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Geography of the Philippines

Continent Asia

Region Southeast Asia

Coordinates 13°00'N 122°00'E

Area Ranked 73rd

300,000 km2 (120,000 sq mi)

99.38% land

0.62 % water

Borders None

Highest point Mount Apo

2,954 m (9,691 ft)

Lowest point Philippine Sea

0 m/0 ft (sea level)

Longest river Cagayan River

Largest lake Laguna de Bay

Territorial limits of the Philippines

The Philippines is an archipelago comprising 7,107 islands with a total land area of 300,000 km2. The 11

largest islands contain 94% of the total land area. The largest of these islands is Luzon at about

105,000 km2. The next largest island is Mindanao at about 95,000 km2. The archipelago is around 800 km

from the Asian mainland and is located between Taiwan and Borneo.

The islands are divided into three groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The Luzon islands

include Luzon Island itself, Palawan, Mindoro, Marinduque, Masbate and Batanes Islands . The Visayas is

the group of islands in the central Philippines, the largest of which

are: Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar. The Mindanao islands include Mindanao itself, plus

the Sulu Archipelago, composed primarily of Basilan, Sulu Island, and Tawi-Tawi.

Contents

  [hide] 

1 Physical setting

2 Political geography

o 2.1 Regions

o 2.2 Provinces

2.2.1 List of landlocked provinces in the Philippines

2.2.2 List of island provinces in the Philippines

o 2.3 Subnational enclaves and exclaves

o 2.4 Subnational quadripoint

2.4.1 More than four

2.4.1.1 Five

2.4.1.2 Six

2.4.1.3 Eight

o 2.5 Extraterritoriality

o 2.6 Geographic center

3 Climate

4 Terrain

o 4.1 Luzon

4.1.1 The Batanes And Babuyan islands

4.1.2 Western Luzon

4.1.3 Cagayan Valley

4.1.4 Cordilleras and Caraballos

4.1.5 Sierra Madre mountains

4.1.6 Central Luzon plains

4.1.7 Manila-Calabarzon plains

4.1.8 Mindoro island

4.1.8.1 Mindoro coastal plains

4.1.8.2 Mindoro highlands

o 4.2 Palawan

4.2.1 Kalayaan islands (Spratly Islands)

o 4.3 Bicol peninsula

o 4.4 Visayas

4.4.1 Panay-Negros-Cebu area

o 4.5 Mindanao

4.5.1 Zamboanga peninsula

4.5.2 Misamis coastal plains

4.5.3 Bukidnon-Lanao plateaus

4.5.4 Agusan-Surigao-Davao coastal plains

o 4.6 Southern Pacific cordillera

4.6.1 Compostela valley

4.6.2 Sarangani-Cotabato coastal plains

5 Statistics

o 5.1 Area

o 5.2 Coastline

o 5.3 Maritime claims

o 5.4 Natural resources

o 5.5 Land use

o 5.6 Irrigated land

o 5.7 Natural hazards

o 5.8 Environment - current issues

o 5.9 Environment - international agreements

o 5.10 Ten largest cities

6 See also

7 References

8 External links

[edit]Physical setting

Physical map of the Philippines

The Philippine archipelago lies in Southeast Asia in a position that has led to its becoming a cultural

crossroads, a place where Malays, Arabs, Chinese, Spaniards, Americans, Japanese and others have

interacted to forge a unique cultural and racial blend. The archipelago numbers some 7,107 islands and

the nation claims an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles (370 km) from its shores. The

Philippines occupies an area that stretches for 1,850 kilometers from about the fifth to the twentieth

parallels north latitude. The total land area is slightly more than 300,000 square kilometers. Only

approximately 1,000 of its islands are populated, and fewer than one-half of these are larger than 2.5

square kilometers. Eleven islands make up 95 percent of the Philippine landmass, and two of these —

Luzon and Mindanao — measure 105,000 and 95,000 square kilometers, respectively. They, together

with the cluster of the Visayan Islands that separate them, represent the three principal regions of the

archipelago that are identified by the three stars on the Philippine flag. Topographically, the Philippines is

broken up by the sea, which gives it one of the longest coastlines of any nation in the world. Most

Filipinos live on or near the coast, where they can easily supplement their diet from approximately 2,000

species of fish.

