Geography of the Philippines

The Philippines is an archipelago of existing of over 7100 islands in Southeast Asia, whose total area occupies nearly 300,000 sq km. The area, which claimed the island nation is located about 800 km east of the Southeast Asian peninsula, south of Taiwan and north of the island of Borneo.

Politically, the geography of the Philippines is generally divided into three main groups; the northern Luzon group, the Visayan group, which includes the central islands and the southern Mindanao engaging group. The eleven largest islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Palawan, Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar and Mindanao occupy this alone over 90 % of the total Philippine land area.

The archipelago is located in a part of the western Pacific, a member of the Pacific Ring of Fire and is characterized by an increased risk of earthquakes and active volcanism. So the islands are almost exclusively of volcanic origin, which is why the most important mountains in the country, as the mountain Mayon, the Pulag and Apo are all volcanic elevations. In contrast, the stretch of sea is east of the island nation pervaded by a powerful deep-sea channel, the Philippine Trench, the deepest point of 10,540 m is located under water surface.

6.1 Luzon Group 6.1.1 Batanes and Babuyan Islands
6.1.2 Luzon 6.1.2.1 Northern Luzon
6.1.2.2 Central Luzon
6.1.2.3 The Bicol Peninsula

6.2.1 Palawan and the Calamian Islands
6.2.2 Panay
6.2.3 Negros
6.2.4 Cebu
6.2.5 Bohol
6.2.6 Leyte Samar - Biliran

6.3.1 Zamboanga Peninsula
6.3.2 Central Mindanao
6.3.3 Eastern Mindanao
6.3.4 The Sulu Archipelago

8.1 districts
8.2 provinces

Facts and Figures

The Philippine archipelago is made according to official figures from the exact 7107 islands ( 7108 at low tide). Here, the State claims to be an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ ) of 200 nautical miles beyond its shores. The area of the Philippines thus covers a total area of 299,764 km ² and exactly covers an area between the 5th and the 20th degree of north latitude over a distance of 1850 km and a length of 1127 km, the area from the 112th to the 127 longitude occupies. Thus, the Philippines is the fifth largest island country in the world. Only about 880 of the islands are inhabited, about 3144 with a name and less than half of them are larger than 2.5 km ². The eleven largest islands together make up 94 % of the Philippine land mass, which alone two of them - have areas of 105,000 or 95,000 square kilometers - Luzon and Mindanao. Since all land areas of the Philippines are surrounded by water, has the archipelago with a total of 36,289 km one of the longest coastlines of all the nations of the world. Most Filipinos live on it or near the coastal zone.

In the north, the territory of the Philippines bordering on the territory of the Republic of China ( Taiwan), from which it is separated by the Luzon Strait. West of the Philippine archipelago and beyond the South China Sea is the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, during the southwest Sulu Sea separates belonging to Malaysia section of the island of Borneo from the Philippine Islands. In the south of the island nation are the Celebes Sea and the territory of Indonesia. In the east, however, the Philippine determines the transition to the Pacific Ocean.

Basically, the islands of the Philippines, as already mentioned, summarized in three main geographic regions or groups. The northern Luzon group also includes, besides the actual island of Luzon in the islands of Mindoro, Marinduque, Masbate and Batanes Islands. The middle group of islands known as the Visayas and includes the central islands of Palawan, Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar. The southern Mindanao group in turn consists of the island of Mindanao itself, and from the Sulu archipelago, which mainly belong to the islands of Basilan, Jolo and Tawi - Tawi. These three main groups are equally represented by the three stars that adorn the white corner of the flag of the Philippines.

The northernmost point of the island marked Y'Ami, the southernmost island Saluag that belongs to the archipelago of the Sibutu in the extreme southwest of the Sulu Archipelago. The easternmost point is the Pusan Point in the province of Davao Oriental, while the westernmost of the Spratly Islands located 00 'east latitude at about 112 °. Exactly in the geographic center of the Philippine archipelago is the island province of Romblon.

Mountain ranges and volcanic peaks

The entire Philippine archipelago is a highly endangered by the earthquake zone. Many volcanoes are active in the country, such as the severe eruption of Pinatubo on Luzon from the year 1991 or the most recent eruption of Mount Mayon near Legazpi City clearly shows.

The highest mountain in the country is the Apo on Mindanao, whose summit towering 2956 m above the sea level. The second highest peak is the Dulang - dulang in Kita Glad mountains, it reaches a height of 2938 meters, followed by Pulag on the island of Luzon with a height of 2922 m.

The Mayon is considered one of the most attractive volcanoes, as it is characterized by an almost perfectly shaped cone. With 48 eruptions since 1616, it has a very rich history eruption, being with another violent eruption expected at any time. Another well-known volcano is the Taal, which is situated south of Manila and its water-filled crater forms the Taalsee and thus the third largest lake in the country. Two of the largest volcanic eruptions which occurred in the Philippines were the eruption of Parker in 1641 and Pinatubo in 1991, which were estimated with the Vulkanexplosivitätsindex 5 and 6.

