Open left menu Luzon. Luzon Island: geographical location, climate. Philippine Islands Luzon Island Philippines attractions

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Luzon is the largest island in the Philippine archipelago and the 17th largest in the world. Area - 109,964.9 km². Population - 52,990,000 inhabitants (2015). In the southern part of the island are the two main cities of the Philippines: Manila, the capital of the country, and Quezon, the largest city in the Philippines by population. The name Luzon also refers to a group of islands, one of the three largest in the Philippines. On old maps you can find the name Lusonia, referring to the island of Luzon, as well as New Castile. One common name was applied to the inhabitants of the island - Luzonans. In the west, the island of Luzon is washed by the South China Sea, in the east by the Philippine Sea. In the north it is separated by the Luzon Strait from the island of Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands. The Luzon Strait is also divided into two branches - the Babuyan Channel and the Balintang Channel.

Luzon is a mountainous island. The relief is mid-mountain, heights up to 2934 m (Mount Pulog). The island has both extinct (Arayat) and active volcanoes (Mayon and others). Also known is Mount Pinatubo, which last erupted in 1991. A large mountain system, the Cordillera Central, runs along the northwestern part of the island. To the south are the low Zambales Mountains, and to the east is the Cagayan River Valley, which separates another mountain range, the Sierra Madre, from the Cordillera. Cagayan is the largest river in the Philippines. Between the Sierra Madre and Zambales mountains lies the Central Luzon Plain, which covers 11,000 km². It is the main rice production area. Mount Arayat rises in the middle of the plain.

Population

The peoples of Luzon belong to different ethnolinguistic groups. The main nationalities: Aeta, Bicol, Ibanag, Igorot, Ilok, Pampangan, Pangasinan, Tagalog. Each of the nationalities lives in a certain area. Ilocos are prevalent in the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, and in Cagayan Valley. Pampangans and Pangasinans - in the provinces of Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Central Luzon, Tagalogs - in the vicinity of Manila and in the Calabarzon region. Igorots are the general name for the peoples of the Central Cordillera, the highlanders, although they are several different peoples. The Ibanags are the indigenous people of Cagayan, and the Bicols (Bikolanos) are the indigenous people of the Bicol Peninsula. Muslims and Chinese are mainly found in cities, as are immigrants from Europe, the USA, Japanese, Koreans, mestizos and others. Each nationality has its own language, but Tagalog is considered the official language. English is in great use. But back in 1899, during the anti-colonial revolution, official language It was Spanish, and documents were drawn up in it. Religiously, the picture is as diverse as linguistically. The majority of believers are Catholics, a little less are Protestants. Traditional folk cults are preserved. In later times, purely Filipino Christian movements appeared - the Independent Church of the Philippines, the Church of Christ (in Tagalog: Iglesia ni Cristo).

The island of Luzon has many convenient bays and bays, among which the largest are Lingayen Bay and Manila Bay. The shores of the western and southern parts are indented by bays. Among the numerous mountain rivers, two stand out in size - Agno and Pampanga. The coast and river valleys are densely populated.
In the southern part of the island, southeast of Manila Bay, Laguna de Bai is the country's largest lake and the largest inland lake in Southeast Asia. It has an area of ​​949 km² and its only river is the Pasig River, which flows west into Manila Bay. The Pasig River, despite its small size, played a significant role in the history of the Philippines, as it passes through the central part of Manila. To the southwest of Laguna de Bay is Lake Taal. This is a destroyed crater of an old volcano filled with water. In the middle of the lake there is a small island, which is also a crater filled with water.
The island of Mindoro is located southeast of Luzon. Both islands are separated by the Verde Strait, which connects the South China Sea and Tayabas Bay. To the south of this bay there is an island. Marinduque. The southern part of Luzon is the Bicol Peninsula, a long and narrow piece of land. It is separated from the main part of Luzon by the Tayabas Isthmus. Rugged coastline it has numerous bays and bays, convenient for navigation. In Lamon Bay there are islands. Alabat and the Polillo group of islands, part of the province of Quezon. In addition to Bicol, two smaller peninsulas stand out - Caramoan and Bondoc. And in the southernmost part, Bicol is adjacent to the island. Samar. They are separated by the San Bernardino Strait. There are quite a few volcanoes on the Bicol Peninsula. The most significant volcano is Wayon in Albay province, 2460 m. Other large peaks are Mount Isarog and Iriga in Camarines Sur, and Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon.

