Location:
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area: Area - comparative: Land boundaries: Coastline: Maritime claims: Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes: Natural resources: Land use: Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements: Geography - note:
total: 300,000 sq km
country comparison to the world: 72
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land:
298,170 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water:
1,830 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
slightly larger than Arizona
0 km
36,289 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
to depth of exploitation
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
More Climate Details
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point:
Mount Apo 2,954 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]
timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
arable land: 19%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops:
16.67%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other:
64.33% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]
15,500 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
479 cu km (1999)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total: 28.52 cu km/yr (17%/9%/74%)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - total country ranks ]
per capita:
343 cu m/yr (2000)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - per capita country ranks ]
astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
volcanism:
the Philippines experience significant volcanic activity; Taal (elev. 311 m, 1,020 ft), which has shown recent unrest and may erupt in the near future, has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Mayon (elev. 2,462 m, 8,077 ft), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 forcing over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo and Ragang
uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait