Landforms and

Resources in
the Philippine

Ram Lloyd B. Suello

BSED SOST 2C DAY

Basic Definitions

 Topography refers to the elevation and relief of the Earth’s surface.

 Landforms are the topographic features on the Earth’s surface.
 Geomorphology is the study of earth surface processes and landforms
Topography
 Topography is a term used to describe the Earth’s surface. Topography includes
a variety of different features, collectively referred to as landforms.
 Topography is measured by the differences in elevation across the earth’s
surface.
 Differences between high and low elevation are referred to as changes in relief.
 Scientist examine topography using a variety of different sources ranging from
paper topographic maps to digital elevation models developed using specialized
geographic information systems commonly referred to as a GIS.

Landforms
 A landform is a feature on the Earth's surface that is part of the terrain.

 Landforms are the individual topographic features exposed on the Earth’s

surface.

 Landforms develop over a range of different time-scales. Some landforms develop rather
quickly (over a few seconds, minutes, or hours), such as a landslide, while others may
involve many millions of years to form, such as a mountain range.

 Landform development can be relatively simple and involve only a few processes, or
very complex and involve a combination of multiple processes and agents.

 Landforms are dynamic features that are continually affected by a variety of earth-
surface processes including weathering, erosion, and deposition.

 It took 6 million years, in fact, for the Colorado River to carve out the Grand Canyon in the
U.S. state of Arizona. The Grand Canyon is 446 kilometers (277 miles) long.
The highest landform on Earth is a mountain: Mount Everest in Nepal. It measures 8,850
meters (29,035 feet) above sea level. It is part of the Himalaya range that runs across
several countries in Asia.

 Landforms can exist under water in the form of mountain ranges and basins under the
sea. The Mariana Trench, the deepest landform on Earth, is in the South Pacific Ocean.
  At the Grand Canyons deepest point, it is over a mile (1.83 kilometers) from its top to its
floor.

Landforms and Scale:

Crustal Orders of Relief
Landforms are categorized by characteristic physical attributes such as their creating
process, shape, elevation, slope, orientation, rock exposure, and soil type.

Relief - The physical shape, configuration or general unevenness of a part of the

Earth's surface
First Order of Relief:
The broadest landform scale is divided into continental landmasses, which include all of
the crust above sea-level (30% Earth’s surface), and ocean basins, which include the
crustal areas below sea-level (70% of Earth’s surface)
Second Order of Relief:
The second order of relief includes regional-scale continental features such as mountain
ranges, plateaus, plains, and lowlands. Examples include the Rocky Mountains, Atlantic
Coastal Plain, and Tibetan Plateau.
Major ocean basin features including continental shelves, slopes, abyssal plains, mid-
ocean ridges, and trenches are all second-order relief landforms.
Third Order of Relief:
The third order of relief includes individual landform features that collectively make up
the larger second-order relief landforms. Examples include individual volcanoes,
glaciers, valleys, rivers, flood plains, lakes, marine terraces, beaches, and dunes.
Each major landform categorized within the third order of relief may also contain many
smaller features or different types of a single feature. For example, although a flood
plain is an individual landform it may also contain a mosaic of smaller landforms
including pointbars, oxbow lakes, and natural levees. Rivers, although a single
landform, may be classified by a variety of channel types including straight, meandering,
or braided.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT LANDFORM DEVELOPMENT
Geomorphic processes
 Geomorphology is the process-based study of landforms.
 Geomorphology defines the processes and conditions that influence landform
development, and the physical, morphological, and structural characteristics of
landforms
 Geo-morph-ology originates from Greek: Geo meaning the “Earth”, morph
meaning its “shape”, and ology refers to “the study of”.
 Scientists who study landforms are Geomorphologists.
Geomorphologists who study landforms often seek to answer fundamental questions
that help them study landforms, such as:
 What is the physical form or shape of the landform?
 What is the elevation and topographic relief of the landform?
 How did the landform originate?
 What is the distribution of the landform and where else does it occur?
 Are there any patterns associated with the landform or topography?
 What is the significance of the landform in relation to other elements of the
landscape or environment?

Exogenic and Endogenic Processes

a. Endogenic Processes
These are internal forces that exist deep inside the Earth. These forces are also
known as ‘constructive forces’ as they create relief features on the surface of the Earth.
Constructive processes build landforms through tectonic and depositional processes.
 Tectonic processes- include movements at plate boundaries, earthquakes,
orogeny, deformation, and volcanic activity.
 Deposition - is the accumulation or accretion of weathered and eroded materials.

b. Exogenic Processes
These are external forces that operate and act on the surface of the Earth. These
forces are also known as ‘destructive forces’ as they at times result in destruction of the
existing landforms through weathering and erosional activities.
Destructive processes break down landforms through weathering, erosion, and mass
wasting.
  Weathering- is the disintegration of rocks by mechanical, chemical, and biological
agents.
 Erosion- is the removal and transportation of weathered material by water, wind,
ice, or gravity.
 Mass wasting - is the rapid down-slope movement of materials by gravity
Other Agents and Processes that Affect Landform Development
 Climate: temperature, precipitation, water cycle, atmospheric conditions
 Time: fast and slow rates of change
 People: influences on natural resources and earth surface processes
Genetic Landform Classification
 The genetic landform classification system groups landforms by the dominant set
of geomorphic processes responsible for their formation. This includes the
following processes and associated landforms:
 Tectonic Landforms
 Extrusive Igneous Landforms
 Intrusive Igneous Landforms
 Fluvial Landforms
 Karst Landforms
 Aeolian Landforms
 Coastal Landforms
 Ocean Floor Topography
 Glacial Landforms
 Within each of these genetic classifications, the resulting landforms are a
product of either constructive and destructive processes or a combination
of both.
 Landforms are also influenced by other agents or processes including time,
climate, and human activity.
Examples of Landforms: List of Major and Minor Types
(Source: Yourdictionary.com. Examples of Landforms: List of Major and Minor Types.
Retrieved from: https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-landforms.html)
Landforms are natural physical features of the Earth's surface. As an element of
topography, a landform is defined by its shape, location and how it was formed.
Landforms according to Process
The genetic landform classification system groups landforms by the dominant set of
geomorphic processes responsible for their formation.
The resulting landforms are a product of either constructive and destructive processes
or a combination of both.
Tectonic Landforms
Tectonic landforms are any of the relief features that are produced chiefly by uplift or
subsidence of the Earth's crust or by upward magmatic movements. Virtually all areas
below sea level have been formed by tectonic processes.
Major landforms like mountain, mountain ranges, plateaus, and hills are belong to this
group
Major Landforms
There are four major types of landforms on Earth: mountains, hills, plateaus and
plains. When you picture these landforms, you might imagine large mountain ranges or
wide plains. But these geographical landforms don’t only exist on dry land - they’re
found on the ocean floor as well.
1. Mountains
Mountains are major landforms with higher elevation than the land around them. They
have steep slopes and a summit, which is the highest point of elevation. Mountains are
formed when tectonic plates collide and push land upwards over millions of years, and
shaped by wind and water erosion. Other mountains are actually dormant volcanoes
that have not erupted in a very long time.
Some examples of mountains and their elevations include:
 Aspen Mountain (Rocky mountain range, Colorado) - 10,705 ft.
 Bear Mountain (Kenai mountain range in Alaska) - 4,019 ft.
 Mount Everest (Himalayan mountain range between Nepal and China) - 29,029 ft
 Mount Fuji (Fuji Volcanic Zone) - 12,389 ft.
 Mount Olympus (Olympus mountain range in Greece) - 9,570 ft.
 Mount Apo (Davao, Philippines) - 9,692 feet
 Mount Mayon (Albay, Philippines) - 8,077 feet
Orogenesis
Orogenesis is the thickening of the continental crust and the building of mountains over
millions of years and it translates from Greek as “birth of mountains”, (oros is the Greek
word for mountain).
Orogeny encompasses all aspects of mountain formation including plate tectonics,
terrane accretion, regional metamorphism, thrusting, folding, faulting, and igneous
intrusions.