Climate

The climate is subequatorial monsoon, typhoons are frequent. Vegetation is represented by evergreen and deciduous tropical forests, in river valleys there are areas of savannah vegetation.

History of Luzon

In the northeast of Luzon, in the Callao Cave, a third metatarsal bone of the presumably Homo sapiens species was discovered. The remains, designated Callao Man, date back to 66.7 ± 1 thousand years ago. In ancient times, according to most scholars, the Philippines and Luzon in particular were connected to Asia by a land bridge through which the first settlers entered what later became a group of islands. These were the Aeta, anthropologically Negritos, related to the Australoids. It is believed that this fact was approximately 15,000 years ago.
Austronesians, another ethnic group of Mongoloid type, reached the islands approximately 2,500 years ago, resulting big wave migration of Austronesian peoples. But during this period there was no longer a land bridge with Asia, so they arrived in the Philippines by sea. These peoples had seafaring skills. These were mainly Malays, but also migrants from the island. Taiwan and from other regions of Southeast Asia.
The first contact with Spain took place in the 16th century. The Spanish conquistadors were led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Juan de Salcedo and Martin de Goiti. They arrived on the shores of Luzon in 1570-1571. Luzon and its neighboring lands were declared a possession of the Spanish crown, and were under the Spanish yoke for more than 300 years. The island was the center of the Philippine national liberation revolution in late XIX century. After this, Spanish dominance was replaced by American dominance.
On December 8, 1941, Japanese aircraft attacked American military bases on Luzon, and subsequently occupied the island. The Japanese placed their bases at several points, of which the most important was the shore of Lingayen Gulf. Both Filipinos and Americans fought the Japanese occupiers. Their combined forces initially retreated from their positions to the Bataan Peninsula, from where they hoped to launch an offensive. A battle took place here that lasted several months. As a result, the American and Philippine forces, left without supplies, surrendered to the Japanese army. After leaving Luzon, American troops were based for some time in Leyte and Mindoro, but between 1941 and 1943 they began to gradually advance towards Manila, which was also occupied by enemies. The Battle of Manila took place in 1943. After that, Philippine and American troops regained several more positions. Officially, the date of the final victory is July 5, 1945. By this time, Luzon and the rest of the Philippines had been completely liberated.

Beaches of Luzon

The main feature of the beaches on the island is the unusually fine white sand. The greenery of palm trees growing near the water, the unusual shade of the azure sea and dazzling snow-white beaches create an amazing color. The infrastructure is quite developed, but it is so imperceptibly woven into big picture islands, which does not in any way disturb the extraordinary natural harmony and beauty.
But not only the beaches are a source of delight; dive sites along the entire coast will provide the opportunity to enjoy contemplating the rich coastal underwater world. In the northern part of Luzon there are strong winds that raise waves on the sea surface; here you can enjoy windsurfing. This type of outdoor activity is quite common in this part of the island.

Sights of Luzon

70 km from the capital is Quezon National Park, the main natural attraction of the island. It contains the world's smallest active volcano, Taal, the uniqueness and beauty of which lies in the fact that in its crater lake there is an island, and in it there is a lake, and in this lake there is another island and another small lake. It all looks amazingly beautiful!
Luzon is home to the Sagada caves and Magdalio waterfalls, which extreme sports enthusiasts can reach by canoe, overcoming rapids. And it's also about 20 active volcanoes, among which Banahoa, considered a sacred mountain and a place of pilgrimage for 17 sects of different religious beliefs.
However, lemurs - funny miniature monkeys, which are also called tarsiers, are the funniest and most beautiful attraction of this picturesque island. After all, nowhere else in the world can you find these rare animals in nature!

