geography and natural resources of the philippines

NATURAL RESOURCES

The Philippines is blessed with excellent natural harbors for ports.The three largest rivers in the country are the Cagayan River in Northern Luzon, the Rio Grande de Mindanao, and the Agusan River, also in Mindanao. Most popular among tourist is the famous underground river in Palawan.Aside from rivers, the country also abounds with lakes. Easily the most famous is the heart-shaped Laguna de Bay. Other famous lakes are Taal in Batangas, Sampaloc in Laguna, Buhi and Bulusan in Bicol, Naujan in Mindoro Oriental, and Lanao and Mainit in Mindanao. Generating power for the Nation’s growth are the magnificent waterfalls that serve as tourist attractions, as well. The biggest is waterfalls is the Maria Cristina falls, it can be found in the North Western part of Lanao province in Mindanao, while the most popular is Pagsanjan falls in Laguna, where tourist came in droves.

Bodies of Water

Matnog, Sorsogon Port

Batangas Port Manila Bay

LAGUNA DE BAY

Taal Lake, Batangas Bulusan Lake, Bicol

The Philippines is rich in natural resources. It has fertile, arable lands, diverse flora and fauna, extensive coastlines, and rich mineral deposits.

About 30% of the land area of the country was determined be geologically prospective by the Philippine Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau. But Only 1.5% of country's land area is covered with mining permits.

The Philippines’ primary source of livelihood is its fertile land. Rich, wide plains suitable for farming are found in the Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, South western Bicol, Panay, Negros, Davao, Cotabato, Agusan and Bukidnon. The country ‘s six major crops are rice, corn, sugarcane, coconut, abacaand tobacco.

Our Land

The Philippines also boasts of wide tracts of lush, green forests. In fact, almost half of the country’s total land area is forested. Sixty percent of these forests are found in Mindanao.

Our Forests

Except for petroleum and a number of metals, mineral resources abound in Philippine soil. Our metal deposits are estimated at 21.5 billion metric tons, while non-metal deposits are projected at 19.3 billion metric tons.1. Nickel ranks first in terms of deposits and size, it is found in Surigao del Norte, Davao, Palawan, Romblon and Samar. 2. Iron is found in Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Norte and Cotabato. 3. While copper in Zambales, Batangas, Mindoro, Panay and Negros.

Among non-metal deposits, the most abundant are cement, lime, and marble. Other non-metals include asbestos, clay, guano, asphalt, feldspar, sulfur, talc, silicon, phosphate, and marble.

Mineral resources

Of the 2,400 fish species found in the country. 65 have good commercial value. Other marine products include corals, pearls, crabs and seaweeds. Some of the countries best salt water fishing area’s are found in Sintangki Island in Sulu, Estancia in Bohol, Malampaya in Palawan, Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan, San Miguel lake in Camarines Norte, Bantayan Channel in Cebu, and the seas of Quezon and Sorsogon.On the other hand, among our biggest fishing areas are Laguna de Bay, Bombon Lake in Batangas, Bato Lake in Camarines Sur, Naujan Lake in Mindoro and Mainit lake in Agusan del Norte.

Fishery Resources

Soil is the most important natural resources in the Philippines primarily of most people earn a living from tiling the land. Agricultural experts believed that 8,120 species of plants grow in the country, that is, about 1,000 varieties of orchids, 1,000 species of rice, and 3,000 species of trees.850 species of birds are found in the Philippines. Carabao is the most useful animal for it serves as farmer’s best friend.At least 2,000 species of fish are found in the waters of the Philippine archipelago.Philippine forest lands have a total area of 16,633,000 hectares which represents 55 percent of the total land area. The Philippines rank third in forest reserves.Philippines is one of Asia’s great gold producing regions.Energy in the Philippines is used to supply electricity and fuel to run factories, light homes, and offices.