The highlands of northern Luzon, also called Cordillera Central, rises to 2500 to 2750 meters and determined together with the Sierra Madre, the shape of the island of Luzon. Here, as in the overgrown by rainforest mountains of Mindanao, lent itself to numerous indigenous highland communities a safer shelter, as they only here in these remote areas were able to preserve their original culture itself. The rainforests are also the main habitat for more than 500 bird species, including the Philippine eagle ( or monkey eagle ) and various orchids for around 800 and around 850 different species of flowering plants.

Most of the islands are covered by tropical rainforest. However, illegal logging reduced the rain forest area to less than 10 % of the total land area. The islands are characterized mostly by a narrow coastal strip and many fast flowing rivers. Each island has many sandy beaches, but few of them extend in the hinterland to a spacious lowland level. There exist in the archipelago only a few larger flat surface sections and only a small number of navigable rivers.

Rivers and Lakes

The longest of the 421 rivers in the country is the Cagayan River, also called Rio Grande de Cagayan, the course of which extends into northern Luzon, 505 km. One of the great rivers of the country remain among the Pulangi River, which passes into the large Mindanao River or Rio Grande de Mindanao, the Agusan, which flows through the island of Mindanao from south to north, and the Pampanga River, the southern Central Luzon from the east crosses to empty into the Bay of Manila at the end.

Laguna de Bay, east of Manila Bay, is 322 km ², the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines. According to their area of Lake Lanao on Mindanao followed at 340 km ², the location in the crater of Taal volcano Taalsee (244 km ² ) and the co-located on Mindanao Mainit Lake (150 km ²).

Oceans and marine sections

The lake, which spreads around the Philippine archipelago and flows around him, belongs to the western foothills of the Pacific Ocean. In the north of the Strait of Luzon separates the Philippine Islands from the neighboring Taiwan, while the Philippine determined the sea area of the entire Philippine East. To the west of the islands of Luzon and the still more westerly island of Palawan in turn opens the South China Sea. In the south, the Sulu Sea, which is included in the north- west by the islands of Palawan, in the north and east through Mindoro, Panay, Negros and Mindanao and ultimately in the south and south-east of Borneo and the Sulu archipelago stretches. As Sibuyan Sea is called again a sea area that is limited in its northeast and east of the Bicol Peninsula, in the northwest of Mindoro, south of Panay and in the southeast of Masbate. The marine section which determines the southern Philippines between the islands of Mindanao and Sulawesi is known as Celebes.

The silhouettes of the various islands are determined by numerous smaller and larger bays and gulfs, of which the Manila Bay, the Gulf of Leyte, the Gulf of Moro and the Gulf of Davao are the largest and most important of the archipelago. Adding up the coastlines of all the islands, so there is a distance of more than 36,000 km.

Outside the coast of eastern Mindanao, in the middle of the Philippine Sea, lies the Philippine Trench, who is home after the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the globe. In the so -called Galatheatief the ocean floor is 10,430 feet below the ocean surface. This place is situated in the western part of this deep groove extending over a total length of 1325 km.

Tourism destinations and sights

Generally

The Philippines is known in particular for its tropical landscape that has next to a very pleasant climate warm to hot temperatures delightful sandy beaches, remarkable dive sites worth seeing waterfalls and impressive mountain peaks to offer. The main attraction of the Philippine Islands are the rice terraces in the Philippine Cordillera, like the Puerto - Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan near Puerto Princesa, the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea, the Baroque churches in Manila, Paoay and Miagao and the historic town of Vigan City was declared a UNESCO world Heritage Site. In addition, the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, the already mentioned Mayon in Legazpi City and 50 km south of Manila located Taal the most famous sights of the country.

First port of call for tourists are primarily the cities of Manila and Cebu City, Davao City which apart from an international airport. On the island of Mactan can be found along its east side numerous nationally known beach resorts. Other world-famous tourist destinations are Boracay Island, about 500 meters from the northern tip of its larger neighboring island of Panay away, the island of Panglao in Tagbilaran, Bohol, the urban area of Iceland Garden City of Samal and Dinagat, El Nido in northern Palawan and Camiguin.

Due to the topography of most of the Philippine Islands, which is characterized by high mountains, which eventually fall steeply to the coasts, are everywhere in the Philippines impressive waterfalls. Alone in the vicinity of Iligan City, there are more than 20 cases, of which the Maria Cristina Falls, the Tinago and the Limunsudan waterfalls that have 265 m the highest drop height of all the water falls of the country that are the most important. Another notable tourist destination are the Pagsanjan Falls which are only accessible by long tail, just 90 km away from Manila and located in the jungle.

For the protection and conservation of native flora and fauna different national parks and nature reserves have been established in the Philippines in recent decades. These include, in addition to the above Puerto - Princesa Subterranean River National Park, the Apo Reef Marine Natural Park west of Mindoro, the Mount Apo Natural Park near Davao City, the nature reserve of Mount Makiling south of Manila or the Hundred Islands National Park, an archipelago of 123 small islands and is located in northwestern Luzon.

