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The Philippines is the largest archipelago in the world
that is found in the southeastern coast of the Asia
mainland. Philippines is surrounded by water in which in
the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the
Celebes Sea, and on the west and north by the South
China Sea. The country consists of 7,107 island and
islets. Only 2000 of these islands are inhibited. The
populated and mountainous islands are grouped into
three: Luzon, the biggest island group, covers 141,395
square kilometers; Visayas, 56,606 square kilometers;
and Mindanao, 102,000 square kilometers. Other main
islands are Samar, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Mindoro,
Leyte, Cebu, Bohol and Masbate.
The Philipine Archipelago is divided into 15 regions.
These regions are divided into provinces, and the
provinces into cities and municipalities, and these into
barangays. Barangay is the smallest political unit in
the Philippines.
Region I - Ilocos
Region II - Cagayan Valley
REgion III - Central Luzon
Region IV - Southern Tagalog
Region V - Bicol
Region VI - Western Visayas
Region VII - Central Visayas
Region VIII - Eastern Visayas
Region IX - Western Mindanao
Region X - Northern Mindanao
Region XI - Southern Mindanao
Region XII - Central Mindanao
National Capital Region (NCR)
Cordillera Administrative Region
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao
The Philippines is a unique combination of varied
topography. Luzon and Mindanao is distinguished by
narrow valleys, alluvial plains. rolling hills and high
mountains. The highest mountains are found in the larger
islands which are Luzon and Mindanao that the mountain
ranges are running north to south. The altitudes of the
mountains vary from 1,790 to 3,144 meters. These
mountains ranges are the natural barriers of the
country. These mountain ranges are the sierra Madre, the
Cordillera, and the Cotabato ranges. The four major
lowlands are found in Eastern Cordillera, Central plain
of Luzon, Agusan and Zambales. The smaller islands of
the Philippines are mountainous in the interior and
sourround by narrow strips of discontinuous flat
lowlands which constitute the coastal rims. There are
about 221 volcanoes, 21 of which are active.
Philippine has the finest seaports in Southeast Asia the
Manila Bay that has an area of 1,970 square kilometers
and coastline of 192 kilometers. Philippines hsa an
estimated coastline of 18,411 kilometers. There island
of the Philippines has beautiful coral reefs which
attracts tourist from all over the world.
Philippines also has a volcanic topography because it
sits in the unstable Pacific "Ring of Fire". Philippines
had experienced major natural disasters in the past. Two
mojor volcanic eruptions that struck the country are
from Mt. Pinatubo and Mt. Mayon Volcano. Thge eruption
killed hundreds and displaced thousand of people. Homes
and source of living were distroyed that left nothing to
the people. |
