The Most Extreme Points of the Philippines
The Republic of the Philippines is a Southeast Asian nation made up of over 7,000 islands in the Western Pacific. The Philippines covers an area of 120,000 sq mi (300,000 km2) and has a population of about 100 million in 2015. Due to it's location along the western edge of the Ring of Fire, the Philippines is home to several active volcanoes. The following are the most extreme points of the Philippines.
6. Northernmost Point in the Philippines
The northernmost point in the Philippines is Mavulis Island. The island is uninhabited. However, local fishermen visit the isle for fishing purposes. Other names that are used to refer to the island are Yami and Diami. Mavulis Island is found within the province of Batanes. It is covered in vegetation such as vuyavuy palms and mangrove. Moreover, it is rocky and many coconut crabs inhabit the island. The highest point at Mavulis Island is the Y’Ami Hill.
5. Southernmost Point in the Philippines
The southernmost point in the Philippines is the Frances Reef in the Sitangkai municipality located within the province of Tawi Tawi. A nickname used to refer to Sitangkai is “Venican Municipality.” The name is derived from the fact that the residents of Sitangkai primarily use boats for transport. The major sources of livelihood are farming and fishing. Sitangkai became a municipality by an Executive Order No. 355 on August 26, 1959, granted by President Carlos Garcia. In 2015, Sitangkai had a population of 33, 334 inhabitants. Present day Sitangkai residents are settlers from Zamboanga, Sulu, and Visayas.
4. Westernmost Point in the Philippines
The westernmost point in Philippines is the Ligas Point in the municipality of Balabac. This municipality is located within the province of Palawan. It is a 2nd class municipality with a population of 40,142 inhabitants. Balabac Municipality consists of 36 islands that are famous for their rare indigenous animal and plant species. The island of Balabac contains the oldest lighthouse in Philippines known as the Cape Melville Lighthouse.
3. Easternmost Point in the Philippines
The easternmost point in Philippines is found within the municipality of Caraga in Davao Oriental Province. It is known as Pusan Point and is located within Barangay Santiago. The word “caraga” was derived from the native word “Kalaga” meaning “spirit of soul.” Thus, in 1622 the province of Caraga was referred to as the “region de gente animosa” meaning “region of spirited men.”The Caragans were spirited due to their closeness to nature and belief in spirits of nature. The 2015 census indicates that Caraga had a population of 40,379 inhabitants. Some of the languages spoken by the people include Mandaya, Bilaan, Hiligaynon, Bagobo, and Yakan among others. The people’s main source of income is coconut products. However, the province also enjoys visits by tourists.
2. Highest Point in the Philippines
The highest point in the Philippines is also the highest mountain in the country. It is known as Mount Apo. Mount Apo is a potentially active stratovolcano located on Mindanao Island. It is 2,954 meters above sea level. The mountain name “Apo” is said to be after the name of a nobleman called Apong who was murdered while intervening in the battle between two suitors of his daughter called Saribu. Another myth states that the name originated from the Filipino word “Apo” which means “grandchild” or “master.” Mount Apo became a national park in 1936 by a presidential proclamation made by President Manuel Quezon. Since then, the mountain has been a protected area covering an area of 2,571.73 hectares. It enjoys tropical rainy climate with average temperatures ranging from 26.4-27.9 degrees Celsius. Over 272 bird species have inhabited Mount Apo. Among these birds are the world’s largest species eagles known as the Philippine Eagle. The eagle is Philippine’s national bird. Some of the popular lakes found within Mount Apo are the Blue Lake and Lake Venado. The mountain also has 21 creeks and 19 major rivers. It also has the Tudaya Falls which is the highest waterfall in the park as it is 100 meters high.
1. Lowest Point in the Philippines
The Galathea Depth is the lowest point in Philippines. It is 10,540 meters deep and forms part of the Philippine Trench found in the Pacific Ocean. The Galathea Depth was first discovered in 1912 by the German ship Planet. However, detailed exploration did not take place until 1951. It was explored by a Danish ship called Galathea. It is after this ship that Galathea Depth received its name. According to biological samples taken from the area, a wide variety of bacteria, fish, and amphibians survive in those very low depths. Such a discovery had not been achieved before.