National parks and protected areas of the Philippines

Luzon island group:

National Parks: Bulusan | Caramoan | Isarog | Libmanan Caves | Mayon

Nature Reserves: Abasig - Matogdon Mananap | Bicol Natural | Catanduanes Watershed

National Parks: Banahaw - San Cristobal | Hinulugang Taktak | Quezon | Palay - Palay - Mataas Na Gulod | Taal Volcano

National Parks: Arayat | Aurora | Bataan | Biak -na- Bato | Minalungao

Nature Reserves: Subic Watershed | Angat Watershed

Protected areas: Salinas | Bessang pass

National Parks: Aurora | Biak -na- Bato | Fuyot | Minalungao

Nature Reserves: Angat | Marikina | Northern Sierra Madre | Pamitinan | Peñablanca

Island of Mindoro & Palawan:

National Parks: Lake Naujan | Iglit - Baco

Group of islands of the Visayas:

National Parks: Central Cebu | Guadalupe Mabugnao | Sudlon

Nature reserves: Lake Danao | Olango Wildlife | Rajah Sikatuna | Tanon | Twin Lakes

National Parks: Kuapnit Balinsasayaw | MacArthur Landing | Sohoton -Natural Bridge

National Parks: Bulabog - Putian | Taklong Iceland

Island group of Mindanao:

Nature Reserves Agusan Marsh | Andanan Watershed | Cabadbaran -Santiago | Mahaba Iceland | Siargao Islands

Nature Reserves: Allah Watershed | Lake Buluan | Libungan Watershed | Mount Matutum | Sarangani Bay

Islands and island groups of the Philippines

Main islands: Luzon | Catanduanes | Masbate

Archipelagos: Calaguas

Groups of islands: Babuyan Islands | Batanes

Main islands: Bohol | Cebu | Negros | Siquijor

Archipelagos: Camotes Islands | Olango

Main islands of Biliran | Leyte | Samar

Archipelagos Naranjo Islands | Cuatro Islas | Balicuartro Islands

Main islands of Negros | Panay

Archipelagos Gigantes Islands | Caluya Islands

Detailed topography

Luzon Group

Batanes and Babuyan Islands

The extreme north of the Philippine archipelago form the Batan and Babuyan Islands. Both islands are located in the Luzon Strait south of Taiwan, the Babuyan Islands are located south of the Batan Islands. The channel, which passes between the Batan Islands and Taiwan is referred to as Bashistraße and is about 80 km wide. The northernmost of the Batan Islands is Y'Ami, which, as previously mentioned, marks the northernmost point of the Philippines.

Luzon

The great northern Philippine island of Luzon has a total area of 104 683 square kilometers and thus occupies the 17th place of the biggest islands in the world. She is also one of the four most populous islands around the globe. On Luzon are located next to the capital Manila as well as the most populous city in the country, Quezon City. The island is very mountainous and the home of Mount Pulag, the third highest mountain in the Philippines, as well as various volcanoes such as Mount Pinatubo, Mayon and the Taal. The banks in the west of the island of Luzon bordering the South China Sea, the coast in the East, near the Philippine Sea, while the Luzon Strait marks the northern boundary.

Northern Luzon

The northern Luzon is determined by the mountain ranges of the Philippine Cordilleras. These consist of the westerly Cordelliera Central, central location, the Caraballo Mountains, and the eastern Sierra Madre.

Along the western coastline is an elongated narrow plain of the Ilocos region expands behind the rise in the direction of the interior, the Cordillera Central. This broad massif consists of three mountain chains, which have a north- south orientation. The western mountain range of the Cordillera Central already reached heights of about 1500 meters, as at Tirad Pass. Behind the western mountain range lie the broad river valleys of the Abra and the Laoag that break through as the Amburayan Western Kordelliere and end in wide estuaries in the sea. In the southeast of the Cordillera Central is the valley of the Magat River, where they of the 117 km ² large Magat Dam is located.

High mountain ranges and deep valleys characterize the central section of the Cordillera Administrative Region, the central region of the Cordelliera Central. The region is very rich in water and spring on Bergdata the great rivers Agno and the Rio Chico. In the central part of the Cordelliera the mountain reaches heights from 2500 to 2700 meters and flattens to north at altitudes from 1000 to 1500 meters. The highest mountains are located in the southern part of the Cordelliera and reach their greatest height at the Pulag.

Solve one of the Cordillera Central and moves further east, you reach the Cagayan Valley. This large valley, or rather this level, occupies most of the northeastern region of the island and is bordered by the Sierra Madre in the east, and the Caraballo Mountains in the south. By level flows from south to north of Cagayan, the longest river in the Philippines. The other major river in this level is the Abulug, he drains the northwest part of the level. In the extreme north- east of the region the small island Palaui, the main island is situated in front. She is also known as the Boracay of the North.

The Sierra Madre mountain range is approximately 350 kilometers in length, the longest continuous mountain range in the Philippines. It begins in the far north- east of the island and quickly reached heights of over 1000 meters above sea level. It extends along the entire east coast of Luzon down to the isthmus in the province of Quezon and achieved in the region Nordluzons their greatest height, to 1850 meters on the mountain Anacuao. In the middle part of its expansion, the massif with the Cordillera Central combines. This mountain node is called the Caraballo Mountains. The transition of this mountainous region in the central plains of Luzon marliert the conclusion Nordluzons. For the west of the Sierra Madre mountain range lying areas represents the mountains is something like a wall that opposes most tropical cyclones.