 Differences Between A Mountain And A Volcano

“All volcanoes are mountains but not all mountains are volcanoes”
When magma erupts on the Earth’s surface, it often builds a volcano, which is basically
a pile of cooled volcanic rock. Volcanoes may be hill to mountain size. However, not all
hills and mountains are volcanoes. Some are tectonic features, constructed by
mountain building, which often happens at plate boundaries, just like volcanism. Others
are erosional features, leftovers from earlier tectonic mountains.
Though a volcano is a type of mountain, it has a v-crater, magma, and lava. A mountain
does not have any of these components. Mountain areas are peaceful and safe to visit
and stay. On the other hand, volcanoes are aggressive and may erupt when least
expected. Mountains may contain water but you cannot find any traces of water in a
volcano. Mountains always have elevations higher than their surroundings. For a
landform to qualify as a mountain, it must rise for over 600 meters above the
surrounding area. However, not all volcanoes have higher elevations than the
surrounding area. Volcanoes may form part of mountain ranges. Some mountains such
as Mt. Kilimanjaro qualify as both a mountain and a volcano.
Source: worldatlas.com (n.d.). Are Volcanoes Mountains? Retrieved from:
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/is-a-volcano-a-type-of-mountain.html

2. Mountain Ranges
Mountains range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills ranged in a line and
connected by high ground.
A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in
form, structure, and alignment that have arisen from the same cause, usually an
orogeny
Some Examples of mountain ranges around the world:
 The Andes – 7,000 km
 The Rockies – 4,830 km
  The Great Dividing Range – 3,500 km
 The Transantarctic Mountains – 3,500 km
 The Ural Mountains – 2,500 km
 The Atlas Mountains – 2,500 km
 The Appalachian Mountains – 2,414 km
 The Himalayas – 2,400 km
 The Altai Mountains – 2,000 km (1,243 mi)
 The Western Ghats – 1,600 km
 The Alps – 1,200 km
 Drakensberg – 1,125 km
 The Aravalli Range – 800 km

3. Hills
Hills are smaller landforms than mountains, but they share many of the same
characteristics. Like mountains, hills have a higher elevation than the land around them,
and are often formed by tectonic activity and erosion. But hills are generally smaller
(elevation is typically under 3,000 ft.) and not as steep as mountains. Foothills, for
example, rest at the base of mountain ranges before the terrain increases its elevation.
Examples of hills around the world and their elevations include:
 Britton Hill (Florida, United States) - 345 ft.
 Cavanal Hill (Oklahoma, United States) - 2,385 ft.
 Pen Hill (Somerset, England) - 1,001 ft.
 Seven Hills of Rome (Italy) - 124-249 ft.
 Chocolate Hills (Bohol, Philippines) - 390 ft

4. Plateaus
Plateaus are raised areas of wide, flat terrain. They are formed by volcanic activity and
erosion, like mountains, but don’t have a summit.
Different types of plateaus includes:
a. continental plateaus (bordered on all sides by land or water),
b. Intermontane plateaus (bordered by mountains),
c. lava plateaus (formed by sheets of solidified lava),
d. Piedmont plateaus (bordered by both land and sea).
Famous plateaus around the world and the area they cover include:
 Armenian Highlands (Armenia) - 150,000 square miles
 Colorado Plateau (Colorado, United States) - 130,000 square miles
  Patagonia Plateau (Argentina) - 260,000 square miles
 Tibetan Plateau (China) - 965,300 square miles

5. Horst and Graben:

Basin and Range

Horst and graben topography is generated by normal faulting associated with crustal
extension. The central block termed graben is bounded by normal faults and the
graben drops as the crust separates. The graben forms an elongated valley that is
bound by uplifted ridge-like mountainous structures referred to as horsts. Some horsts
may tilt slightly producing asymmetric, tilted terrane or mountain ranges. In the Western
United States, horst and graben fault sequences are described as “Basin and Range”
topography.

Example: Basin and Range topography, Nevada.

6. Rift Valleys
Rift valleys are fault structures formed by normal faults. Rising magma below the crust
upwells, forcing the lithosphere to fracture, as it fractures and cracks, one or more faults
cause the crustal rocks to separate forming a rift valley. Rift valleys can eventually form
lakes or seas such as the Red Sea, which separates Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.
Rift valleys can become inactive and fill in with volcanic material, such as the rift
structure in the United States which extends from Lake Superior to Oklahoma.

Examples:
 Rift Valleys in Africa
 East African Rift Valley Lake
Minor Landforms
There are hundreds of minor landforms in the world. These landforms are created over
millions of years by processes such as wind erosion, water erosion, tectonic activity,
weathering, ocean currents, and volcanic eruptions. They’re found in various biomes,
and despite how sedentary some of them look, they are always changing.
1. Desert Landforms
Landforms in desert biomes are often known as Aeolian landforms, named for Aeolus,
the Greek god of wind. They are formed by either the erosive or constructive action of
the wind. As the wind erodes the land it has the effect of sandblasting the surface of
rocks or other geological features.
Examples of desert landforms includes:
 Dunes
 Dunes are formed as mounds or ridges of aeolian sand deposits and are then
sculpted by near- surface wind processes, such as saltation. Saltation transports
sediment up slope on the windward side and once the sediments reach the crest
they fall over and accumulate as a steeper
Types of Dunes
1. Longitudinal dunes, also referred to as Seifs are long ridges of sand that form
parallel to the prevailing wind.
2. Star dunes are complex dunes with a central mound surrounded by radiating
points. From above they resemble a star shape.

 Loess
Loess deposits are regionally extensive accumulations of windblown silt
(granular size of sand and clay) resulting from thousands of dust storms.
During the dust storms, silt is entrained, transported, and deposited as loess.
Loess deposits are generally coarsest and thickest close to their source, and
they decrease in thickness and grain size with increasing distance from their
source.
 Yardang
A yardang is an elongate ridge or remnant rock feature sculpted by abrasive wind
erosion. Yardangs occur in arid environments where prevailing winds come from a
single direction. The winds must be strong, steady, and carry a coarse-sediment
load that weathers the exposed face of the yardang. Yardangs are sculpted into a
variety of forms, and some may resemble common objects or human-like forms.
ventifact - rocks that have been cut and polished by the wind

2. Coastal Landforms
Coastal landforms include a diverse array of shoreline and near-shoreline features, as
well as some coastal plain landforms far removed from the modern ocean by long term
sea-level changes.
These are constructive and destructive landforms formed by current coastal processes,
as well as marine related landforms that were formed during periods of higher sea
Examples of coastal landforms includes:
 Peninsula - a piece of land that has water on three sides. Not all peninsulas are
skinny little bits of land. Europe (the whole thing!) is sometimes considered a
large peninsula extending off the single continent of Eurasia.
 sea cave - a cave at the edge of the sea that is formed by wave action
 sea cliff - a vertical wall of rock at the coastline
 shore/coast - where the water meets the land
 fjord - a long narrow inlet with steep cliffs
  island, islet - a portion of land that is surrounded on all sides by water
 archipelago - a group of islands
 beach and raised beach - the land along the edge of a body of water, consisting
of loose rocks or sand

3. Oceanic Landforms
Underwater landforms are formed in the same ways as their above-ground
counterparts: tectonic and volcanic activity. Many oceanic landforms are also formed by
water currents
Examples of oceanic landforms includes:
 mid-ocean ridge - an underwater mountain system
 oceanic basin - a basin that is below sea level
 oceanic trench - a long, narrow opening on the ocean floor
 seamount - an underwater mountain
 submarine canyon - a steep valley in the sea floor

4. Erosion Landforms
Landforms produced by erosion and weathering usually occur in coastal or fluvial
environments, and many also appear under those headings.
Usually, these landforms are descended from second relief based landform formed or
changed by activity between tectonic plates or by erosion and weathering. Erosion by
water and wind can wear down mountainous areas create landforms like valleys and
canyons.
Examples of mountain-based landforms includes:
 Plains
Plains are a major landform known for their sea-level elevation and wide
expanses. They are found between mountain ranges and are usually formed by
erosion or deposits of water and lava. The total amount of land covered by plains
is over 19 million square miles – more than one-third of the total land surface
area on Earth.
Some examples of plains around the world and their areas include:
 European Plain (Central and East Europe) - 2,000,000 square miles
 Great Plains (United States) - 1,100,000 square miles
 Indus Valley Plain (Pakistan) - 200,000 square miles
 Central Luzon Plain (Philippines) - 8,499.90 square miles
 Siberian Zapadno-sibirskaya Ravnina Plain (Russia) - 1,200,000 square
miles
  canyon - a deep ravine between two cliffs or encasements, like the Grand
Canyon. A canyon is a deep, narrow valley with steep sides. “Canyon” comes
from the Spanish word cañon, which means “tube” or “pipe.” The term “gorge” is
often used to mean “canyon,” but a gorge is almost always steeper and narrower
than a canyon.The movement of rivers, the processes of weathering and erosion,
and tectonic activity create canyons.
 Cave - an underground space created by the weathering of rocks that is
enclosed and large enough to enter. It is an underground space created by the
weathering of rocks that is enclosed and large enough to enter. These large
underground chambers can take hundreds of thousands of years to form.
Some are found in cliffs at the edge of the coastline, chipped away by the
relentless pounding of waves. Others form where a lava tube's outer surface
cools and hardens and molten drains aways. Caves even form in glaciers where
meltwater carves tunnels at the beginning of its journey to the sea.
 Valley - a low area between hills or mountains. These geological formations are
created by running rivers and shifting glaciers.
 lavaka - a hole in the side of a hill caused by erosion

