river's tributaries, the Magat and Chico Rivers, and there are also several mining concessions in the mineral-rich Cordillera Mountains near the headwaters of the two tributary rivers. The provincial governments along the river have also developed tourism programs that offer activities on the river, particularly whitewater rafting.