Central Luzon

Below the northwestern Luzon Ilocos determining region extends a wide but long peninsula in the ocean, home to the mountain massif of the Zambales Mountains. This massif separates the central plain of Luzon by the South China Sea and forms the western front of the Philippine Cordilleras. The largest survey of this train is the mountain Tapulao, which is also known under the name of High Peak and reaches a peak altitude of 2037 meters. Here is also the home of the famous Mount Pinatubo, whose highest peak is 1,486 m above sea level. The southern foothills of the Zambales Mountains extend up to the peninsula of Bataan. This is dominated by the two majestic volcanoes Mariveles and Natib and extends far into the Manila Bay and forms the northwestern part of this great gulf.

Since the Manila Bay is almost completely enclosed except for a 19 km wide access of land, it serves the Philippine metropolitan Manila, which occupies the entire eastern shore of the bay, as a natural harbor. North and east of Manila Bay opens the central Luzon plain, which is drained by large rivers, such as the Pampanga and its northern extension extends to the Gulf of Lingayen. In the center of the level, the 1026 -meter-high stratovolcano Arayat rises like an island mountain from the flat terrain. Southeast of the extinct volcano, the Candaba River marshes lay out. The plane is one of the most densely populated areas in the Philippines and is also one of the most important agricultural regions of the country are the major cities outside the metropolitan area are Tarlac City, Angeles City and Cabanatuan City. The eastern part of Central Luzon is dominated by the Sierra Madre mountain range. Through the establishment of the Angat Dam and the establishment of the Angat Watershed Forest Reserve in the Sierra Madre, this region plays an important role in water and energy supply of Metro Manila. Another great dam is the Pantabangan reservoir in the region. The geographically southern end of this great plain marked the largest inland freshwater lake, in the Philippines, the Laguna de Bay. In the southern Sierra Madre of Caliraya Lake and the Lumot Lake, both of which are an important recreational area are. South of Manila in turn extends a hilly landscape in the Taal Volcano and the Taalsee is a popular tourist destination. Southwest of Taalsees is another volcano, the Panay, on the Calumpang Peninsula, this separates the Balayan Bay from the Batangas Bay. Both are popular waters for divers from all over the world, due to the very clear waters. South of the Laguna de Bay project to other mighty mountains, such as the 2,158 -meter-high Banahaw, which is also the southern border of Central Luzon.

The Bicol Peninsula

In the southeast of the island of Luzon, the land mass between the bay of Lamon and the Bay of Tayabas to a narrow band, which widens the further course of Bicol Peninsula. This represents the southeastern arm of Luzon and is connected by the isthmus of Tayabas to the main island. In the northern part of the bay of Lamon is composed of 24 islands of Polillo Archipelago. North of the peninsula is another island group of Calaguas in the Philippine Sea.

On the Bicol Peninsula are many active volcanoes such as the Masaraga, the Malinao, the Pocdolberge and Mayon, who is considered one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. Because of the almost perfectly shaped cone, it is one of the most famous sights of the Philippine archipelago. To this powerful collection around the peninsula is dominated by a vast plain, which mainly favors the cultivation of rice. From the Bicol Peninsula are numerous other peninsulas spread on how the mountainous Caramoan Peninsula, which has the shape of an anvil or the wide sweeping Bondoc Peninsula, which forms the Gulf of Ragay. Southeast of the Caramoan Peninsula extends to the Gulf of Lagonoy, which is separated from the Gulf of Albay Rapu - Rapu through the islands, Batan and Cagraray Iceland.

The largest river in the Bicol Peninsula is the Bicol River, whose sources are located on the mountain Labo and around the volcanoes and Iriga Isarog. It drains the Mittlerer part of the peninsula and forms numerous lakes, such as Lake Bato, Buhi the lake and the Baao Lake and mündetin the San Miguel Bay. Northeast of the Bicol peninsula lies the island of Catanduanes, the one with 1511 km ² the largest islands of this district. The south-eastern tip of the province of Sorsogon, in turn, is associated with and is characterized by an irregular topography, showing its highest peak with 1565 m of Bulusan.

Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Masbate

If one moves from the center of the Bicol Peninsula to the west, we come first to the smaller island of Marinduque, which has an area of 959 km ² and is dominated by the 1,157 m high volcano Malindig. Like most other islands is also Marinduque surrounded by numerous smaller, it is mountainous and heavily forested in the center.

Further west is the island of Mindoro, the seventh largest in the Philippines. Your coasts bordered to the northwest by the South China Sea, in the northeast on the Isla Verde Street, on the southeast by the Sibuyan Sea and to the west by the Mindoro Strait. In the north of the island are the Lubang Islands and the North East, the island of Luzon.

The topography of Mindoro is determined by a mountain range, which extends over the entire north - south length of the island. The higher mountains are found in the central part of the island mountains. Mount Halcon, the highest mountain in Mindoro, dominated with 2,582 m the northern part, while the 2,488 -meter high mountain Baco dominates the south. Larger lowland plains are found in the eastern part of the island, where the largest lake in Mindoro is, the Naujan Lake. It is equipped with 8,125 ha is the fifth largest lake in the Philippines.