5. Volcanic Landforms
Volcanic eruptions pull materials up from deep within the earth to form various volcanic
landforms. The viscosity of the lava that erupts from a volcano can lead to the creation
of different volcanic landforms.
Volcanic Landforms:
Extrusive Igneous
 Cinder Cones
 Shield Volcanoes
 Strato (Composite)Volcanoes
 Lava Domes
 Caldera
 Volcanic Necks
 Volcanic Hot-Spots
Cinder Cones
Cinder cones are relatively small cone shaped hills (< 2000 ft of relief) formed by the
accumulation of cinders and ash during volcanic eruptions. The cinders form from
bursting bubbles of gas in the magma that eject lava into the air. The summit my be
truncated or bowl-shaped where the magma emerges from a single central vent or
volcanic neck. Cinder cones generally form from a single volcanic episode and are
rarely associated with eruptions lasting more than a decade.
Shield Volcanoes
Shield volcanoes are broad shaped mountain landforms built by the accumulation of
fluid basaltic lava. Their slopes are often very gentle and may be < 5 degrees, and their
summits, or peaks, are relatively flat. They received their name because their gently
domed form resembles the exterior of a warrior’s shield. Shield volcanoes usually have
either smooth, ropy pahoehoe lava, or blocky, sharp aa lava.Shield volcanoes form the
largest volcanoes on Earth.
Strato Volcanoes
Strato-volcanoes, also referred to as composite cones, are large, nearly symmetrical
mountainous landforms, formed by a combination of lava flows and intense pyroclastic
eruptions. Most strato volcanoes are located along the ring of fire which is a geographic
zone that rims the Pacific Plate where it is in contact with the Eurasian, North American,
and Indo-Australian Plate.
Caldera
In some volcanoes, the magma chamber below the surface may be emptied after
volcanic eruptions. Calderas are bowl-shaped collapse depressions formed by volcanic
processes.
The volcanic material above the chamber collapses into the empty magma chamber,
and the collapsed surface appears like a large cauldron-like hollow (tub shaped)
When water from rain or melted snow gets accumulated in the caldera, it becomes a
caldera lake (in general, the caldera lakes are also called crater lakes).
Examples of volcanic landforms includes:
 Craters - form as the result of explosive eruptive activity at a volcanic vent where
rock, magma, and other material is ejected leaving a conical void.
 geyser - a hole in the ground where water and steam shoots out
 maar - a shallow volcanic crater caused by an explosion of groundwater water
contacting magma or lava
 malpais - an area of eroded volcanic rocks
 guyot - a volcano under the water with a flat top
Philippine Landforms
From the famed Chocolate Hills in Bohol to the famous Banaue Rice Terraces in Benguet, the
Philippines is truly blessed with the richness of its lands. Natural formation of rocks, soil, and dirt
that come in different sizes and shapes, landforms, or anyong lupa in Tagalog, hit the bucket
lists of most tourists in the country.
Island

 An island is a land formation surrounded by water. It may be flat or mountainous.

 A group of islands is called an archipelago. The Philippines is an example of an
archipelago. It is made up of three big groups of islands – Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao.
 There are 10 biggest islands in the Philippines. These are the following: Luzon,
Mindanao, Samar, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Mindoro, Leyte, Cebu, and Bohol.
 Our country’s physical features and land formations show that we are rich in natural
resources. Constant efforts should be made to protect, preserve, and develop them.
Plain

 A plain is wide stretch of flat land. This is suitable for planting various crops like rice and
corn. Usually, people build their homes and establish settlements with governing bodies
in the plain. The widest plain is in Central Luzon.
 It is otherwise known as the Rice Granary of the country. In the Visayas, the plains of
Panay and Negros are bountiful. In Mindanao, the wide plains are found in Cotabato,
Davao, and Agusan.
Valley

 A valley is flat stretch of land found between two mountains. Its area is also suitable for
planting. The biggest valley in the country is the Cagayan Valley.
 Other notable valleys around the country are Trinidad Valley, Cotabato Valley, Agusan
Valley, Aklan Valley, Antique Valley, and Zamboanga Valley.

Plateau

 A plateau is a flat stretch of land on top of a mountain. This suitable for tending animals
as the temperature here is cool. It is also ideal for plants that do not need much water.
The bid plateaus around the country are found in the Mountain Province,
 Benguet, Ifugao, and Kalinga-Apayao in Luzon. On the other hand, the plateaus of
Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte and in Mindanao.
Mountain Ranges

 The Philippines has many mountain ranges. These serve as natural barriers against the
many typhoons that pass through the country. Moreover, the presence of mountain
ranges enables some ethnic groups to preserve their culture. One example of this is the
Ifugaos of Northern Luzon.
 The Cordilleras and the Caraballo that surround them hold back outside influences and
interference.
  The Sierra Madre, which spans from Cagayan to Quezon, is found in the north-eastern
part of Luzon. It runs parallel to the Cordillera in the eastern part of Ilocos. Near the
bottom of the Cordillera is the mountain of Zambales can be seen in the western part of
Luzon.
Mountain

 A mountain is a land formation that reaches 1000 meters or more in height. There are
many big and small mountains found in the Philippines. Mt. Apo in Davao is the
country’s highest mountain. It is estimated to be 2,954 meters high. The second highest
mountain is Mt. Pulag between Nueva Viscaya and Ifugao. The third is Mt. Halcon in
Mindoro. More mountains stand in Negros and Panay. A whole range of them lies
between Cotabato and Davao. (Agoncillo 1981)
 Apart from logs, the mountains are also rich source of minerals. They also serve as
natural barriers against strong typhoons. On the mountains, crops such as rice and other
agriculture produce can be planted. An example of this are the Ifugaos’ rice terraces
(payew) carved on the Banaue. These are just some of the benefits of having mountains
around us.
 Unfortunately, many of our mountains are denuded because of heavy logging and the
slash-burn system (kaingin). But through the many programs set up by both the
government and non-government organizations (NGOs), further destruction of our
mountain forests will be prevented.
Volcano

 A volcano is a vent on the outer crust of the earth. In time, it may spew lava and fire from
under the earth. One of the most impressive volcanoes in the country is the Mayon
Volcano in Albay. It lands at 2,429 meters high. On the other hand, Taal Volcano in
Batangas is the smallest volcano in the country. Other active colcanoes are Hibok-hibok
in Camiguin, Didicas on Babuyan Island, BUlusan in SOrsogon, and Kanlaon in Negros.
(Agoncillo 1981)
 Although a volcano may pose a threat to its immediate environment once erupts, its
presence also benefits everything around it. It is a rich source of minerals like sulphur
and limestone. Aside from this, there is a number of hot springs around it that people
enjoy for recreation and therapeutic purposes. It is also a vital source of geothermal
energy.
Hill

 A hill is a land formation that is smaller than a mountain. Chocolate Hills in Bohol is the
most popular group of hills in the country. Tagbilaran City also boasts of a similar group
of hills called Elly Hills. A number of hills may also be found in Quezon, Antipolo,
Bulacan, and Batangas.