Off the coast of eastern Mindanao is the Philippine Trough, which descends to a depth of 10,430 meters.

The Philippines is part of a western Pacific arc system that is characterized by active volcanoes. Among

the most notable peaks are Mount Mayon nearLegazpi City, Taal Volcano  south of Manila, and Mount

Apo on Mindanao. All of the Philippine islands are prone to earthquakes. The northern Luzon highlands,

or Cordillera Central, rise to between 2,500 and 2,750 meters, and, together with the Sierra Madre in the

northeastern portion of Luzon and the mountains of Mindanao, boast rain forests that provide refuge for

numerous upland tribal groups. The rain forests also offer prime habitat for more than 500 species of

birds, including the Philippine eagle (or monkey-eating eagle), some 800 species of orchids, and some

8,500 species of flowering plants.

The country's most extensive river systems are the Pulangi River , which flows into the Mindanao

River (Rio Grande de Mindanao); theAgusan, in Mindanao which flows north into the Mindanao Sea;

the Cagayan in northern Luzon; and the Pampanga, which flows south from east Central Luzon

into Manila Bay. Laguna de Bay, east of Manila Bay, is the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines.

Several rivers have been harnessed for hydroelectric power.

To protect the country's biological resources, the government has taken a first step of preparing

a Biodiversity Action Plan to address conservation of threatened species.

[edit]Political geography

Main articles: Provinces of the Philippines and Regions of the Philippines

The Philippines is divided into a hierarchy of local government units (LGUs) with the 81 provinces as the

primary unit. Provinces are further subdivided into cities and municipalities, which are in turn composed

of barangays. The barangay is the smallest local government unit.

The Philippines is divided into 17 regions with all provinces grouped into one of 16 regions for

administrative convenience. The National Capital Region however, is divided into four special districts.

Most government offices establish regional offices to serve the constituent provinces. The regions

themselves do not possess a separate local government, with the exception of the Autonomous Region in

Muslim Mindanao.

[edit]Regions

Ilocos Region  (Region I)

Cagayan Valley  (Region II)

Central Luzon  (Region III)

CALABARZON  (Region IV-A)

MIMAROPA  (Region IV-B)

Bicol Region  (Region V)

Western Visayas  (Region VI)

Central Visayas  (Region VII)

Eastern Visayas  (Region VIII)

Zamboanga Peninsula  (Region IX)

Northern Mindanao  (Region X)

Davao Region  (Region XI)

Soccsksargen  (Region XII)

Caraga  (Region XIII)

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao  (ARMM)

Cordillera Administrative Region  (CAR)

National Capital Region  (NCR; Metro Manila)

[edit]Provinces

Abra

Agusan del Norte

Agusan del Sur

Aklan

Albay

Antique

Apayao

Aurora

Basilan

Bataan

Batanes

Batangas

Benguet

Biliran

Bohol

Bukidnon

Bulacan

Cagayan

Camarines Norte

Camarines Sur

Camiguin

Capiz

Catanduanes

Cavite

Cebu

Compostela Valley

Davao del Norte

Davao del Sur

Davao Oriental

Dinagat Islands

Eastern Samar

Guimaras

Ifugao

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Sur

Iloilo

Isabela

Kalinga

La Union

Laguna

Lanao del Norte

Lanao del Sur

Leyte

Maguindanao

Marinduque

Masbate

Misamis Occidental

Misamis Oriental

Mountain Province

Negros Occidental

Negros Oriental

Northern Samar

North Cotabato

Nueva Ecija

Nueva Vizcaya

Occidental Mindoro

Oriental Mindoro

Palawan

Pampanga

Pangasinan

Quezon

Quirino

Rizal

Romblon

Samar

Sarangani

Shariff Kabunsuan

Siquijor

Sorsogon

South Cotabato

Southern Leyte

Sultan Kudarat

Sulu

Surigao del Norte

Surigao del Sur

Tarlac

Tawi-Tawi

Zambales

Zamboanga del Norte

Zamboanga del Sur

Zamboanga Sibugay

[edit]List of landlocked provinces in the Philippines

A landlocked province is one that has no coastline, meaning no access to sea or ocean. There are