Regions and Provinces in the Philippines

The Philippines is composed of 7,107 islands situated in the South - East Asian part of the globe. The Philippine islands are clustered into three (3) island groups called Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao which are further subdivided into seventeen (17) regions.

The island group of Luzon is composed of Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the National Capital Region (NCR) otherwise known as Metro Manila.

The Visayas island group is composed of Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.

South of the Philippines is the Mindanao island group composed of Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, CARAGA and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

ILOCOS-Ilocos Norte, -Ilocos Sur, -La Union -Pangasinan

CAGAYAN VALLEY-Batanes, -Cagayan,-Isabela, -Nueva Viscaya, - Quirino

CENTRAL LUZON-Aurora, -Bataan, -Bulacan, -Nueva Ecija, -Pampanga, -Tarlac, -Zambales

CALABARZON-Batangas, -Cavite, -Laguna, -Quezon -Rizal

MIMAROPA-Marinduque, -Occidental Mindoro,-Oriental Mindoro, -Palawan, -Romblon

BICOL-Albay,-Camarines Norte, -Camarines Sur, -Catanduanes, -Masbate, -Sorsogon

Western Visayas-Aklan,-Antique,-Capiz, -Iloilo, -Guimaras, -Negros Occidental

Central Visayas-Bohol, -Cebu, -Negros Occidental,- Negros Oriental, -Siquijor

Eastern Visayas-Biliran,- Eastern Samar, -Leyte, -Northern Samar, -Samar, -Southern Leyte

Zamboanga Peninsula-Zamboanga Sibugay, -Zamboanga del Norte,-Zamboanga del Sur, -Zamboanga City*, -Isabela City*

Northern Mindanao-Bukidnon,-Camiguin, -Misamis Occidental, -Misamis Oriental, -Lanao del Norte

Davao-Davao City*, -Davao del Norte, - Davao del Sur, - Davao Oriental, -Compostela Valley

SOCCSKSARGEN-North Cotabato, -Sultan Kudarat, -South Cotabato, -Saranggani

CARAGA-Agusan del Norte, -Agusan del Sur, -Surigao del Norte, -Surigao del Sur

-Abra,-Benguet,-Ifugao, -Kalinga, -Apayao,-Mountain Province

-Basilan, -Sulu, -Tawi-tawi, -Lanao del Sur,-Maguindanao

Composed of the cities of: -Caloocan, -Las Piñas, -Quezon City, -Makati, -Manila, -Muntinlupa, -Parañaque, -Pasig, -Pasay,- Malabon, -Mandaluyong, -Marikina -Valenzuela- Taguig. -municipalities of Navotas,-Pateros and San Juan

Beauty Spots

Natural Resources- Timber, Petroleum, CobaltOil is not a natural resource.Population: 99,900,177 EstimateCapital- Manila72nd largest country in the worldOfficially called the Republic of PhilippinesSlightly larger than Arizona

Check out this link to see a list of all countries in order of size!http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/countries_by_area.htmThe Banaue Rice Terraces was built more

than 2,000 years ago by hardy Ifugaos using only their bare hands and crude stone tools.

The Mount Mayon is the Crowning Glory of the Philippine Natural Wonders.

Manila Bay is one of the Enchanting Wonders of the Country.

Located in the middle of a tropical rainforest, Aliwagwag Falls is considered as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country with its breathtaking cascading water. The “stairway to the sky” is how some called it.Recognized as a “Terrestrial Biodiversity corridor for Eastern Mindanao”.

Reputedly the world’s longest, the is a maze

of intricate caves and endless wonders.

Bohol’s signature-attraction.-is the jewel of Bohol Tourism and is considered as one of the World’s Famous Natural Wonders.

A complex volcano, the smallest active Volcano in the World, and part of a chain of volcanoes along the western side of the edge of the island of Luzon, which were formed by the subductionof the Eurasion Plate underneath the Philippine Mobile Belt.

