The Philippine Archipelago Flashcards
8 regions of Luzon
- ILOCOS COASTAL PLAIN
- CENTRAL CORDILLERA
- CAGAYAN VALLEY
- EASTERN CORDILLERA, ALSO CALLED SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS
- WESTERN CORDILLERA, ALSO CALLED THE ZAMBALES MOUNTAIN RANGE
- Central Plain
- Southwestern volcanic region with taal at the center.
- SOUTHWESTERN VOLCANIC REGION WITH MAYON AS A CENTER
Ilocos Coastal Plain
This is a narrow strip of land facing the west Philippine sea (formerly called china sea) at the western side of northern Luzon. The mountain systems and hills lie close to the sea. Sand dunes, which are hills or ridges of sand piled up by the wind, are characteristics features of the sandy coastal plain.
Central Cordillera
This is a mountain region stretching from Kalinga to Benguet. Its highest point is 3000 meters above sea level.
Cagayan Valley
This lies between the central cordillera and the Sierra Madre mountains. This valley is drained by the Cagayan river.
Eastern Cordillera, also called the Sierra Mountains
This is the longest mountain system of the country at the eastern side of Luzon facing the Pacific ocean. It covers the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, and Quezon. Its highest point is 2000 meters sea level.
Western Cordillera, also called the Zambales Mountain Range
This mountain range extends from the northwestern part of Pangasinan to the Bataan peninsula in the south. The mountains are in this range: Mt. Pinatubo, High peak, Mt. Natib, Mt. Samat and Mt. Mariveles.
Central Plain
This is the largest level lowland east of Zambales mountain range. The only high land in this plain is Mt. Arayat in Pampanga. Another prominent feature is the Candaba swamp at the boundary of Pampanga and Bulacan.
Southwestern volcanic region with Taal at the center.
This region has volcanic upland, plains, and lakes. The prominent features are: TAAL VOLCANO, TAAL LAKE, LAGUNA DE BAY, MT. MAKILING, AND MT. BANAHAW.
Southwestern Volcanic Region with Mayon as the Center
This covers the irregular shaped Bicol peninsula. The prominent features are:
- Volcanic peak (including Isarog, Iriga, Mayon, and Bulusan)
- Lakes (lake Bato and lake Buhi).
- Level lands (Bicol valley and the plain of Daet.)
Mindoro, Palawan, and Nearby Islands
These islands of Mindoro and Palawan both have a mountainous topography. The narrow and long island of Palawan is surrounded by about a hundred islets, including: the Calamianes group of islands (composed of Culion, Busuanga, and Coron), the Balabak, and Cuyo island groups.
Visayan Islands
Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar
PANAY
composed of the provinces of AKLAN, ANTIQUE, CAPIZ, AND ILOILO, has 3 distinct surface features: The western uplands, the central lowlands and the eastern uplands.
NEGROS
composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, has the following surface features, the Volcanoes and fertile plains located at the north and northwestern regions.
CEBU
has a mountain range that extends throughout the entire length of this elongated island.
BOHOL
has a relatively flat highland extending to the northeast-southwest direction. The famous “CHOCOLATE HILLS” of Bohol are composed of sedimentary rocks.