16 landlocked provinces in the Philippines:

All provinces of Cordillera Administrative

Region (CAR): Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao and Benguet

Two provinces of Cagayan Valley (Region II): Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino

Two provinces of Central Luzon (Region III): Nueva Ecija and Tarlac

Four provinces of Mindanao:

Bukidnon  of Northern Mindanao (Region X)

Cotabato Province  of Soccsksargen (Region XII)

Agusan del Sur  of Caraga (Region XIII), and

Similarly, Laguna and Rizal Province of CALABARZON (Region IV-A) have coastlines on Laguna de Bay.

Since lakes do not allow access to seaborne trade, these provinces are still considered to be landlocked.

[edit]List of island provinces in the Philippines

An island province completely surrounded by water, is the opposite of a landlocked one. There are 15

island provinces in the Philippines:

One province of Cagayan Valley (Region II): Batanes

Five provinces of MIMAROPA (Region IV-B): Oriental Mindoro, Occidental

Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan

Two provinces of Bicol (Region V): Catanduanes and Masbate

One province of Western Visayas (Region VI): Guimaras

Three provinces of Central Visayas (Region VII): Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor

One province of Eastern Visayas (Region VIII): Biliran

One province of Northern Mindanao (Region X): Camiguin

Three provinces of Autonomous Region in Muslim

Mindanao (ARMM): Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi

[edit]Subnational enclaves and exclaves

In political geography, an enclave is a territory or part of a territory lying wholly within the boundaries of

another, and an exclave is one which is politically attached to a larger piece but not actually contiguous

with it. Many entities are both enclaves and exclaves, but the two are not synonymous.

Enclaves which are not exclaves Since Chartered Cities are not considered to be a part of any

provinces of the country, some cities are completely surrounded by provinces where they do not belong.

Baguio City  is an enclave in Benguet province.

Angeles City  is an enclave in Pampanga province.

Naga City  is an enclave in Camarines Sur  province.

Exclaves which are not enclaves

Caloocan City  is divided in two by Valenzuela City.

The municipality of Cordon is separated from the rest of Isabela province

by Santiago City.

In Cotabato province, the municipality of President Roxas is divided in two

by Antipas municipality.

Pene-enclaves/exclaves and inaccessible districts

Three municipalities and two cities of Laguna are separated by the

municipality of Santo Tomas, Batangas (a portion of SLEX crosses the

municipality) from the rest of the province.

In SoCCSKSarGen, Sarangani province is divided by General Santos

City or Sarangani Bay .

In Zamboanga Peninsula :

Isabela City  is part of this region (although it is the capital of

the ARMM province of Basilan), but it is separated from it by Basilan

Strait.

Zamboanga del Sur  — Zamboanga City , a chartered city, is

unofficially part of this province but is separated from it

by Zamboanga Sibugay .

Some coastal barangays in Canaman, Camarines Sur  do not have direct

connection to barangays in poblacion. People from some coastal

barangays in Canaman have to pass Camaligan via Barangays of Sua

and Dugcal or Naga City via Bicol River before reaching poblacion.

[edit]Subnational quadripoint

A quadripoint is a point on the Earth that touches four distinct regions. Such points are often called "four

corners", from the corners of the four regions meeting there.

Four provinces in Mindanao meet at a point: Bukidnon of Northern

Mindanao Region, Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur of Davao Region,

and Cotabato Province  of Soccsksargen

[edit]More than four

Four distinct geographic divisions converging at a single point is not uncommon in the Philippines, and

there are other points of convergence between five or more divisions that can be found.

