Samar

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Samar is to Luzon, Mindanao and Negros, the fourth largest island of the Philippines and one of the Visayan Islands.

It is 13,080 km ² and has approximately 1.08 million inhabitants. Most important economic sectors are mining of copper and iron ore as well as fishing and timber industry.

Samar was discovered in 1543 by the Spaniard Ruy Lopez de Villalobos. 1901 occurred on the island of the Balangiga Massacre.

Samar comprises three provinces:

• Samar in the south west
• Northern Samar to the north
• Eastern Samar in the east

Geography

In the south, the Gulf of Leyte San Juanico Strait, which separates Samar from the neighboring island of Leyte and Samar passes over into the lake spreads out, in the southwest. The San Juanico Bridge spans the San Juanico Strait.

To the northwest, across the San Bernardino Strait, Sorsogon, the southernmost province is located on the island of Luzon. In the east, the Philippine Sea, which is part of the Pacific Ocean stretches.

The topography of the island is determined by a flat hilly terrain that rises above sea level in the center up to 800 meters. The largest river of Samar is the Catubig, which rises in the northern center of the island and flows into the Philippine Sea. In the southeast of the island is a karstic range of hills; in this lies the Sohoton -Natural Bridge National Park, which is part of Samar Natural Park.

Attractions

• The church of La Inmaculada Concepcion is on the short list of the Philippines for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.