South-east of Mindoro spreads from the island province of Romblon, which consists of three main islands of Tablas, Sibuyan and Romblon Island itself. The archipelago lies virtually in the center of the Philippine archipelago and is in some ways as mountainous as green as on the 465 km ² island of Sibuyan, the 2,058 meter high Guiting Guiting - rises.

South of the Bicol Peninsula and south of Romblon province limits the island of Masbate and Sibuyan Sea province of the same name. The Masbate province consists of three islands, Masbate, Ticao and Burias, which together have a total area of 4047 km ².

Visayan group

The term Visayas, the central Philippine islands are grouped together, determine the area between the large islands of Luzon in the north and Mindanao in the south. Among the Visayas are called from west to east, the islands of Palawan, Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar.

Palawan and the Calamian Islands

The island of Palawan is an elongated, narrow island that marks the central, outer west of the archipelago. It is at the same time with 14,596 km ² is the third largest Philippine island. It includes some other smaller islands that are spread around the main island. The disputed Spratly Islands, just a few hundred kilometers to the west. Also a part of the province of Palawan, the Calamian Islands. It includes among other things the island Coron Busuanga and who are known for their partially bizarre shorelines. On the peninsula Calauit, Busuanga to live among others, giraffes and other African big game. East of Palawan is the Cuyo archipelago and southeast of Cagayan archipelago, in the middle of the Sulu Sea.

The island of Palawan is almost 434 km long, up to 39 km wide at its narrowest point, at the Ulugan Bay, only 8.5 km wide. The island has an irregular coastline of almost 2,000 km in length, which is lined with about 1800 islands and islets. Your rocky coves and white sand beaches make it an attractive tourist destination, the deepest bay is the Malampaya Sound in the rare Irrawaddy dolphin lives. The main island is covered over long distances with primary forest, lies like a carpet over the mountain ranges of the interior. The highest peak, Mount Mantalinganhan, rises 2085 m up. The site offers the mountainous sections of a mix of coastal plain, craggy foothills and Taldeltas, which are covered by dense forest and criss-crossed by numerous rivers. In the northeast of the island is the largest lake in the island Palawan, the Manguao Lake.

Panay

East of Palawan lies the island of Panay. It has a roughly triangular shape whose tips are oriented to the southwest, northwest and northeast. Between Panay and her eastward located Negros Island is the island province of Guimaras. In the north of Panay, in the middle of the propagated here Sibuyan Sea, is the island of Romblon. In the north- east of the island Bancal Bay is, you are offshore islands Gigantes, Calagnaan and Sicogon. West of Bancal Bay, on the north coast, lies the great sweeping bay of Pilar. To the east of the island of Panay Pan de Azucar, on which the 606 -meter high mountain Manaphaga rises and forms a striking landmark is located. To the west of the main island are the smaller islands Maniguin, Mararison and Batbatan upstream. Further west of Panay is the Cuyo archipelago, this is one of more than 40 islands.

The 12,327 km ² large island is crossed in the western part of the south to the north of the Central Panay Mountains, whose highest point of the mountain Madias with 2117 m, is located in the province of Antique. This mountain range is to the east in a gently undulating hills across and along the coasts of the north and east extend vast plains. The island is crossed by a number of rivers, such as the Aklan, the Jalaur, the Iloilo and the Panay River. The alkane river forms at its mouth, near the town of Kalibo is a 250 km ² river delta, the Kalibo wetland is called.

In the northwest of the island lies the Aklan Peninsula, mounted in front is the world famous Boracay Island, which is known for its long-drawn white sandy beaches. It has evolved in the recent past to one of the most important tourist destinations in the Philippines and gained international notoriety. Further to the west of the peninsula are the Caluya Islands.

From an indentation of the southern part of Panay, as well as from the island of Guimaras and the western part of the Gulf of Negros Panay forms, belonging to the west and southwest extending Sulu Sea. The island is separated from its neighboring island of Negros by the Guimaras Strait.

Negros

Negros is geographically slightly below the center of the Philippine archipelago and has a total area of 12,706 km ². The island is determined by a chain of mountains in the center, along which runs the boundary line between the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.

The island has a shape reminiscent of a potato, the coast line is, however, relatively evenly and is cut by a few deep bays, such as the Bay of Bais City, deeper. Upstream of the coast are numerous coral reefs and small islands, such as the Apo Island in the south and the island Sipaway in the east. In the southwest of the island is the water catchment area of the Ilog River, which forms a 50 km ² large delta at its mouth.

The topography of the island is dominated by the volcanic mountains of the Cuernos de Negros (mountain Talinis ) in the southeast and the active volcanoes Mandalagan, Kanlaon and Silay in the northern center of the island. In the north- east and north- west of the island large plains stretch. These are mainly cultivated sugarcane. Negros is the largest producer of sugar in the Philippines, which it has been nicknamed introduced the sugar island. On Negros, there are some interesting tourist spots, such as the Chocolate Hills of Negros in Can Carlos City, the Twin Lakes and the Balanan Lake. The Casaroro waterfalls on the mountain Talinis are the highest in the group of islands of the Visayas.