 Landforms in the Philippines

 The Philippines has an outstanding physical features include the irregular
configuration of the archipelago, the coastline of some 22,550 miles (36,290 km),
 the great extent of mountainous country, the narrow and interrupted coastal
plains, the generally northward trend of the river systems, and the spectacular
lakes.
 The Philippines is truly blessed with the richness of its lands. Natural formation of
rocks, soil, and dirt that come in different sizes and shapes, landforms, or
anyong lupa in Tagalog, hit the bucket lists of most tourists in the country.
 The islands are composed primarily of volcanic rock and coral, but all principal
rock formations are present. The mountain ranges for the most part run in the
same general direction as the islands themselves, approximately north to south.
 Most of the island, a roughly rectangular area, lies north of Manila in a north-
south orientation, while south of Manila are two peninsulas, Batangas and Bicol,
which extend south and southeast, giving Luzon its irregular shape. Luzon’s
coastline, more than 3,000 miles (5,000 km) long, is indented by many fine bays
and gulfs, including Lingayen Gulf and Manila Bay on the west and Lamon Bay
and Lagonoy Gulf on the east. Luzon represents about one-third of the land area
of the Philippines, and its greatest dimensions are 460 by 140 miles (740 by 225
km).
 There is a predominant north-south trend in its rivers and relief features. The
important ranges are the Cordillera Central in the north; the Sierra Madre,
following much of the east coast; and the Zambales Mountains on the central-
western coast. Mount Pulog (9,612 feet [2,930 metres]) is the island’s highest
peak. Isolated volcanic cones such as the near-perfect and still-active Mayon
Volcano (8,077 feet [2,462 metres]) are on Bicol Peninsula.
 Taal Lake is a crater lake, and Laguna de Bay is the largest (344 square miles
[891 square km]) lake in the Philippines. The major rivers are Cagayan, Abra,
Agno, Pampanga, and Bicol.
Mountain
 Mountains are major landforms with higher elevation than the land around them.
Known as bundok in Tagalog, a mountain is a landform that rises above the
surrounding land in a limited area, creating a peak.
 Currently, there are 3134 named mountains in Philippines.
Mt. Apo
 Elévation: 2,956 meters
 Location: Davao Del Sur
 At 2,956 meters above sea level, Mt. Apo (or “master” or “grandchild” in Filipino)
is the highest mountain in the Philippines.
 Scale the summit and be rewarded with majestic views of Davao to the
northeast, Digos City to the southeast, and Kidapawan City to the West.
  Mt. Apo was declared a national park in 1934 by then President Manuel L.
Quezon, and rightly so. Apart from lush forests, it is home to over 272 bird
species, the most notable of which is the endangered Philippine eagle.
Mt. Dulang-Dulang
 Elevation: 2,938 meters
 Location: Bukidnon
 Mount Dulang-dulang, dubbed by Filipino mountaineers as "D2," is the highest
elevation peak in the Kitanglad Mountain Range, located in the north central
portion of the province of Bukidnon in the island of Mindanao. It is the second
highest mountain of the Philippines at 2,941 metres (9,649 ft) above sea level
 The mountain is regarded by the Talaandig tribe of Lantapan as a sacred place.
It is also within the ancestral domain of the tribe.The mountain range is the
ancestral home of the Bukidnon, Higaonon, and Talaandig indigenous peoples.
Mt. Pulag
 Elevation: 2,926 meters
 Location: Ifugao, Benguet, and Nueva Vizcaya
 Pulag is Luzon’s highest peak at 2,926 meters above sea level and the
indigenous people there treat Mt. Pulag as sacred because it’s close to heaven
and they believe that they can speak to God.
 This national park is home to the Ibalois, Kilanguya, Kankana-eys, Karao,
Ifugaos, and the Ilocanos.
 It is a popular destination among mountaineers for its amazing sea of clouds and
views of the Milky Way galaxy right before the sun rises.
Mt. Tabayoc
 Elevation: 2,842 meters
 Location: Ifugao, Mountain Province
 Tabayoc, in the native tongue, means “basin”, which may refer to the four lakes
surrounding it: Lake Tabeo, Ambulalakao, Iculus, and Detapnaco.
 A significant portion of Mt. Tabayoc’s trail is known as the “Monkey Trail” –
trekkers would have to climb over boulders, swing from one branch to another,
and hang on to vines to move forward.
 Tabayoc is the 2nd highest mountain in Luzon (next to Mt. Pulag followed by Mt.
Timbak or Singakalsa) and it is part of the Mount Pulag National Park.
Mt. Manunggal
 Elevation: 1,003 meters
 Location: Balamban, Cebu
 Mount Manunggal is the third-highest peak in the island of Cebu after Osmena
Peak and Lugsangan Peak.
 It is located in Barangay Magsaysay in Balamban, Cebu province, rising
  1,003 m (3290 ft) above sea level.
 It is the site of the crash of the presidential plane Mt. Pinatubo which killed
President Ramon Magsaysay and twenty-four others on March 17, 1957.
Mountain Ranges
 A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity
in form, structure, and alignment that have arisen from the same cause, usually a
tectonic activity
 Known as bulubundukin is a chain of mountains or hills close together and
connected by high ground.
 The country is blessed with many mountain ranges which act as natural barriers
against typhoons and allow some indigenous communities to preserve their
culture and traditions.

Sierra Madre
 Area: 6,280 sq. mi
 Location: Cagayan to Quezon
 The Sierra Madre is the longest mountain range in the Philippines. Spanning
over 540 kilometers (340 mi), it runs from the province of Cagayan down to the
province of Quezon, forming a north–south direction on the eastern portion of
Luzon, the largest island of the archipelago.
 In the province of Nueva Vizcaya, the Caraballo Mountains lies between Sierra
Madre and Cordillera Central. The mountain range serves as a typhoon barrier,
attenuating incoming typhoons from the Pacific Ocean before reaching the
central mainland.
Cordillera Range
 Area: 8,700 sq mi
 Location: CAR/Mountain Province
 The Cordillera Central is the highest mountain range in the Philippines,
comprising about 1/6 of the whole Luzon island with a total area of 22,500 km2
(8,700 sq mi).
 It is situated in the north-central part of the island of Luzon, in the Philippines.
The mountain range encompasses all provinces of the Cordillera Administrative
Region (CAR) as well as portions of eastern Ilocos Norte, eastern Ilocos Sur,
eastern La Union, northeastern Pangasinan, western Nueva Vizcaya, and
western Cagayan.
Kitanglad Mountain Range
 Area: 290 sq mi
 Location: Bukidnon
 Kitanglad Mountain Range is a mountain range that dominates the northern
central portion of the province of Bukidnon. The range is one of the few
remaining rainforests in the Philippines, hosting one of the most important
diverse species of rare and endemic wildlife such as the Philippine eagle.
 The name "kitanglad" was derived from a legend that there was once a great
flood that submerged the native lands of Bukidnon and only the tip of the
mountain, the size of a "tanglad" (lemon grass), remained visible ("kita" in
Cebuano).

Volcano
 The volcanoes of the Philippines are produced at the junction (convergence) of
the Philippines tectonic plate and the Eurasian plate
 The country is belong to the Pacific Ring of Fire which is tectonic setting ideal to
volcanism and earthquake activity.
 Though living a few kilometers close to a volcano might sound scary, these
landforms are actually among the most majestic natural spectacles worldwide,
displaying unique profiles and supporting life around them. Dormant volcanoes
are a good place to appreciate nature and enjoy trekking and photography.
 Individual volcanoes vary in the volcanic materials they produce, and this affects
the size, shape, and structure of the volcano There are three types of volcanoes:
cinder cones (also called spatter cones), composite volcanoes (also called
stratovolcanoes), and shield volcanoes.
Cinder Cones
 Cinder cones are relatively small cone shaped hills (< 2000 ft of relief) formed by
the accumulation of cinders and ash during volcanic eruptions. The cinders form
from bursting bubbles of gas in the magma that eject lava into the air. The
summit my be truncated or bowl-shaped where the magma emerges from a
single central vent or volcanic neck.
 Cinder cones generally form from a single volcanic episode and are rarely
associated with eruptions lasting more than a decade.
Mount Babuyan
 Elevation: 688 m (2,257 ft)
 Location: Babuyan Islands
 Smith Volcano, also known as Mount Babuyan, is a cinder cone on Babuyan
Island, the northernmost of the Babuyan group of islands on Luzon Strait, north
 of the main island of Luzon in the Philippines. The mountain is one of the active
volcanoes in the Philippines, which last erupted in 1924.
 The sparsely-vegetated cinder cone is 688 meters (2,257 ft) high with a base
diameter of 4.5 kilometers (2.8 mi). Layers of basaltic lava flows are evident
south of the volcano
Mt. Mayabobo
 Elevation: 300 m (980 ft)
 Location: Quezon
 Mount Mayabobo is a cinder cone dormant volcano situated at the base of Mount
Banahaw, in Barangay Mayabobo, Candelaria, Quezon in Luzon island,
Philippines. Approximately with a height of 300 metres (980 ft),
 It is a tourist destination for local residents of Candelaria and nearby
municipalities, since it has a telecommunication site at its summit for sight-seeing
and hiking.