[edit]Five

The municipalities of: Tagkawayan, Quezon Province; Labo, San Lorenzo

Ruiz, and San Vicente, Camarines Norte Province ; and Del

Gallego, Camarines Sur Province

The cities of Cadiz, Sagay, Silay and Talisay, and municipality

of Calatrava, in Negros Occidental

The municipalities of Batuan, Bilar, Carmen, Dimiao, and Valencia,

in Bohol Province

The municipalities of Alicia, Dagohoy, Pilar, San Miguel, and Ubay, in

Bohol Province

The municipalities of Baungon, Lantapan, Sumilao, and Talakag;

and Malaybalay City  in Bukidnon Province

The municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan and Pikit in Cotabato

Province; and Pagagawan in Maguindanao Province

The municipalities of Tibiao and Barbaza, in Antique

Province; Madalag and Libacao (a close call?), in Aklan Province ;

and Jamindan, inCapiz Province

[edit]Six

The municipalities of Basey and Marabut, Samar Province;

and Balangkayan, Llorente, Balangiga and Lawaan, Eastern Samar

Province.

[edit]Eight

The cities of Ligao, Legazpi and Tabaco, and the municipalities

of Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Malilipot, Sto . Domingo , in the province

of Albay meet on the crater of Mayon Volcano .

[edit]Extraterritoriality

Plaza Rizal in Naga City is claimed by the province of Camarines Sur , its home province.

The Plaza belonged to the city (formerly Nueva Caceres) when it was the capital of Ambos Camarines. A

new capitol was constructed in Pili when Camarines Sur was created.

[edit]Geographic center

The island province of Marinduque prides itself as being the geographic center of the Philippines.[1] The

Marinduque governor has stated that their claim to be the Geographical Center of the Philippines has

received notice and support from the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).

[2] The Luzon Datum of 1911 in Marinduque is used as point number one for all map makers in the

country.[3]

An article at the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism website says that Masbate "is supposed to

be the geographic center of the Philippines."[4]

The boundaries of the Philippine archipelago are described in Article III of the Treaty of Paris (1898), as

comprising an irregular polygon.[5] A box enclosing that polygon would have corners at 20°N 116°E, 20°N

127°E, 4.75°N 127°E, 4.75°N 116°E. The center of this box would lie at 121.5 E, 12.375 N. That point lies

roughly in the center of the Tablas Strait between the islands of Tablas and Mindoro.

Republic Act No. 9522, "An Act to Define the Baselines of the Territorial Sea of the Philippines",

[6] describes an irregular polygon which fits within a box with its center at 121°44'47.45"E 12°46'6.1252"N,

a point also roughly in the center of the Tablas Strait.

The CIA Factbook locates the Philippines at 13°N 12°E.[7] This point, northwest of Romblon Island, is the

approximate center of a box enclosing the land boundaries of the Philippine archipelago, not including

the Spratley Islands .

The extreme points under Philippine control as of 2010 are:

Direction

Location

Coordinates

Latitude (N)

Longitude (E)

NorthAmianan Island, Batanes

21º7’18.41" 121º56’48.79"

EastPusan Point, Davao Oriental

7º17’19.80" 126º36’18.26"

SouthFrances Reef, Tawi-Tawi

4º24’53.84" 119º14’50.71"

WestThitu Island [a] , Kalayaan , Palawan

11°3’10.19" 114°16’54.66"

a Thitu island is the westernmost of all the Spratly Island features controlled by the Philippines

as of December 2009.

The center of a box enclosing these points would be located at

12°46’6.13"N, 120°26’36.46"E. That point is located in the Mindoro Strait,

about 12 km NNE of Apo Island, in Sablayan , Occidental Mindoro .