Cebu

Again, to the east of Negros, separated by the Strait of Tanon, you reach the elongated silhouette island of Cebu. Along its eastern coast runs a water channel, the Strait of Cebu, which separates it from the southeastern island Bohol.

Measured from north to south Cebu has a total length of 196 km and reaches a maximum width of 32 km. It is surrounded by 167 smaller islands such as Mactan, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango and the island groups of the archipelago and the Camotes Islands.

The island is known for its narrow coastlines, limestone plateaus and their their coastal plains, meet all the characteristics of a typical tropical island. The topography of the island is also characterized by gentle hills that go into rugged mountain ranges that traverse the interior of the island of Cebu from north to south and east by separating the west coast. Cebu's steep ridge reaches over 1000 meters, the island has, in particular on its northern region shallower areas. The highest mountain of the island is 1,013 meters high Osmeña Peak. A flat hilly landscape extends from Mandaue City to Liloan, you are in some lagoon -like bays, such as the silot Bay, which are filled with brackish water and offer a special habitat for mangrove forests. The total area of the island is 5088 km ².

The most important belonging to Cebu Mactan island is separated by a narrow, few 100 m wide waterway from the city of Cebu City and on which the Mactan International Airport is located. On the east side of Mactan numerous beach resorts have sprung up in recent years, making them ultimately became an internationally renowned tourist destination.

Bohol

Southeast Cebu to the island of Bohol lies with an area of 4117 km ² and a coastline length of 261 km. It is the tenth largest island of the Philippines and is surrounded by 70 smaller islands. The largest of these is the 375 km ² large island Lapinin. The famous island of Panglao is one of the most developed tourist areas of the island, it 's across from Tagbilaran City and is known for its hotel facilities that have attractive sandy beaches. From the south coast you can see the 54 km distant island of Camiguin, the geographical but Mindanao is assigned.

Bohol is topologically consistently hilly and covered with rocky limestone, which is littered with strange, evenly shaped hills fields. These hills are called Chocolate Hills and are the main tourist attraction of the island. To draw on its edge along similar medium mountain mountain ranges, while the entire center of the island can be seen as one large plateau. In the north of the island lies the Danajon reef system, the largest coral reef system in the Philippines. The northern and eastern coast of the island know numerous bays, these extend large mudflats and mangrove forests. These are partially protected, as in the Cogtong Bay.

Sandy beaches are on Bohol only a few, however, are the few that can be found on the island of Panglao, near the village of Anda and Guindulman in, a valued tourist destination. The rest of the coast of Bohol is characterized by cliffs and steep slopes, the only conditionally suitable for bathing.

Leyte Samar - Biliran

The eastern region of the Visayas dominate the islands of Leyte, Samar and Biliran, which together form the district of Eastern Visayas. These islands are located close to each other and are the only ones connected by bridges main islands of the country, which makes it possible to reach any point on them by land. Leyte has a total area of 7215 km ² and is located west of Samar, which with 13,080 km ² in turn has the largest land area of the three above-mentioned islands and the third largest in the archipelago. Leyte Samar is connected via the San Juanico Bridge. On the northeast tip of the island of Leyte Biliran, which is 555 km ² the smallest of the three islands of the eastern part of the Visayas and the Biliran Bridge has a connection to the neighboring Leyte lies.

The topology of all three mainly characterized by mountain ranges, each of which define the interior of the island and fall down softly to the coastal plains. Here Leyte offer a much gebirgigeres terrain, while the opposite is determined Samar rather hilly areas and flat plains. The climate is a tropical rain forest and is characterized according to Köppen system by evenly distributed rainfall throughout the year.

The Mindanao group

Mindanao with a total area of 94,596 km ², the second largest of the Philippine islands. The island consists of a large mountainous land mass that has many types of terrain. In the northwest tapers the territory and goes into a long drawn extension on, the Zamboanga Peninsula, which stretches far to the southwest and forms the Gulf of Moro along with the bulk of Mindanao and the island of Basilan.

Zamboanga Peninsula

To the west of Mindanao form a series of ridges that are called Zamboanga Cordillera, the narrow and elongated Zamboanga Peninsula. This is joined by a narrow isthmus between the Bay of Panguil and the bay of Illana to the main mass of Mindanao.

The surveys of the peninsula are an average of 1,200 m high. In the northeast, they continue to rise and reach the mountain Malindang a height of 2,404 meters above sea level. The narrow coastal plain of the peninsula is heavily populated and achieved in Misamis Occidental their greatest population density. South of Malindang is the largest lake on the peninsula of Wood Lake, about him rises the mountain Timolan. Several flat coastal plains have formed along the coasts of Zamboanga Peninsula, offer a fertile agricultural area. The Batorampon Point, located in the inland city of Zamboanga City, reached a peak altitude of 1335 m, the highest point on the southern tip of the peninsula.

With the exception of the narrow coastal plains, the terrain is determined by hilly and mountainous sections.