Mayon Volcano
 Elevation: 8,077 feet Location: Legaspi, Albay
 Mayon volcano is an active stratovolcano known as the world’s most perfect
volcanic cone because of the symmetry of its shape, it has a base 80 miles (130
km) in circumference and rises to 8,077 feet (2,462 metres) from the shores of
Albay Gulf and is regarded as very sacred in Philippine mythology.
 Mayon is the most active volcano in the Philippines, erupting over 47 times in the
past 500 years. Historical observations accounted its first eruption in 1616.
 Like other volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean, Mayon is a part of the Pacific
Ring of Fire.
Mount Mariveles
 Elevation: 688 m (2,257 ft)
 Location: Bataan
 Mount Mariveles is a dormant stratovolcano and the highest point in the province
of Bataan in the Philippines. Mariveles and the adjacent Mount Natib comprise
80.9 percent of the total land area of the province.
 Mount Mariveles is a massive stratovolcano topped with a 4-kilometre (2.5 mi)
summit caldera which drains to the north. The highest peak, called Mariveles,
has an elevation of 1,388 metres (4,554 ft)
 Mariveles is still thermally active with the following hot springs located within the
complex: Tiis Spring, Saysain Spring, and Pucot Spring.
Kanlaon Volcano
 Elevation: 8,077 feet Location: Negros Oriental
 Kanlaon Volcano, is an active stratovolcano and the highest mountain on the
island of Negros in the Philippines, as well as the highest point in the Visayas
 The volcano straddles the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental,
approximately 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Bacolod. It is one of the active
volcanoes in the Philippines and part of the Ring of Fire.
 Mount Kanlaon is the third most active volcano in the country, with a total of 30
eruptions which are mostly phreatic and mild, characterized mainly by ashfalls.
Bulusan Volcano
 Elevation: 688 m (2,257 ft)
 Location: Bataan
 Bulusan Volcano, is the stratovolcano volcano on Luzon Island in the Republic
of the Philippines. It is in the province of Sorsogon in the Bicol region, 70 km (43
mi) southeast of Mayon Volcano
 Bulusan is generally known for its sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions. It
has erupted 15 times since 1885 and is considered as the 4th most active
volcano in the Philippines after Mayon, Taal, and Kanlaon.
 Despite its phreatic eruptions, this volcano has gifted its surrounding towns with a
number of hot springs that both locals and tourists enjoy.
Mount Pinatubo
 Elevation: 4,875 ft
 Location: Zambales
 Mt. Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano in the Zambales Mountains, located on
the tripoint boundary of the Philippine provinces of Zambales, Tarlac and
Pampanga, all in Central Luzon on the northern island of Luzon
 Mount Pinatubo has only two recorded eruptions, with the most historic and
destructive in 1991, causing hundreds of casualties and thousands affected. The
1991 caldera afterwards filled with water from annual monsoon rains and a crater
lake, Lake Pinatubo, was formed.
 Now, this volcano serves locals and tourists with a peaceful scenery attraction.
Taal Volcano
 Elevation:1,020 ft.
 Location: Batangas
 Taal Volcano is a large caldera filled by Taal Lake in the Philippines. Located in
the province of Batangas, the volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the
country, with 34 recorded historical eruptions
 The caldera is are part of the Ring of Fire and considered as the smallest
volcano in the world
  As a caldera type, it is among the deadliest. Observing its geography, Taal is a
volcano island inside Taal Lake which is enclosed by Taal Caldera, 25 kilometers
in diameter.
 Island
 The Philippines is one of the world’s largest archipelago nations. It is situated in
Southeast Asia in the Western Pacific Ocean.
 The Philippines is consists of 7, 7,640 islands with a total land area of
approximately 300,000 square kilometers.
 The country can be divided into three main areas: Luzon (the largest,
northernmost island, a group of islands called the Visayas in the center and
Mindanao, the second-largest island in the Philippines, found at the southern end
of the archipelago.
The Biggest Islands Of The Philippines

Rank Island Area

1 Luzon 42,458 square miles

2 Mindanao 37,657 square miles

3 Samar 5,185 square miles

4 Negros 5,139 square miles

5 Palawan 4,706 square miles

6 Panay 4,637 square miles

7 Mindoro 4,082 square miles

8 Leyte 2,845 square miles

9 Cebu 1,725 square miles

10 Bohol 1,475 square miles

The Philippines lay claims to about 7,641 islands in the Philippine archipelago. Only about
2,000 islands have people, and the total population of the Republic is estimated at 100 million.
The islands fall into three geographical divisions: Luzon, Mindanao, and the Visayas. The
Philippines has maritime borders with Indonesia, Taiwan, Palau, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
The Biggest Islands Of The Philippines
Luzon

 Luzon ranks as the Philippine’s most populous and largest island. Luzon lies in the
archipelago's northern part and occupies an area of 42,458 square miles. It is the
15th largest island on earth. The island borders the Philippine Sea to its east, the
South China Sea to its west, and the Luzon Strait to its north. Luzon is divided into the
Southern, Northern, and Central Regions and the National Capital Region. It is home to
several mountain ranges such as the Cordillera Mountain Range, Sierra Madre, and the
Zambales Mountains as well as lakes, peninsulas, plains, rivers, gulfs, and bays. Some
of the surrounding islands are part of Luzon including Mindoro and Romblon. Metro
Manila, which is situated in Luzon, serves as the country’s economic and financial hub.
Industry, agriculture, and tourism are the primary economic activities in the island. An
estimated 53,336,134 inhabitants live in Luzon with the major ethnicities represented
being Kapampangans, Sambals, Ilocanos, Pangasinenses, Visayans, and Bicolanos.
Mindanao

 The island of Mindanao occupies an area of 37,657 square miles. Most of the island’s
landscape is mountainous, and it has the nation’s tallest mountain, Mount Apo, at 9,692
feet above sea level. Mindanao borders the Mindanao Sea to its north, the Philippine
Sea to its east, the Sulu Sea to its west, and the Celebes Sea to its south. The larger
Mindanao island group consists of islands such as Sulu, Samal, Basilan, and Dinagat.
An estimated 21,968,174 people live in Mindanao, and 1,632,991 of them are
concentrated in Davao City. Mindanao accounts for 14% of the nation’s GDP and
agriculture, fishing, industry, service, and forestry are its main economic sectors.
Samar

 Samar Island occupies an area of 5,185 square miles in the Central Philippines. It
borders the five water bodies of Samar Sea, San Juanico Strait, Leyte Gulf, Philippine
Sea, and San Bernardin Strait. The coastal parts of Samar feature low rolling hills and
flatlands while the inner regions are mountainous. Samar is home to 1,751,267
inhabitants with a population density of 337.7 people per square mile. The Waray-Waray
and Cebuano languages are the most widely spoken tongues in Samar. Most of the
island’s residents rely on agriculture and fishing for their livelihoods.
Negros

 The island of Negros was established on May 29, 2015, and it occupies an area of 5,139
square miles. Negros is home to 4,414,131 people, most of whom are Negrenses.
Negros lies adjacent to the Visayan Sea, Bohol Sea, Sulu Sea, Guimaras Strait, Panay
Gulf, and Tañon Strait. The island’s highest peak is the Kanlaon Volcano which is active.
Volcanic activity in the island is harnessed to generate electricity. The island is made up
of the Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces and the city of Bacolod. The
production of sugar is the island’s major economic activity in addition to the production of
hardwood, cotton, and gamefowl breeding.
Tourism In The Philippine Islands
The country’s numerous islands provide a rich biodiversity for the flora and fauna of the region.
In 2012 alone, 4.27 million tourists arrived in the country. The islands are home to beaches,
mountains, and rainforests and they also have some of the world’s most popular diving spots. A
rich cultural and historical heritage also thrives in the many islands of the Philippine archipelago.
Batanes Islands
 Area: 84.56 sq mi
 Location: Batanes
 The Batanes Islands are a group of islands between Taiwan and the Philippines. It is the
northernmost province in the country, and also the smallest, both in population and land
area. Its capital is Basco located on the island of Batan.
 The islands are sparsely populated and subject to frequent typhoons. The three largest
islands, Batan, Itbayat, and Sabtang, are the only inhabited islands.
 The entire province is listed in the UNESCO tentative list for inscription in the World
Heritage List. The government has been finalizing the site's inscription, establishing
museums and conservation programs since 2001.

