In Southeast Asia, the Republic of the Philippines is located, consisting of numerous islands in the Pacific Ocean. The state occupies a vast area between Taiwan and Indonesia. The islands of the Philippines are part of the Malay Archipelago. The largest of them are Luzon, Samar, Mindanao, Palawan, Leite, Negros, Cebu, etc.
The archipelago stretches for 2000 km from north to south and 900 km from west to east. The western territories of the Philippines are washed by the South China Sea, the southern ones by the Sulawesi Sea, and the eastern ones by the Philippine Sea. The islands of the Philippines are geographically divided into large groups: Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon. The country uses the administrative division of the territory into provinces and regions. The starting point for a trip to the islands is Manila - the capital, as well as the center of historical and cultural tourism and shopping. A good rest for tourists is provided on the islands of Cebu, Boracay, Palawan, Bohol, etc.
Features of the terrain
The relief of the islands is mountainous. The highest point is the Apo volcano on the island of Mindanao. In the Philippines, all mountain ranges are of volcanic origin, as the archipelago is included in the Pacific Ring of Fire. For this reason, there is a high seismic activity in this area. The features of the islands are volcanic formations and deep-sea depressions. The Philippine Trench is about 10,830 m deep. It runs near the island of Mindanao.
Weather
The islands of the Philippines are located in a tropical climate zone, which is formed under the influence of monsoons. In the southern regions, a subequatorial climate is observed. In coastal areas, the air temperature varies from +24 to +28 degrees. Slightly cooler in mountainous areas. From late spring to November, the islands are dominated by the monsoon season. The dry season lasts from November to mid-spring and is most pronounced in the western regions of Palawan, Visayas and Luzon. The northern regions of the Philippines are prone to typhoons and tsunamis. It is better to rest in the country during the dry season. The hottest in the Philippines is from March to the end of May. Further, the air humidity rises due to the arrival of the western monsoon.
Fauna and flora
Almost half of the country's territory is covered with tropical plants. Wet forests are places where plants such as palm, apitong, banyan, bamboo, etc. grow. On the islands of the Philippines, there are orchids, rubber plants, and cinnamon. There are meadows in the highlands. Representatives of the animal world are mongoose, deer, wild boar, reptiles. The coastal waters are rich in fish of various types and shellfish.