Central Mindanao

Starting from Dipolog City extends eastward along the northern coast of Mindanao, a continuous coastal plain of varying width of a few kilometers, which extends to Butuan City. Behind the coastal plain, the topography is mostly rugged, as rugged mountains, such as the aforementioned mountain Malindang and Ampiro, abrupt rise here from the coast. The central part, however, is characterized by sloping plains and river valleys.

The north coast of Mindanao is heavily dissected, three large peninsulas extending far into the Mindanaosee. The coastal plain is heavily populated and several large cities such as Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City are at it. North of the middle peninsula Nordmindanaos, about 10 km above the northern tip of the peninsula is the 37 x 14 km wide island of Camiguin. It is dominated by seven volcanoes, of which the 1332 m high mountain hibok - hibok is the most famous. In the Küstengebirde Nordmindanaos are numerous waterfalls as the Tinago and Limunsudan Falls.

In the northwest Zentralmindanaos is the largest lake of the island and the second largest in the Philippines, the Lanao Lake. It lies on a plateau, at an altitude of about 700 meters. On the northern tip of the Agus River forms the only outlet of the lake. He overcomes his short river, only 37 kilometers, the considerable difference in altitude of 700 meters before flowing into the Bay of Iligan. For this reason, a number of hydroelectric power stations were built at Agus, also feeds the majestic Maria Cristina Falls. The North Zentralmindanaos is spanned in West East direction from a series of volcanic mountains. In the south of the province of Lanao del Sur, on the border with the province of Cotabato is a ridge, which is marked by the volcanoes Makaturing, Latukan and Ragang. In the north- east of this mountain range closes in the province of Bukidnon Kalatungan the mountains on which reaches a height of 2,824 meters. It is separated from the Kita Glad mountains through the valley of the Cagayan River. In Kitanglad Mountains are the second highest mountain in the Philippines, the Dulang - dulang. To the northeast and east of the Kitanglad Mountains extends the plateau of Bukidnon where the Tagoloan River and the Pulangi River have their sources in the Tago mountain range. This plateau is bounded on the east by a mountain range, the regional carries a variety of names, but collectively, the Central Mindanao Cordillera is called. It extends from the Mindanaosee, in the north, to Cape Sarangani to the south, over a length of more than 300 kilometers. In the central and northern portion of several peaks over 2,000 meters rise up, including the westernmost of Davao City Talomo active volcano with 2674 meters and Mount Apo, which is the highest mountain in the Philippines with 2954 meters of altitude. South of Apo flattens the central mountain belt somewhat and forms the transition to Cotabato Valley. In the southern part of the mountains of the mountain range reaches an average of 1100 to 1800 meters in altitude.

To the south of the highlands of Bukidnon extends the Central Mindanao Plain, which is also known as Cotabato Valley. It is together with its tributaries, the Catisan River and the Pulangi River, created by the river system of the Rio Grande de Mindanao. It extends far into the south Mindanos and has a total length of 190 km and a width that varies between 19 km at the mouth of the river and about 97 km in the center of the province of Cotabato. The Ligawasan river marshes stretch out over an area of approximately 2880 km ² at the confluence of the Rio Grande de Mindanao with the rivers Buluan, Maganao and Alah.

There are also many more on Mindanao coastal lowlands. These arise mostly as small isolated sections explain how they occur along the northwest coast of Zamboanga. In other sections, such as the Davao area level, this lowland sections are up to 16 km wide, where they exceed this value in their lengths by large factors.

In the southwest of Cotabato Valley a number of volcanic mountains lined up along the coast of Celebes each other, forming the mountains of Daguma mountain range. The entire ridge has a maximum extent, from northwest to southeast, of 180 km and a width of about 48 km. The highest mountain is Mount Busa with a summit elevation of 2,083 meters. However, the most famous mountain, this mountain chain is Mount Parker, whose almost circular crater lake 2.9 km in diameter and reaches approximately 300 meters spreads below the 1,824 m high summit. North of Parker's turn determines the mountain Matutum the landscape, he is one of the major landmarks of South Cotabato Province. The conclusion of the southeastern Daguma Mountains forms the bay of Sarangani, it has the form of a thumb. Southeast of the bay lies the Cape Sarangani, the southernmost landmark of the island of Mindanao. Preceded him, the two islands Balut and Sarangani.

Eastern Mindanao

A large lowland area separates the east of Mindanao from the central part of the island. This lowland area stretches from the Bay of Butuan to Davao Gulf, and is formed by the valley of the Agusan River. Also known under the name Agusan Valley Valley is a sequence of three " wells " in which numerous extensive swamps extend, known as Agusan Marsh, one of the most important marsh and wetlands in the Philippines. These are sandwiched between the central mountain ranges and the mountains of the east coast. This level has from south to north a maximum extension of 180 km, and varies in width 32-48 km.

In the far eastern run a series of mountain ranges parallel to the coast of the island and are collectively referred to as the Eastern Cordillera and Mindanao from Surigao del Norte in the north- east of the island pull down to Cape Agustin in southeast Davao City. The northern section is known as the Diwata Mountains, but the mountains are not very high and to be regarded in its southern part rather than hilly. Between Bislig City on the east coast and the Agusan River 16 km wide saddle reaches a maximum height of less than 250 meters. The highest mountain in the northern Cordillera Ostmindanaos is located the mountain Hilong Hilong, 17 km northeast of Butuan City. It reaches an altitude of 1920 meters.