Siargao Island
 Area: 169 sq mi
 Location: Surigao del Norte
 Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea situated 196 kilometers
southeast of Tacloban. It has a land area of approximately 437 square kilometres (169
sq mi).
 The name originates from Visayan siargaw or saliargaw (Premna odorata), a mangrove
species that grows on the islands
 Siargao is famed as the surfing capital of the Philippines, as well as it contains one of
the largest mangrove forest reserves in Mindanao, covering an area of 4,871 hectares in
Del Carmen.
Camiguin Island
 Area: 91.87 sq mi
 Location: Camiguin
 Camiguin Island is a pearl-shaped island with an area of approximately 238 km2 (92 sq
mi). The island measures about 23 kilometres (14 mi) at its longest and 14.5 kilometres
(9.0 mi) at its widest breadth
 Camiguin is the second-smallest province in the country in both population and land
area after Batanes and famous for its sweet lanzones.
 Camiguin has only five municipalities (Catarman, Guinisiliban, Mahinog, Mambajao, and
Sagay) but it has seven volcanoes (Mount Vulcan Daan, Mount Mambajao, Mount
Karling, Mount Uhay, Guinisiliban Peak, Tres Marias Mountain, and Mount Hibok-Hibok).
Malaspascua Island
 Area: 0.62
 Location: Daanbantayan, Cebu
 Malapascua is a Philippine island situated in the Visayan Sea, 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi)
across a shallow strait from the northernmost tip of Cebu Island. Administratively, it is
part of the peninsular barangay of Logon, Daanbantayan, Cebu. Malapascua is a small
island, only about 2.5 by 1 kilometre (1.55 by 0.62 mi), and has eight hamlets.
 Malapascua Island or barangay Logon is believed to be the place where the Virgin de
los Desamparados made a miracle sometime in 1890 when the island had only nine
households
Kalanggaman Island
 Area: 0.46 miles
 Location: Palompon, Leyte
 Kalanggaman Island has a length of only 753m lies between Cebu and Leyte. It is
located in the municipality of Palompon in Leyte Province.
 The island got its name from the root word "langgam", which means bird in Bisaya.
Viewed from above, the two ends of the island seem to flap like bird's wings with the
changing tides.
 Known as The Crown Jewel of Leyte. It has a long sandbar which is one of the
Philippines’ longest and the island is still inhabited but there is a beautiful beach
destination located for tourists to stay and enjoy the place
Hill
 Hills are smaller landforms than mountains, but they share many of the same
characteristics. Called a burol in Tagalog, a hill is a landmass that extends above the
surrounding terrain but is generally less tall and less steep than a mountain and are
often formed by tectonic activity and sometimes erosion.
Chocolate Hills
 Elevation: 120 m (390 ft)
 Location: Carmen, Bohol
 The Chocolate Hills (are a geological formation in the Bohol province of the Philippines.
There are at least 1,260 hills but there may be as many as 1,776 hills spread over an
area of more than 50 square kilometres (20 sq mi).
 A popular tourist attraction in Bohol, the Chocolate Hills, despite its name, is covered in
green grass that turns brown during the dry season.
 These rolling terrain of haycock-shaped hills are featured in the provincial flag and
symbolize the abundance of natural attractions in Bohol.
 They have been declared the country's third National Geological Monument and
proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Name: Ligñon Hill
 Elevation: 156 m (512 ft)
  Location: Legazpi, Albay
 Ligñon Hill is a prominent hill in the city of Legazpi, some 3 kilometers west of its
downtown port area in Albay, Philippines. The summit rises to about 512 feet (156
meters)
 Ligñon Hill is a prehistoric cinder cone hill near the foot of Mayon, some 12 kilometers
south-southeast of the volcano's summit. It is mainly composed of dolerite and basaltic
volcanic rocks
 The whole site is managed by the city and provincial government, and has been
designated as a Nature Park.

Plateau
 Also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain
that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side.
Bukidnon
 Area : 4,053.53 sq mi
 Location: Bukidnon
 Bukidnon is a landlocked plateau in North Central Mindanao. The province's total land
area is 10,498.59 square kilometres (4,053.53 sq mi),10,498.59 making it the largest in
Mindanao in terms of land area. It accounts for 59 percent (59%) of Northern Mindanao.
Thirty-eight percent (38%) is alienable and disposable. The rest is classified timberland.
 The name "Bukidnon" means "highlander" or "mountain dweller." Occupying a wide
plateau in the north central part of the island of Mindanao, the province is considered to
be the food basket of the region.
 Bukidnon was ranked 5th in the list of richest provinces in the Philippines
Benguet
 Area : 1,069.15 sq mi
 Location: Benguet
 Benguet is a landlocked plateau province of the Philippines located in the southern tip of
the Cordillera Administrative Region in the island of Luzon. The highland province is
known as the Salad Bowl of the Philippines due to its huge production of upland
vegetables.
 It is located about 1500 meters above sea level as rugged and sloping terrain is dotted
with hot springs and rivers that drain into the valleys
 Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines, is located in the south central part of
the Benguet Plateua
Dunes
Paoay Sand Dunes
 Area : 88 sq km
 Location: Ilocos Norte
 Paoay Sand Dunes is an 88 sq km parched paradise that lies adjacent Suba Beach. It is
one of the two most popular sand dunes sites in the province, the other one being La
Paz in Laoag City.
La Paz Sand Dunes
 Area : 33 sq mi
 Location: Ilocos Norte
 The La Paz Sand Dunes is an 85-square-kilometre (33 sq mi) protected sandy coastal
desert and beach located in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, in the Philippines.
 The two great area are popular for recreational activities such as sandboarding and 4x4
vehicle riding

 Beaches/Coasts
 Since the Philippines has thousands of islands, visitors are never far from a beach. The
country also offers one of the longest white sand coastlines in the world, which is one of
its many tourist attractions.
White Beach, Boracay
 Area : 1,069.15 sq mi
 Location: Benguet
 Boracay is a resort island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It lies 0.8
kilometers (0.50 mi) off the northwest coast of Panay
 Famous for its powdery white sands and pristine blue waters, Boracay is one of the most
popular tourist destinations in the Philippines.
 White Beach, the main tourism beach, is about four kilometers long and Bulabog Beach,
across the island from White Beach, is the second most popular tourism beach on the
island
 Boracay was awarded as the 2012 Best Island in the World by the international travel
magazine Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast
Sabang Beach, Puerto Gallera
 Area : 95.70 sq mi
 Location: Mindoro
 Puerto Galera is located at the north-westernmost part of Oriental Mindoro, and at the
south-western end of the Isla Verde Passage, about 130 kilometers (81 mi) south of
Manila and 51 kilometres (32 mi) from Calapan, the provincial capital.
 Sabang Beach is the main destination for foreign tourists. Big La Laguna Beach and
Small La Laguna Beach are considered part of Sabang with resorts lining the beaches.
Big La
 Puerto Galera, especially Sabang area, is among the top diving and snorkeling
destinations in the Philippines and in Asia

