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Geography
ge-og-ra-phy
[jee-OG-ruh-fee]
noun
origin: 1535-45
1. the science dealing with the areal differentiation of the earth's surface, as shown in the
character, arrangement, and interrelations over the world of such elements as climate, elevation,
soil, vegetation, population, land use, industries, or states, and of the unit areas formed by the
complex of these individual elements.
2. the study of this science.
3. the topographical features of a region, usually of the earth, sometimes of the planets.
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Introduction - Geography
The visitor to Metro Manila commonly sees the Philippines as the most
westernized of Asian countries and in many ways it is. But there is also a rich
underlay of Malay culture beneath the patina of Spanish and American heritage.
National cultural life is a happy marriage of many influences, as the
indigenous Malay culture is assimilated and adapted to different strains in a
practice typical of Malay temperament. An upsurge of Philippine nationalism
stimulated a desire to preserve the ancient heritage without restricting its
openness to foreign artistic influence.
The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands. It stretches from the south
of China to the northern tip of Borneo. The country has over a hundred ethnic
groups and a mixture of foreign influences which have molded a unique Filipino
culture.
Before the Spanish explorers came, Indo-Malays and Chinese merchants had
settled here. In 1521 the Spaniards, led by Ferdinand Magellan, discovered the
islands. The Spanish conquistadores established a colonial government in Cebu
in 1565. They transferred the seat of government to Manila in 1571 and
proceeded to colonize the country. The Filipinos resisted and waged Asia's
first nationalist revolution in 1896. On June 12, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo
declared the Philippines independent from Spain and proclaimed himself
president. After ruling for 333 years, the Spaniards finally left in 1898 and
were replaced by the Americans who stayed for 48 years. On July 4, 1946, the
Americans recognized Philippine independence.
The Philippines is the third largest English-speaking country in the world. The
country is divided into three geographical areas: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
It has 14 regions, 73 provinces and 60 cities. The capital is Manila.
Geography
The Philippine archipelago is geographically located between latitude 4023'N and 21025'N and
longitude 1160E and 1270E. It is composed of 7,107 islands, with a land area of
299,764 sq.kilometers. Its length measures 1,850 kilometers, starting from the point near the
southern tip of Taiwan and ending close to northern Borneo. Its breadth is about 965 kilometers.
The Philippine coastline adds up to 17,500 km. Three prominent bodies of water surround the
archipelago: the Pacific Ocean on the east, the South China Sea on the west and north, and the
Celebes Sea on the south. This position accounts for much of the variations in geographic,
climatic and vegetational conditions in the country.
The topography of the bigger islands - particularly Luzon and Mindanao - is characterized by
alluvial plains, narrow valleys, rolling hills and high mountains. The highest mountains are
found in Mindanao and Luzon, with the altitudes varying from 1,790 to 3,144 meters. Most of the
smaller islands are mountainous in the interior, surrounded by narrow strips of discontinuous
flat lowlands which constitute the coastal rims. The shorelines of both large and small islands
are irregular.
The Philippines' fertile land accounts for the more than 900 species of orchids representing
100 genera that have been found. The sampaguita is the national flower. Among the country's
fauna are some endangered species like the Philippine Eagle, the tarsier, and the mouse deer.
There are 14 regions, 73 provinces and 60 cities across the archipelago. Metro Manila is
strategically located in the middle of Luzon, on the eastern coast of Manila Bay and at the
mouth of the Pasig River, sprawled over an area of 626 sq.km. Manila sits in the middle of a
swampy deltaic plain formed by accumulated sedimentary deposits from the Pasig River and
other streams.
The city is between the bay to the west, the highlands to the east, and Laguna de Bay to
the southeast. Most of its densely populated areas are found along the Pasig River running
across the metropolis dividing it into two sections - the north and the south.
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