[edit]Climate

Main article: Climate of the Philippines

Philippine Climate Map

The Philippines has a tropical wet climate dominated by a rainy season

and a dry season. The summer monsoon brings heavy rains to most of

the archipelago from May to October, whereas the winter monsoon brings

cooler and drier air from December to February. Manila and most of the

lowland areas are hot and dusty from March to May. Even at this time,

however, temperatures rarely rise above 37 °C (98.6 °F). Mean annual

sea-level temperatures rarely fall below 27 °C (80.6 °F). Annual rainfall

measures as much as 5,000 millimeters (196.9 in) in the mountainous

east coast section of the country, but less than 1,000 millimeters (39.4 in)

in some of the sheltered valleys.

Monsoon rains, although hard and drenching, are not normally associated

with high winds and waves. But the Philippines sit astride the typhoon

belt, and it suffers an annual onslaught of dangerous storms from July

through October. These are especially hazardous for northern and

eastern Luzon and the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions, but Manila gets

devastated periodically as well.

In the last decade, the Philippines has been hit severely by natural

disasters. In 2005 alone, Central Luzon was hit by both a drought, which

sharply curtailed hydroelectric power, and by a typhoon that flooded

practically all of low-lying Manila's streets. Still more damaging was the

1990 earthquake that devastated a wide area in Luzon, including Baguio

and other northern areas. The city of Cebu and nearby areas were struck

by a typhoon that killed more than a hundred people, sank vessels,

destroyed part of the sugar crop, and cut off water and electricity for

several days. The Philippines is prone to about 18-21 typhoons per year.

Of course the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption also damaged much of

Central Luzon, the lahar burying towns and farmland, and the ashes

affecting global temperatures.

Building construction is undertaken with natural disasters in mind. Most

rural housing has consisted of nipa huts that are easily damaged but are

inexpensive and easy to replace. Most urban buildings are steel and

concrete structures designed (not always successfully) to resist both

typhoons and earthquakes. Damage is still significant, however, and many

people are displaced each year by typhoons, earthquakes, and other

natural disasters. In 1987 alone the Department of Social Welfare and

Development helped 2.4 million victims of natural disasters.

[edit]Terrain

Map showing major volcanoes of the Philippines

The islands are volcanic in origin, being part of the Pacific Ring of Fire,

and are mostly mountainous. The highest point in the country is the peak

of Mount Apo in Mindanao, which is 2,954 m above sea level. The second

highest point can be found on Luzon at Mount Pulog, a peak 2,842 m

above sea level.

The Philippine Archipelago is geologically part of the Philippine Mobile

Belt located between thePhilippine Sea Plate, the South China Sea Basin

of the Eurasian Plate, and the Sunda Plate . ThePhilippine Trench (also

called the Mindanao Trench) is a 1,320-kilometer-long submarine

trenchfound directly east of the Philippine Mobile Belt and is the result of a

collision of tectonic plates. The Philippine Sea Plate is subducting under

the Philippine Mobile Belt at the rate of about 16 cm per year. Its deepest

point, the Galathea Depth, has a depth of 10,540 meters (5,763 fathoms

or 34,580 feet). The Philippine Fault System consists of a series of

seismic faults that produce several earthquakes per year, most of which

are not felt.

Many volcanoes in the country are active, the most recent eruption being

that of Mount Pinatuboon Luzon in 1991. Mount Mayon is another of the

active volcanoes and has the world's most perfectly-shaped cone. Mayon

has a violent history of 47 eruptions since 1616 and another violent

eruption is currently feared. Taal Volcano , also located on Luzon, is one of

the Decade Volcanoes.

The islands typically have narrow coastal plains and numerous swift-

running streams. Every island has sand beaches, but few open onto

spacious lowlands. There are few large plains or navigable rivers. The

longest river is the Cagayan River or Rio Grande de Cagayan in northern

Luzon measuring 354 kilometers. In Mindanao, the longest river is

the Mindanao River or Rio Grande de Mindanao which

drains Maguindanao and other parts in western-central Mindanao. Agusan

Riverdrains eastern Mindanao.

Most of the islands used to be covered by tropical rainforests. However,

illegal logging has reduced forest cover to less than 10% of the total land

area.