The ocean’s gentle giants can be seen between November and June, with the numbers peaking between February and May. Tourists can also take a boat cruise along the Donsol River through mangrove and palm trees, and watch the night light up with millions of sparkling fireflies.

,

well-favored for its gorgeous beaches, excellent diving spots and wide diversity of marine species.

Popular for its ideal diving spots and for being the only place in the world to see thresher sharks on a regular basis as well as manta rays and hammerheads.

A marine sanctuary.The reef is made up of

two atolls, North Atoll and South Atoll, separated by a deep channel of approximately 5 miles (8 km) wide.

It has become one of the most popular dive sites in the Philippines because of its coral walls where the shallow coral reef abruptly ends giving way to great depths. The marine park is open to live-aboard diving excursions between the months of April to June when the waves are most calm.

Formed like a dumb-bell and best known

as a vacationer’s paradise,

is one of the best beaches in

the world and always on the list of the best beach destinations in Asia because of its 4 km long powdered-like white sand beach and the crystal clear turquoise water.

Group of Islands with 124 islands at low tide and 123 at high tide scattered along the Lingayen Gulf located in the Alaminos City, Pangasinan.

Second Highest Falls in the Philippines with a 320 feet high waterfall which is located in the boundaries of Barangay Maria Cristina, Ditucalan, and Buru-un, Iligan City, 9.3 kilometers away southwest of the city proper.

Sometimes called the “twin falls” as the flow is separated by a rock at the center of the waterfall.

Maria Cristina Falls, Iligan City

Best known as the country’s highest peak towering at 2,954 meters (9,672 ft) above sea level located between Davao City, Davao del Sur, and Cotabato Province. Being the highest mountain and volcano in the country,

It was a beautiful setting built in honor of the Philippines greatest hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

It is situated at Pilar, Bataan. It is in this mountain that the gigantic cross named as “Dambana ng Kagitingan” (Altar of Valor) was erected on April 1942.

It is a national shrine nicknamed as “The Rock”. This was the last bastion to fall to the invading Japanese in 1942.

Was the third most important city after Manila and Cebu.

It was the center of Spanish colonial power in northern Luzon.

The town is a living testament to the Spanish colonial era, a place that exerts a strong cultural influence to the modern Philippine nation.

It was the old capital of Manila which was built in 1571. It was used to be the seat of colonial powers of both Spain and the United States of America

It was here where Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. This was where the Philippine flag first raised.

It was in this place where Emilio Aguinaldo was declared the first president of the Philippine republic. The republic of which the first in Asia.

Situated on Tirona St. in BatangasCity, the Pastor House is one of the historical places of the Philippines, which is an illustration of the turn-of- the-century style residence. The Pastor House was originally under the ownership of Mr. Alejo Acosta,

who was the barrio Captain of Batangas in the year 1883

The most awe-inspiring is the so-called where

you can actually find a gigantic candle with wax dripping at its sides and the Holy Family of Joseph; Mary and Baby Jesus in his crib. Farther up is an angel perched on limestone pedestal.

It was built in 1694 commissioned by the Augustinian friars led by Fr. Antonio

Estavillo. It was declared as one of the national treasures by former president

Ferdinand Marcos.

It was here where the constitution of the republican government was drafted on September 15, 1898. this constitution was also known as the Malolos Constitution because the church is located in Malolos, Bulacan.

The construction of this historical site of the Philippines had

commenced in the year 1756 and took a century to achieve its

present form. The cathedral's tabernacle is the only one of its

kind in the country. The Taal Cathedral de San

Sebastian is one of the leading historical places of the

Philippines.

Built in 1589, this beautiful church has survived seven earthquakes and two fires over the centuries and now remains

as

At the main entrance, there are exquisite carvings on the wooden doors. Inside the lovely, Mexican-influenced interior is designed in the shape of a Latin cross.

"Fun is not the perfect word to describe

the Philippines, but it is the best word

simple enough for all Filipinos to play

around with and share with everyone

around the world." -Donald Lim