Basilan Island
Basilan (also Taguima ) is an island in the southern Philippines and part of the Sulu Archipelago, four-fifths of it are the same province of the island nation.
The island is separated by the Straits of Basilan from Zamboanga City on Mindanao. Basilan is the northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago.
The province belongs politically to the Muslim Mindanao ( ARMM ) Autonomous Region. The provincial capital is Isabela City, her governor since 2007, wife Jum Jainuddin - Akbar.
Geography
Basilan is one of the 7,107 islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. On a regional part of Basilan as part of the Sulu Archipelago to the approximately 400 Philippine islands between Mindanao and Borneo.
The island is 66 km long and 44 km wide and has a total area of 1234.2 km ², living on the 259 796 inhabitants. From west to east, the island is criss-crossed by a mountain range of up to 1,020 m high peaks rise in the northwest and south.
The island is part one of two chains of islands which form a partial land bridge to Borneo and important test flight routes for migratory birds. The road separates the island of Basilan Basilan from the main part of Mindanao and the port of Zamboanga City.
Isabela City in the north of the island is the capital of Basilan.
Politically, however, the city is independent of the province of Basilan and Zamboanga Peninsula belongs to the district of. Originally, the whole island was part of the District Western Mindanao ( the former name of the district so Zamboanga Peninsula ), a public opinion poll, however, showed that the majority of them belonging to the district of ARMM was approved - except in Isabela City.
Administrative divisions
Basilan is politically subdivided governing municipalities and two cities in eleven independent. The municipalities are in turn subdivided into 255 barangays ( districts ) and assigned to a congressional district.
Cities
- Isabela City
- Lamitan City
Management communities
- Akbar
- Al- Barka
- Hadji Mohammad Ajul
- Hadji Muhtamad
- Lantawan
- Maluso
- Sumisip
- Tabuan - Lasa
- Tipo Tipo
- Tuburan
- Ungkaya Pukan
History
In Basilan live four indigenous groups, the Sama Dilaut ( Sama of the sea, partly there are still sea nomads ) who Sama Bangingi, the Yakan and the Tausugs.
The indigenous people of Basilan were the Dampuans, they are considered the ancestors of the Yakan, who also - are called Sameacas - dating back to the Spanish. Tausugs and the Samal -speaking tribes settled along the coast and brought Islam to the island; the original home to there Yakan were pushed back into the interior. In 1637 the Spaniards conquered the area Lamitans, but were driven out in 1663. 1747 the Dutch tried to take the island in 1844 and was followed by the French, but both were unsuccessful. Finally, the Spanish erected a fragile rule that they had to share with pirates.
1901 Basilan was part of the great province of Zamboanga. In the following years, an increasing number of speakers one of the Chabacano and Visayan languages in Isabela sat down to work on the rubber plantations. In 1973, Basilan to a province with its capital Isabela.
Basilan became known worldwide as an important base for the terrorist founded in 1991 Islamist group Abu Sayyaf, was abducted in 2000 as a group of tourists from Sipadan by Basilan. Other kidnapping attempts Doctor Nilo Baran Dino educate, who had been kidnapped in 1992 itself.
Economy
About 70 percent of the land is used for agriculture. Are harvested mainly coconuts, rubber and coffee beans next to corn, cocoa, pepper and palm oil are agriculturally significant products of this island.
Nature Reserves
- Basilan Natural Biotic Area, in it occur up to 12 endemic bird species found only on the island of Basilan.