Information

• Washing waters: South China Sea, Philippine Sea
• A country: Philippines
• Square: 109964.9 km²
• Highest point: 2922 m
• Population (2015): 52,990,000 people

Capital and The largest city country, located on the southwestern coast of Luzon, on the shores of the bay of the same name.

In the vicinity of the capital there are also many interesting places - the lighthouse on Cape Bojeador (1892, the highest in the country), textile workshops in Paoay (widely known for their fabrics in national style), the famous "Bamboo Organ" in the Las Picas area, the factory for the production of the famous "jeepneys" in Sarao, the "lonely mountain" Arayat (1026 m), the city of Pagsanyan (63 km from Manila), near which the famous Macdapio waterfall and picturesque river rapids (this is where F. Coppola filmed his film "Apocalypse Now"), etc.

Situated sadly in the throat of Manila Bay famous island Corregidor, for the possession of which there were fierce battles during the Second World War. Nowadays there are interesting ruins of the fortress of those times, the network of Malinta tunnels (the location of the temporary headquarters of General MacArthur), as well as a Japanese cemetery, a small museum and a Memorial to the Fallen. The province of Laguna (45 km southeast of the capital) is extremely popular, where many hot sulfur springs and resorts based on them are concentrated - Cuillab, Los Banos (the unique Rice Research Institute is also located here), Pansol, etc.

The bay is located northwest of Manila Subic Bay- former American naval base and one of best areas for diving in the country. At the top of the bay is the city of Olongapo, which is increasingly becoming large resort with golf courses, yacht clubs, sports centers and luxury hotels. Also, the former American Clark Air Base (70 km north of Manila) has been turned into a large resort area, on whose territory a special economic zone (SEZ) has now been opened with many tax incentives for companies operating here. One of the best parachute centers in Asia, the Tropical Asian Center, is also built here, as well as many golf courses and routes for active recreation.

To the north is the mountainous region of Zambale, in which there are curious Sagada caves (the place of traditional burials of the Ifuago tribe of “head hunters”), picturesque rice terraces around Banaue with a total length of about 22.4 thousand km (it is believed that they were carved into the rocks of the local mountains more than 3 thousand years ago), the beautiful mountain serpentine Zigzag Road, the Chinese-Filipino "Pagoda of Friendship" and the Ma-Cho Temple in San Fernando (La Union), the resorts of Capones and Camera islands, the area of ​​the Pinatubo volcano, the fishing village of Pandakit , a salt mining area in the Dasol Bay area, as well as tens of kilometers of luxurious beaches in the La Union, Tambobong, Pandakit, Iba, Amungan and Ermana Major Island areas.

Mountain resort Baguio located 250 km north of Manila, in the province of Benguet. This is the “summer capital” of the country, lying at an altitude of about 1525 m above sea level, and is famous for its mild climate and clean air. The city's attractions include the summer residence of the country's government - the Mansion, Bell Church ("Temple of the Bell"), picturesque crystalline massifs of the surrounding rocks and ancient burials in the surrounding mountains. Very close by lies Lingayen Bay with its “hundred islands” (actually there are about 400), framed by white sandy beaches and long coral reefs.

70 km south of Manila lies the picturesque mountain range Tagaytay (height 600 m), within which Quezon National Park and the unique Taal Volcano (the smallest active volcano planet), in the crater lake of which there is an island, on which, in turn, there is also a small lake. Also in the southeastern part of Luzon are the “city of seven lakes” San Pablo, the Banahao volcano (2188 m, sacred mountain as many as seventeen religious sects, a cult place where numerous pilgrimages are held) and the magnificent Basilica of Saint-Martin de Tours (1856, considered a national treasure) in Taal.

Nearby, at the foot of the Makiling volcano, lies the famous “Lost Valley” of Hidden Valley with the Alaminos crater, numerous caverns with hot mineral water, waterfalls, Lourdes Grotto (it is believed that the water flowing from it has healing powers), hundreds thermal springs and luxurious vegetation. In the province of Albay rises the Mayon volcano (2462 m), considered one of the most perfectly shaped volcanic cones in the world.