[edit]Luzon

Northern Philippines (Luzon)

[edit]The Batanes And Babuyan islands

The Batanes and Babuyan Islands are found on the Luzon Strait north of

the Philippines facing Taiwan. It contains the northernmost point of land,

the islet of Y'Ami in the Batanes Islands, separated from Taiwan by the

Bashi Channel (c.50 mi/80 km wide).

[edit]Western Luzon

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by adding to it.

[edit]Cagayan Valley

Main article: Cagayan Valley

Cagayan Valley (Lambak ng Cagayan in Filipino; Tana' nak Cagayan in

the Ibanag language ;Tanap ti Cagayan in the Ilocano language) is a

region of the Philippines, also designated as Region II or Region 02. It is

composed of five provinces, namely: Batanes with Basco as the capital,

Cagayan, Tuguegarao City as the capital, Isabela considered to be the

heart of the region with Ilagan as the capital, Nueva Vizcaya with

Bayombong as the capital, and Quirino with Cabaruguis as the capital. It

has three cities; Cauayan City in Isabela, its regional center-Tuguegarao

in Cagayan, and its commercial center-Santiago City in Isabela.

Most of the region lies in a large valley in northeastern Luzon, between

the Cordilleras and the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. The Cagayan

River, the country's longest river runs through its center and flows out to

Luzon Strait in the north, in the town of Aparri, Cagayan. The Babuyan

and Batanes island groups that lie in the Luzon Strait also belong to the

region.

[edit]Cordilleras and Caraballos

Main article: Cordillera Administrative Region

The Cordilleras and Caraballos, together with the Sierra Madre Range,

form the main mountain system in Northern Luzon.

The Cordilleras consists of 2, sometimes 3, mountain ranges that are

found in northwestern central Luzon. The first, called Caraballo del Sur,

forms the nucleus of the system and has its highest peaks in the border

between the provinces of Abra, Ilocos Norte and Cagayan. The next,

called Caraballo Occidentalles, is further divided into 2 ranges, the

Cordillera Norte and Cordillera Central. They line the central portions of

the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The Caraballos (Caraballo de Baler) start where the Sierra Madre and the

Cordilleras meet. They are found south of Cagayan Valley, northeast of

the Central Luzon Plains.

[edit]Sierra Madre mountains

Sierra Madre Mountain is the longest mountain range in the Philippines

that lies in the Northeastern part of Luzon Island. The range stretches

from Quezon Province to Isabela. 80 percent of the mountain range is

tropical rainforest, which is diminishing from rampant illegal logging

activity. Only 5 percent of the mountain range is unexplored. The Sierra

Madre Mountain Range serves as the eastern wall of Luzon Island that

protects inhibitants from tropical cyclones usually coming from the Pacific

Ocean. These storms happen an average of 26 per year will cause a lot of

distress for the people living in the biggest island of the Philippines.

[edit]Central Luzon plains

The largest plain in the country and produces most of the country's rice

supply, earning itself the nickname "Rice Bowl of the Philippines". Its

provinces are: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac,

and Zambales. It is an administrative division or region of the Republic of

the Philippines, primarily serve to organize the 7 provinces of the vast

central plain of the island of Luzon (the largest island), for administrative

convenience

[edit]Manila-Calabarzon plains

This region is where the capital of the Philippines is located. Large rivers

from bays and mountain springs traverse the plain. In the Northern part of

the region, that is, Manila and Rizal, most of the plain has been converted

into cities, and are thus industrialized. The plain harbors the largest inland

freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, the Laguna de Bay.

[edit]Mindoro island

[edit]Mindoro coastal plains

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by adding to it.

[edit]Mindoro highlands

The Mindoro mountain range begins with Mount Halcon and is further

divided into 3. The northwest ends at Calavite Point and is a landmark for

ships. The east originates from Lake Naujan and the west follows Mindoro

Strait.