 Peninsula
 is a landform surrounded by water on three sided borders while one side is being
connected to a mainland from which it extends. Peninsulas are not always
named as such; they can also be referred to as a headland, cape, island
promontory, bill, point, fork, or spit
  Some of the prominent peninsula in the Philippines are Bataan Peninsula, Bicol
Region. Bondoc Peninsula, Cavite Peninsula, Zamboanga Peninsula
Cavite Peninsula
 Location: Cavite
 The Cavite Peninsula is a peninsula extending northeast into Manila Bay from
the coastal town of Noveleta in Cavite province in the Philippines. The northern
tip of the peninsula is geographically the northernmost part of the Province of
Cavite.
 The peninsula is shaped like a human left hand starting from about the middle of
the forearm with fingers forming a letter 'C'.
 The tip of the thumb, known as the Cavite Punta or Cavite Point, was the location
of the old Spanish shipyard where galleons were built.[2] It later became Cavite
Navy Yard during the American colonial rule.
Zamboanga Peninsula
 Location: Zamboanga
 The Zamboanga Peninsula is a peninsula of Mindanao, consisting the provinces
of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay of
Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX)
 The peninsula is connected to the main section of Mindanao Island through an
isthmus situated between Panguil Bay and Illana Bay.
 Zamboanga Peninsula extends southwesterly toward the Sulu Archipelago and
Borneo island. It has an area of roughly 5,600 square miles (14,500 square km).
It is between the Sulu Sea on the north and west, and the Moro Gulf of the
Celebes Sea on the south.
Plain
Central Luzon Plain
 Location: Region 3
 Central Luzon contains the largest plain in the country with its agricultural plains
accounting for about 40% of the region's area. It covers a total land area of
21,470 square kilometers.
 It is the longest contiguous area of lowlands, The region produces one third of
the country’s total rice production, thus is also called the Rice Granary of the
Philippines.
 It is composed of seven provinces, twelve cities and 118 municipalities. Its 7
provinces are Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and
Zambales.
Mallig Plains
 Location: Isabela
  Mallig Plains Region is a region in the western part of the province of Isabela in
the Philippines. Its name was acquired from the rolling terrains in western
Isabela.
 The Mallig Plains Region is composed of 1,199 km2 with a total population of
205, 813 with Roxas as the most populated and the only 1st class municipality
among seven. It is a lowland area with rolling terrain and kilometers of straight
National Highway.
 The region is bordered by Paracelis, Mountain Province and Tabuk City on the
west, Cabagan and Santo Tomas, Isabela on the north, Tumauini, Delfin Albano
and Gamu, Isabela on the east, and Cabatuan, San Mateo and Reina Mercedes,
Isabela on the south.
Cave
 More than 3,000 caves have been recorded in the Philippines with still a
significant number of caves yet to be discovered, assessed , surveyed and
classified.
Langun-Gobingob Cave
 Location: Calbiga, Samar
 The Calbiga Caves (officially named the Langun-Gobingob Caves) are the
largest cave system in all of the Philippines and the second largest in the entire
continent of Asia.
 It covers an area of approximately 2,968 hectares. The cave system has 12
caves including Langun, Gobingob, Lurodpon and Bitong Mahangin.[
 It is also the oldest cave with a main chamber of 340 by 140 metres at its widest
points. Known as The ‘Football Field’, it is home to a blind fish unique to Samar’s
caves.
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
 Location: Puerto Princesa, Palawan
 Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park encompasses one of the
world’s most impressive cave systems, featuring spectacular limestone karst
landscapes, pristine natural beauty, and intact old-growth forests and distinctive
wildlife. It is located in the south-western part of the Philippine Archipelago on the
mid western coast of Palawan. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
1999
 The property, comprising an area of approximately 22,202 ha, contains an 8.2km
long underground river. The river is one of the world's longest underground
waterways at 8.2-kilometers (5.1-miles)—and one of the few that flows into the
sea, creating the largest subterranean estuary in the world.
Valley
Cagayan Valley
  Location: Region II
 Cagayan Valley, designated as Region II, is an administrative region in the
Philippines, located in the northeastern section of Luzon Island
 Cagayan Valley is the large mass of land in the northeastern region of Luzon,
comprising the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the
Batanes group of islands. It is bordered to the west by the Cordillera mountain
range, to the east by the Sierra Madre, to the south by the Caraballo Mountains,
and to the north by the Luzon Strait.
 Cagayan Valley comprises five provinces, one independent city, three
component cities, 89 municipalities, and 2,311 barangays.
Allah Valley
 Location: South Cotabato
 The Allah Valley (at times also spelled Alah) is a large valley of the Allah River in
the provinces of South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat on the island of Mindanao,
Philippines.
 The valley is known for its natural environment, such as Lake Sebu, Lake Holon,
Baras Bird Sanctuary, and Esperanza Hot and Cold Springs. The 2,520 square
kilometres (970 sq mi) valley covers over the half of South Cotabato because it
has 6 of the 10 municipalities of South Cotabato.
 The entire valley was declared a watershed forest reserve in 1985 through the
signing of Proclamation No. 2455.
Trench
 Trenches are long, narrow depressions on the seafloor that form at the boundary
of tectonic plates where one plate is pushed, or subducts, beneath another.
These chasms are the deepest parts of the ocean—and some of the deepest
natural spots on Earth.
 Along its western margin, the Philippine Sea plate is associated with a zone of
oblique convergence with the Sunda Plate. This highly active convergent plate
boundary extends along both sides the Philippine Islands, from Luzon in the
north to the Celebes Islands in the south
Philippine Trench
 Location: Western part of the Philippines
 The Philippine Trench (also Philippine Deep, Mindanao Trench, and Mindanao
Deep) is a submarine trench to the east of the Philippines. t has a length of
approximately 1,320 kilometres (820 miles) and a width of about 30 km (19 mi)
from the center of the Philippine island of Luzon trending southeast to the
northern Maluku island of Halmahera in Indonesia.
 At its deepest point, the trench reaches 10,540 meters (34,580 ft) or (5,760
fathoms)
  The Philippine trench is hypothesized to be younger than 8–9 million years old.
The central part of the Philippine fault formed during the Plio-Pleistocene times is
considered to be an active depression of the Earth's crust.

Landforms in the Philippines

From the famed Chocolate Hills in Bohol to the famous Banaue Rice Terraces in
Benguet, the Philippines is truly blessed with the richness of its lands. Natural formation
of rocks, soil, and dirt that come in different sizes and shapes, landforms, or anyong
lupa in Tagalog, hit the bucket lists of most tourists in the country.
MOUNTAIN
 Known as bundok in Tagalog, a mountain is a landform that rises above the
surrounding land in a limited area, creating a peak.
 Generally steeper than a hill, mountains are formed through the slow but gigantic
movements of tectonic plates or volcanism.
 Mountains erode slowly through rivers, weather conditions, and glaciers.
 Some mountains are isolated summits, but most of these landforms are in huge
mountain ranges.
 Mt. Apo. Located between the provinces of North Cotabato and Davao, Mt. Apo
is the Philippines’ highest peak at 2,954 meters. This mountain displays terrain
covered with moss and cultivated by substantial amounts of rainwater that flows
from the Agco River.
 Mt. Kabunian. Found in the northern Philippines, Mt. Kabunian gives a distinct
hiking adventure, on top of the majestic views that await the mountaineers who
climb its peak. Considered a holy ground, this mountain has a number of hanging
wooden coffins that can be seen on the side of the steep walls up to its highest
point.
 Mt. Pico de Loro. ‘Parrot’s beak’ is among the highly suggested summits to
climb as its trail, which is only five kilometers long, is not as hard as the other
mountains. Pico de Loro’s peak gives an amazing view of the mountainous
terrain, aside from serving a panoramic perspective of the nearby province of
Batangas, the historic island of Corregidor, and the West Philippine Sea and
even Manila Bay. A monolith, or a single natural rock formation that forms an
obelisk or a column that stands at least 60 meters tall, can also be seen in its
summit.
 Mt. Pulag. Another must-visit mountain in the northern Philippines, even for
those who are not into hiking or mountain climbing, is Mt. Pulag. This mountain
 serves a unique experience of literally walking in a sea of clouds, though this
feature strongly depends on the weather and a pinch of luck.
 Mt. Batulao. A mountain near Metro Manila, Mt. Batulao is also among the
easier summits to climb because of its moderate slopes. Serving awesome views
of the provinces of Cavite and Batangas, Mt. Batulao is the perfect mountain for
hiking and mountain climbing newbies as it only needs an average level of skill
and stamina.
MOUNTAIN RANGES
 A mountain range or bulubundukin is a chain of mountains or hills close together
and connected by high ground.
 The country is blessed with many mountain ranges which act as natural barriers
against typhoons and allow some indigenous communities to preserve their
culture and traditions.
 The Ifugao tribe of Northern Luzon are surrounded by the Cordilleras and the
Caraballo, protecting them from outside influences and interference.
 The Sierra Madre, which stretches from Cagayan to Quezon, is located at the
northeast portion of Luzon. It runs parallel to the Cordillera in the Ilocos.
VOLCANO
 Called a bulkan in Tagalog, a volcano is a rupture of the Earth, letting hot lava,
volcanic ash, and gases escape from a magma chamber below the planetary-
mass’ surface.
 Volcanoes are commonly found in areas where there are movements of tectonic
plates, and in rare cases, underwater.
 Though living a few kilometers close to a volcano might sound scary, these
landforms are actually among the most majestic natural spectacles worldwide,
displaying unique profiles and supporting life around them. Dormant volcanoes
are a good place to appreciate nature and enjoy trekking and photography.
 Mayon Volcano. Standing 8,081 feet high, Mayon Volcano is surrounded by
three cities in Albay, which is 11 hours away from the metro if you travel by car.
Known for its perfect conical shape, this volcano has 51 recorded eruptions, with
the most violent occurrence in February 1814.
 Taal Volcano. Found in Batangas, Taal is among the most intriguing volcanoes
in the country. As a caldera type, it is among the deadliest. Observing its
geography, Taal is a volcano island inside Taal Lake which is enclosed by Taal
Caldera, 25 kilometers in diameter.
  Mount Kanlaon. Located in Negros Oriental, Mount Kanlaon is the third most
active volcano in the country, with a total of 30 eruptions which are mostly
phreatic and mild, characterized mainly by ashfalls.
 Mount Bulusan. Another active volcano in the Bicol Region, Mount Bulusan is
located in Sorsogon province. Its worst eruption was in 1918 and ended in 1822.
Despite its phreatic eruptions, this volcano has gifted its surrounding towns with a
number of hot springs that both locals and tourists enjoy.
 Mount Pinatubo. Found within the boundaries of Pampanga, Tarlac, and
Zambales, Mount Pinatubo has only two recorded eruptions, with the most
historic and destructive in 1991, causing hundreds of casualties and thousands
affected. Now, this volcano serves locals and tourists with a peaceful scenery
and a number of activities such as trekking, camping, volcanic mud spa, and
more.
PLAIN
 Known as a kapatagan in Tagalog, a plain is a broad area of flat sweeping
landmass that does not change in elevation.
 It can be seen on lowlands along valleys or on the doorsteps of mountains, as
coastal plains, and as plateaus or uplands.
 This landform is essential for agriculture and supports grasslands for livestock.
 The largest in the Philippines, Central Luzon is also referred to as the ‘central
plains’ of the island, famous for being the traditional rice granary of the country.
This houses the provinces of Aurora, Bataan Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga,
Tarlac, and Zambales.
HILL
 Called a burol in Tagalog, a hill is a landmass that extends above the
surrounding terrain but is generally less tall and less steep than a mountain.
 Chocolate Hills. A popular tourist attraction in Bohol, the Chocolate Hills,
despite its name, is covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry
season. There are at least 1,260 hills scattered in the province. These rolling
terrain of haycock-shaped hills are featured in the provincial flag and symbolize
the abundance of natural attractions in Bohol.
 Ligñon Hill. A prominent landmass in Legazpi, Albay, Ligñon Hill is a prehistoric
cinder cone close to the foot of Mayon, mostly made of dolerite and basaltic
volcanic rocks.
 Manduyog Hill. Located in Aklan, Manduyog Hill is a holy sanctuary that stands
at the eastern portion of the Aklan State University.
PLATEAU
 A flat stretch of land on top of a mountain, a plateau or talampas often has deep
hills on one or more sides. This high plain or tableland can be formed through
upwelling of volcanic magma, extrusion of lava, and erosion by water and
glaciers.
 A plateau works best for tending animals due to its cool temperature, and is ideal
for plants that do not require much water.
 Larger than the island of Luzon and part of the country’s continental shelf, the
Benham Rise is a 13-million hectare underwater plateau in Aurora.
 Plateaus around the Philippines are found in the Mountain Province, Benguet,
Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao in Luzon, and in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte in
Mindanao.
VALLEY
 Suitable for planting crops, a valley or lambak is a flat stretch of landmass in
between two mountains.
 Cagayan Valley in Region II is the country’s second largest administrative region
by land area, composed of five provinces: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva
Vizcaya, and Quirino.
 Other valleys in the country are found in the provinces of Baguio, Cotabato,
Agusan, Aklan, Antique, and Zamboanga.
ISLAND
 An island or isla is a landmass, either flat or mountainous, surrounded by water.
 An archipelago is a group of islands. A great example of this is the Philippines
itself, composed of three big groups of islands, namely Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao.
 There are ten biggest islands in the country: Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, Negros,
Palawan, Panay, Mindoro, Leyte, Cebu, and Bohol.