Taal, which is not so far from Manila, is considered one of the smallest active volcanoes on earth. It rises as a small hill in the middle of the lake of the same name, which, by the way, was formed as a result of volcanic activity - 100-500 years ago the former caldera of the volcano was flooded with natural waters. The volcano has erupted more than 30 times since the mid-16th century. Last eruption happened in 1965 and was quite devastating. However, the greatest damage to the area in the 20th century was caused by the Taal eruption, which occurred in 1911. In 10 minutes, the surroundings of the volcano turned into a lifeless desert. Human casualties numbered in the hundreds. The volcano erupted from all its craters - from the summit and those located along the slopes.

Taal slightly resembles a nesting doll. Located in a lake, in its crater it hides another small lake, in the middle of which there is also a tiny island. Despite the fact that the volcano poses a potential danger, the area around it is densely populated. The local seismology institute is trying to predict Taal's activities.

Taal is a very popular tourist site. It’s easy to get here; the feeling of a living volcano adds a special romance to the excursion. Well, from its top there is a magnificent view of the surrounding area.

Coordinates: 14.01869000,120.98546200

Volcano Mayon

Mayon is the most active volcano on the Philippine island of Luzon. The frequency of its eruptions is approximately once every eight years. The last eruption occurred in 2009, and one of the most violent occurred in 1814. Of course, this creates inconvenience for local residents, but they tolerate their troublesome neighbor for its impeccable beauty.

The shape of the volcano is almost perfect - a symmetrical cone without flaws is completed with a crater that is constantly slightly smoking. The picture is close to perfection. Mayon looks especially picturesque during an eruption. But it is better to watch this spectacle from a safe distance.

Residents of the Philippines love their volcano so much that they have built it into a cult. As one of the main symbols of the country, it is depicted on various souvenirs, postcards, stamps and even on banknotes. And also many poems and songs are dedicated to him.

Coordinates: 13.25331300,123.68741200

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Manila Bay

Manila Bay is located at west coast Luzon Islands. This is one of the best natural harbors in the entire Southeast Asia region. The area of ​​the bay is 1994 km2, the length of the coastline is about 190 kilometers.

Manila Bay - geographical point, famous in history. Here at the very end of the 19th century (1898), during the Spanish-American War, the Battle of Cavite took place, here Japanese troops besieged the island of Corregidor in 1942.

The bay looks like an enclosed bay, into which there is a rather narrow entrance. The entrance to the bay is blocked by the island of Corregidor, dividing it into 2 parts. There are other smaller islands here that give the bay a certain charm.

Today, Manila Bay is a harbor of great economic importance. The lands around it are densely populated, with many cities and large industrial enterprises located in the vicinity.

Coordinates: 14.57959600,120.86176300

It is difficult to call a river a landmark, which has been recognized as biologically dead since the 1990s. This happened as a result of the rapid growth of the Philippines' population and industry after World War II. Waste from enterprises was often dumped directly into the river, which ultimately led to such sad consequences. Nowadays, activities are underway to revive the river.

Naturally, the 25-kilometer-long Pasig River divides the metropolitan area into two parts. The water content of its channel depends on the water level in Lake Laguna de Bai, where the river originates.

Perhaps an interesting place to visit is the city of the same name, located on the shores of Pasig. There are several important attractions here - the 16th century Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, a history museum, natural Park"Rain Forest".

Coordinates: 14.58217100,121.09575900

Manila Chinatown Binondo

Binondo is a neighborhood in Manila inhabited by Chinese immigrants. The quarter is the oldest Chinatown in the world - it was founded in 1594 and was the center Chinese trade in the region even before the arrival of the Spanish colonialists.

Binondo was founded by the Spanish governor of the Philippines, Luis Perez Dasmarinas, who at the end of the 16th century ordered all Chinese immigrants who converted to Catholicism to be settled here. Throughout its history, the quarter experienced several destructions, but was restored and over time became financial and shopping center cities where banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions have offices. Today, Binondo continues to play an important role in the life of the city and is one of the most prestigious and expensive areas Manila.

