Physical Environment of the Philippines

By: Kayce Joy L. Saliendrez

Way Description Location Grid Based on the grid

longitude and latitude

Lies on 4° 23’ and 21° 25’ North latitude

and 116° and 127° East Longitude

Insular Based on the bodies of water

N-Bashi ChannelW-South China Sea S-Celebes SeaE-Pacific Ocean

Bisinal Based on the neighboring countries

N-TaiwanW-VietnamS-MalaysiaE-Palao Island

Location

Importance 1.it is the only Christian nation in the non-

Christian Asian world. 2.it is the melting pot of races and culture ,with a

unique heritage from Asia ,Europe ,Latin America ,North America.

3.it is the bridge that links the Oriental and Occidental Worlds.

4.it is the crossroads of Asia`s air and sea routes. 5.it is the bastion of democracy in Asia where

most countries are kingdoms ,military dictatorships or one-party governments.

islands,adjacent seas and submarine areas and the air space above.

7,107 islands 2,773 have names and 1,190 are inhabited .

Area

Luzon

(141,395 sq.km)the biggest island group

Mindanao

Mindanao(101,999sq.km)

Visayas

Visayas(56,606 sq. km)

Luzon (104,687 sq.km) Mindanao(94,630 sq.km) Samar (13,080 sq.km) Negros(12,709 sq.km) Palawan(11,785 sq.km) Panay (11,515 sq.km) Mindoro (9,735 sq.km) Leyte (7,214 sq.km) Cebu(4,422 sq.km) Bohol (3,864 sq.km) Masbate (3,269 sq.km

The 11 main island

1.recognition of the archipelago doctrine

2.a 12- mile belt of territorial waters

3. an Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ)

The Philippines benefit in this international agreement in three

ways

Geographical Data on

Philippines Territory

1.Land area (300,780sq.km)..........115,800 sq.miles2.Area of the Philippines enclosed in the baselines plus 12-mile territorial sea from the baselines.......290,850 sq.miles3.item no.2 plus Kalayaan islands.........360,850sq.naut.mi.4.Total area under Exclusive Economic Zone from baseline ....652,800sq.naut.mi.  

-an inverted Y-shaped archipelago of the numerous islands and islets, coral reefs ,abundant rivers, lakes and bays; mountains and valleys ;cool plateaus and scenic volcanoes

-it has the longest discontinuous coastline in the world-34,600 kilometers

-61 harbors and 20 landlocked straits.

Topography

Manila Bay-the finest harbor in Asia and the largest bay in the

Philippines

Balayan Bay(Batangas) Tayabas Bay(Quezon) Ormoc Bay(Leyte) Taytay Bay(Palawan) Sindangan Bay,Illana Bay and Sarangani

Bay in Mindanao.

Other Famous Bays

Lingayen Gulf Leyte Gulf Davao Gulf

Gulfs

Strait

San Juanico Strait- the narrowest strait bet. Samar and Leyte now connected by San Juanico Bridge

Bataan Peninsula-the great peninsula in the country

Bicol Peninsula-fertile peninsula in Luzon Zamboanga and Davao Peninsula in

Mindanao

Peninsula

Philippine Deep - the lowest place in the country (89km Northeast Of Mindanao)

37,732 feet below sea level -deepest place in the world

Lowest Place

Sierra Mountain Range -from Cagayan Province in the North to Laguna in the South-the longest mountain range in the Phil.

Mountains

Mt.Apo in Mindanao(9,690 feet or 2,954 meters above sea level highest mountain

Mt.Pulog in Ifugao-Benguet boundary in Luzon (2,982 meters)

Mt. Banahaw (Laguna -Quezon) Mt.Bulusan (Sorsogon) Mt.Halcon(Mindoro Oriental) Mt. Kanlaon(Negros Occidental) Mt.Matutum (Cotabato)

Other noted peaks

The Central Plain and Cagayan Valley (Luzon) The Rice Granary

Agusan Valley and Cotabato Valley (Mindanao) greatest tobacco-producing region in Asia and

also the largest Valley in the country

Major Lowland Plains

Benguet Plateau in the Northern Luzon Bukidnon Plateau-Fertile and famous for its

delicious pineapples  

Plateaus

Cagayan River - longest River Rio Grande in Mindanao - largest River Pasig River - most Historic River of the Phil.

132 main rivers

Laguna de Bay -largest bay and endangered by pollution

source of livelihood for nearby communities 

59 Lakes

valuable for medicinal waters and geothermal power Los Banos and Pansol in Laguna Pandi and Sibul in Bulacan Tiwi in Albay Magsingal in Ilocos Sur

Springs

provide tourist attraction and hydroelectric power Pagsanjan Falls (Laguna) is the favorite tourist

spot and movie location. Maria Christina Falls (Lanao Del Norte )

Waterfalls

1.There is a geographical barrier separating the Philippines from other nations in Asia.

2.This archipelago barriers also divides tribes and nations in the Philippines

3.The country is easily invaded by foreigners who want to conquer or colonize.

4.Smuggling ,piracy, and migration can happen more easily in this archipelago

5.The different islands and cultural features make an ideal training ground for missionaries and evangelists who want to learn about different cultures, climates and people. 

Effects of the archipelago shape of our nation

Tropical and monsoonal in character. Two seasons dry season (December to May) wet season (June to October)

Temperature varies from 21° to 32° C(70°-90°F) January -coldest May-hottest

Humidity in rather high due to tropical weather and sorrounding seas.

Rainfall is the most important factor in its climate with moat rainy days from July to October.

 

Climate

More than 50 volcanoes in the country. Mt.Mayon (Albay)-nearly perfect cone Mt.Taal (Batangas)-the smallest and most

unusual volcano being surrounded by lake Mt.Pinatubo(Zambales)-worst volcanic eruption

in the country.

Volcanoes