Resources in the Philippines

 Resources in the Philippine Landforms
  Resources are characterized as renewable or nonrenewable; a renewable
resource can replenish itself at the rate it is used, while a nonrenewable
resource has a limited supply.
 The Philippines has a bounty of minerals, cropland, timber, and coastal
and marine resources. These natural resources make up an estimated
19% of the nation’s wealth, contributing to the country’s consistent GDP
growth. However, rapid economic development is placing pressure on the
country’s already stressed natural resources, exacerbated by the impacts
of global climate change.
 Also, the Philippines has fertile, arable lands, diverse flora and fauna,
extensive coastlines, and rich mineral deposits. About 30% of the land
area of the country was determined be geologically prospective by the
Philippine Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau.
 The Philippines has a bounty of minerals, cropland, timber, and coastal
and marine resources. These natural resources make up an estimated
19% of the nation’s wealth, contributing to the country’s consistent GDP
growth. However, rapid economic development is placing pressure on the
country’s already stressed natural resources, exacerbated by the impacts
of global climate change.

Renewable Resources
Coastal Resources
 Since the Philippines is an archipelago, it possesses an irregular coastline, and
this coastline is one of the longest coastlines in the world. The Philippines'
beach/coastline offer a wide variety of habitats such as mangrove forests, coral
reefs, sea grass beds, mangroves, estuarine areas, and finest beaches in the
world.
 The coastlines are home to 468 scleratine corals, 1,755 reef-associated fishes,
648 species of mollusks, 19 species of seagrass and 820 species of algae,"
which make the Philippines as one the richest coastal and marine environment in
the world
 In addition, the Philippines holds the distinction as the country with the second
highest seagrass diversity in the world.
Del Carmen Mangrove Forest – Siargao Island
 The mangroves of Siargao Island comprise the country’s largest contiguous
mangrove stand.
 The Municipality of Del Carmen alone has mangrove forests that stretch over
4,295 hectares, and host 27 out of the 70 mangrove species in the world.
Bohol Mangrove Forest – Bohol
 Bohol is blessed with mangrove forests around its river systems, estuaries and
off shore islands.
 The island has one of the highest biologically diverse mangrove ecosystems with
26 mangrove species found on its shores.

 Crop Production Resources

 The Philippines’ primary source of livelihood is its fertile land because of its
natural volcanic origins. Rich, wide plains suitable for farming are found in the
Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, South western Bicol, Panay, Negros, Davao,
Cotabato, Agusan and Bukidnon.
 A total of 52 177 species of flora and fauna have been identified in the country, of
which 67% are endemic. There are approximately 15 000 plant species so far
identified within its borders.
 Of the 8 120 species of flowering plants 40% are endemic to the country. There
are more than 3 000 plant species in the country that are used for food,
medicine, fiber, essential oil, commercial timber or ornamentals
 As in most of the tropics, the natural vegetation of the Philippines is highly
diverse. It supports one of the world’s richest floral communities. In many ways,
the vegetation constitutes one of the country’s greatest resources.
 In value terms, the leading crops are rice, maize, sugarcane, coconut, banana,
mango, pineapple, cassava, coffee, sweet potato and eggplant.
 Several crop-based farming systems can be found in the Philippines. Among
these are systems based on rice, maize, coconut and sugarcane

Geothermal Energy
 The Philippines is one of the world's top producers of geothermal power, as it is
located along the Ring of Fire zone of Pacific volcanoes. The Philippines is the
third largest producer of geothermal electricity after the United States of America
and Mexico.
 As of 2017, the International Renewable Energy Agency estimates the
Philippines' net installed geothermal energy capacity to at 1.9 gigawatts (GW)

Forest Resources
 Forests are among the most valuable natural resources in the Philippines. They
provide a range of ecosystem services, ranging from the provision of food crops,
livestock, wildlife habitats and fish to providing recreational experiences.
 According to the U.N. FAO, 25.7% or about 7,665,000 ha of Philippines is
forested, according to FAO. Of this 11.2% ( 861,000 ) is classified as primary
forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest.
 There are types of forests in the Philippines:
1. Mangrove Forest
2. Beach Forest
3. Molave Forest
4. Dipterocarp Forest
5. Pine Forest
6. Mossy Forest

 Mangrove Forest
• The mangrove forest has trees that have special root formations. The fruits and
the seeds of the mangrove trees can survive; can germinate and can float in the
seawater. This type of forest is tidal and it can be found along the clayed
seashore as well as in the tidal zones in the river estuaries.

 Beach Forest
• The beach forest can be found along the beach; this kind of forest forms a
narrow strip along the sandy coast of the beach.
 Molave Forest
 Molave forests are those in the Philippines where molave trees grow. A molave is
a tree that grows with a crooked trunk. It reaches heights of up to 82 to 89 feet
(25 to 30 meters) tall.
 Dipterocarp Forest
 The dipterocarp forest covers the largest forest areas in the Philippines.
 The dipterocarps are a family of hardwood, tropical trees comprising about 500
species
 The dipterocarp forest is the biggest source of lumber supply in the country.
 Pine Forest
• The fine forest is usually developed in the country’s high plateau regions.
• This is in the altitude ranging from seven to eight meters above the sea level.
 Mossy Forest
• The Mossy forest can be found along the mountains in about 1200 altitude high.
• Most of the mountainous areas have moist climate in which mossy forest mostly
developed.
 Non- Renewable Resources
 Mineral Resources
 The Philippines is blessed with metal and mineral deposits due to its geological
location. The islands are on the top of underwater mountains that were formed
due to the molten rocks from the interior of the earth, which created the ideal
setting of a variety of valuable minerals.
 The Philippines has been ranked as the fifth most mineralized country in the
world. The country’s mineral deposits can be classified into metals and non-
metals. Nickel ranks first in terms of deposits and size, it is found in Surigao del
Norte, Davao, Palawan, Romblon and Samar. Iron is found in Ilocos Norte,
Nueva Ecija, Camarines Norte and Cotabato.
 While copper in Zambales, Batangas, Mindoro, Panay and Negros. Among non-
metal deposits, the most abundant are cement, lime, and marble.
 The country is rich in gold, copper, chromite, silver, nickel, cobalt, and other minerals.
Coal and limestone are also abundant. According to advertisements placed in The
Financial Times in 1989: "The Philippines is more densely mineralised than Australia,
the tonnages are larger and the terrain is largely unexplored.
 Around 9 million hectares, of 30 million hectares, are believed to contain important
metallic mineral deposits. The country’s estimated mineral reserves are placed at about
14.5 billion metric tons of metallic minerals.
 During the period, nickel (direct shipping ore and mixed nickel-cobalt sulfide) accounted
for 58.05% or PhP79.84 billion of the total production value. Gold is in far second with
23.97% or PhP32.97 billion. Copper followed with 16.55% or PhP22.76 billion and etc.
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