The southern section of the Cordillera Ostmindanaos, however, is broader and even more rugged than the northern part. In the east, Davao several peaks reach heights of over 2,500 meters, the mountain Tagub extends even 2670 m above the sea level. The southern completion of the Cordilleras Ostmindanaos forms the 1,620 -meter-high Hamiguitan on the St. Augustine Peninsula.

The eastern coastal region of Davao del Norte and Surigao del Sur is characterized by a series of narrow levels, which are separated from each other by rugged hills and widen the coastline towards. Off the coast there are numerous coral reefs and small islands. Some nautical miles off the coast of Mindanao reached the seabed at a measured depth of 10,540 Galatheatief m, making it one of the deepest known places on earth.

The Sulu Archipelago

The archipelago consists of around 80 major and hundreds of smaller islands that make up the extreme southwest of the Philippines. He is not, as might be suspected, the remnant of a land bridge between Borneo and the Philippines. Rather, it is formed from the edge of a small submarine ridge, which is caused by a tectonic tilting of the sea floor. So it is in Basilan, Jolo and other islands of the group to extinct volcanic cones, which are the highest points of this southernmost underwater ridge.

Basilan, the largest island of Sulu is only 17 km from the southern tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula and separated by the Straits of Basilan by the city of Zamboanga City. It has an area of 1372 km ² and is covered by dense jungle.

Southwest of Basilan is the 894 sq km slightly smaller island of Jolo, which surrounded by numerous islets and is dotted with several volcanic cones. Still farther to the southeast and 64 km off the coast of Borneo located to reach the archipelago of Tawi - Tawi. The island chain is 55 km long and 10 to 23 km wide, of undulating shape and marked by some rocky coves. North of Tawi - Tawi is the ecologically important island archipelago of the Turtle Islands, he is one of the world's most important nesting grounds of sea turtles.

Climate

In the Philippines has a tropical maritime climate, which is dominated by a rainy season and a dry season. In summer until October heavy monsoon rains occur in most areas of the archipelago of May, during the winter monsoon from December to February brings cooler and drier air with it. Manila and most flat areas present from March through to May as hot and dusty regions. Yet even in this time rising temperatures rarely above the mark of 37 ° C. However, the temperatures in the annual average fall at sea level as rare below a value of 27 ° C. Due to the high temperatures and the surrounding areas of water reaches the average humidity relatively high values between 71 % in March and 85 % in September. The annual precipitation moving in the mountain regions of the east coast around 4000 millimeters, reach in some of the sheltered valleys but less than 1000 mm.

The monsoon rains, although hard and flowing, is usually hardly accompanied by strong winds and waves. Nevertheless, the Philippines located within the typhoon belt, which is why the country is exposed every year from July to October strong storms. These are especially dangerous to the northern and eastern Luzon, Bicol, and also for the areas of the district Eastern Visayas. But Manila is drawn at regular intervals from these tropical storms affected.

In the last ten years, the Philippines have often been struck by natural disasters. In 2005 alone, the District Central Luzon was the one affected by a drought, on the other hand, this year attracted a typhoon over the territory of virtually all low-lying streets of Manila flooded. Still do more damage an earthquake in 1990, the large parts of Luzon, in particular the province of Baguio and more northerly areas devastated. The Philippines is highly vulnerable to typhoons; each year draw about 18-21 of them on the island nation. In addition, there are still many cases to volcanic eruptions. One of the most spectacular was the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, large parts of Central Luzon destroyed, the lahar cities and farmland buried and whose ashes also took effect on global temperatures.

In the construction of buildings therefore the waywardness of nature was factored in since time immemorial. Most rural building made of nipa huts that are easily damaged, but are cheap and easy to replace. Most urban buildings are constructed of steel and concrete, and to resist both typhoons and earthquakes. The damage caused by such natural disasters, but is always significant.

Political Overview

The Philippines are divided into a hierarchy of so-called Local Government Units ( LGUs ) ( dt: Local government units) with currently 80 provinces, which are the primary units. The provinces are still in cities and autonomous in turn, composed of barangays municipalities subdivided managed. The barangays represent the smallest administrative units

Overall, the country is divided into 16 administrative districts. In addition, the National Capital Region itself has an autonomous status and is divided into four separate districts.

Most government offices have regional district offices which serve the constituent provinces. The regions themselves do not have their own local government, with the exception of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Below the districts of the Philippines are registered according to their region numbering, the provinces were listed alphanumerically:

Districts

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 in Muslim Mindanao ( ARMM )
Cordillera Administrative Region ( CAR)
National Capital Region (NCR; Metro Manila )

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
Cotabato
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
Nueva Ecija
Nueva Vizcaya
Occidental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro
Palawan
Pampanga
Pangasinan
Quezon
Quirino
Rizal

Romblon
Samar
Sarangani
Siquijor
Shariff Kabunsuan
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

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