[edit]Palawan

[edit]Kalayaan islands (Spratly Islands)

The Kalayaan islands are located to the west of Palawan. "Kalayaan" is a

Filipino word meaning "freedom". see Spratly islands

[edit]Bicol peninsula

This peninsula is connected to mainland Luzon by the isthmus of

Tayabas. Provinces occupying Bicol Peninsula are the provinces

ofCamarines Norte, Camarines Sur , Albay, Sorsogon and the

easternmost municipalities of Quezon Province.

[edit]Visayas

Catbalogan Plains

[edit]Panay-Negros-Cebu area

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by adding to it.

[edit]Mindanao

[edit]Zamboanga peninsula

Zamboanga Peninsula has a very mountainous terrain this chain of

mountain ranges is called the Zamboanga Cordilleras. The highest

mountain in this range is Mt. Dapia, which is 2,617 meters (8,586 ft) high.

[edit]Misamis coastal plains

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by adding to it.

[edit]Bukidnon-Lanao plateaus

The plateaus are located in the north-central portion of Mindanao. They

are extensive flatlands around the height of 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) above

sea level.

[edit]Agusan-Surigao-Davao coastal plains

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by adding to it.

[edit]Southern Pacific cordillera

[edit]Compostela valley

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by adding to it.

[edit]Sarangani-Cotabato coastal plains

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[edit]Statistics

Unless otherwise indicated, the information below is taken from CIA

Factbook information for the Philippines.[7]

[edit]Area

Total: 300,000 km2

Land: 298,170 km2

Water: 1,830 km2

[edit]Coastline

36,289 km

[edit]Maritime claims

(measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)

Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km)

Territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nautical miles

(185 km) from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has

also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285

nautical miles (528 km) in breadth.

[edit]Natural resources

Timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

[edit]Land use

Arable land: 19%

Permanent crops: 16.67%

Other: 64.33% (2005)

[edit]Irrigated land

15,500 km2 (2003)

[edit]Natural hazards

The Philippines sit astride typhoon belt and are usually affected by 15 and

struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes;

destructive earthquakes; tsunamis.

[edit]Environment - current issues

Uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and

water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove

swamps which are important fish breeding grounds; severe water

pollution that caused the death of one of the country's major rivers,

though there are ongoing efforts at resuscitation.[8]

[edit]Environment - international agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,

Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test

Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,

Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,

Desertification

[edit]Ten largest cities

The following is a list of the ten largest cities in the country in terms of

population, with their population according to the 2007 census.

Component cities and municipalities of Metro Manila and Metro Cebu are

taken as one to show the extent of urbanization.

Rank City  Population in 2007 1.Metro Manila 11,553,4272.Metro Cebu 2,314,8973.Metro Davao 1,363,3374.Zamboanga City 774,4075.Antipolo 633,9716.Cagayan de Oro 553,9667.General Santos City 529,5428.Bacolod 499,4979.Iloilo City 418,710

10.Calamba City 360,281

[edit]See also

List of islands of the Philippines

Territories claimed by the Philippines

[edit]References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or

documents of the Library of Congress Country Studies.

1. ̂  Regional Tourism Stakeholders to meet in Marinduque,

Marinduque.gov

2. ̂  STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS of Gov.JOSE ANTONIO

N. CARRION, GOVERNOR OF MARINDUQUE, July 7, 2008.

3. ̂  Luzon Datum of 1911, Marinduque.gov

4. ̂  Alex Tizon, Guns, Goons, and Gold, Philippine Center for

Investigative Journalism.

5. ̂  Treaty of Peace Between the United States and Spain, The Avalon

project.

6. ̂  Republic Act No. 9522,An Act to Define the Baselines of the

Territorial Sea of the Philippines, as amended by Section 1 of

Republic Act No. 5446, The LawPhil project.

7. ^ a b Philippines   : Geography , CIA World Factbook.

8. ̂  Cezar Tigno, Resuscitating the Pasig River, Asian Development

Bank, April 2009.

[edit]External links

Government Portal of the Republic of the Philippines

[show]

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E Climate of Asia

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E  Philippines topics

Coordinates:  13.000°N 122.000°E

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