Coordinates: 14.59993400,120.96691800

Waterfall restaurant

An original restaurant located in the Philippine Villa Escudero offers lunch right at the foot of the waterfall, feeling how the rapid flow of cool water tickles your heels.

Waterfalls always attract tourists: roaring streams of water or gentle streams flowing over stones are always interesting and unusual. But, as a rule, these natural monuments It is customary to look at it from the outside. The idea of ​​​​putting restaurant tables directly into the water might seem crazy to some, but visitors accepted it with delight. It must be admitted that the waterfall is artificial, but this does not in any way affect the popularity and originality of this place. The water flows in a turbulent, wide stream almost along a sheer wall right to the feet of the diners, creating a natural noise. Particularly desperate visitors can simply swim in the rushing waters. Needless to say, how delighted the children are here?

Instead of walls, this restaurant has lush green vegetation, and instead of a ceiling there is a fabric canopy resembling a sail. The tables and chairs are made of bamboo, and traditional peasant food is served for lunch. It may not be too sophisticated, but it is made from fresh, natural ingredients. And the beautiful natural surroundings make this lunch simply unforgettable.

Coordinates: 13.99522600,121.34101200

Legazpi Airport

The airport was built in the late 60s, and since the 70s, Philippine Airlines (PAL) began regular flights from Manila. The airport is currently being modernized. Since the airport is located only 12 km from the crater of the Mayon volcano, flights are stopped during the activity of the volcano, as everything is covered in ash.

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Church of Nuestra Señora de la Porteria (Our Lady of the Gate)

Another name for Daraga Church. Built around 1773 from blocks of volcanic rock. In 2007 it was declared a national treasure. Part of the church has been treated with lime to preserve the building. And part of it remained as it became after the eruption of the Mayon volcano for the edification of descendants

The most popular attractions of Luzon with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places for visiting famous places Luzon on our website.

More Luzon attractions

Before we begin describing the island of Luzon, let's talk a little about the state of the Philippines. It is located in the southeastern part of Asia. It is a collection of many islands. Located in Pacific Ocean between Taiwan and Indonesia. The capital of the Philippines is the city of Manila (location - Luzon island). The population in 2015 exceeded 102 million people. The state occupies an area of ​​about 300 thousand km 2.

Philippine Archipelago: Brief Description

The Philippine archipelago includes more than 7,000 islands. The largest of them are Luzon, Panay, Negros and others. The archipelago is located in the Pacific Ocean. Its length is more than 2,000 km from north to south, and from west to east - just under one thousand kilometers. It is conditionally divided into three groups:

• the first, called Luzon, is in the north;
• the second, central, is occupied by the Visayas;
• the third is the southern group - Mindanao.

It is worth noting that not all Philippine Islands inhabited. From total number only less than half are inhabited by people.

The archipelago is washed by seas on all sides: in the west by the South China Sea, in the south by Sulawesi, and in the east by the Philippine Sea. The coastline has a length of almost 40 thousand km. total area the territory amounted to almost 300 thousand km 2. In the north they are adjacent to Taiwan. They are separated from each other by the Bashi Strait. The predominant relief is mountains. All islands are basically volcanic in origin. Even now there is a zone of high seismic activity here.

Luzon - an island in the Philippine archipelago

Luzon Island is the largest. It is part of the Philippine archipelago. Its area is about 110 thousand km 2. On the southeast side there is about. Mindoro. They are separated from each other by the Verde Strait. In the southern part of Luzon is the Bicol Peninsula. This area of ​​land has an elongated narrow shape. Its coastline is quite indented. There are many bays and bays here. From Fr. Luzon is cut off by the Tayabas Isthmus. Besides Bicol, there are two other small peninsulas - Bondoc and Caramoan. On the southern side, the island of Luzon (Philippines) borders on. Samar, separated from it by the San Bernardino Strait.

It was given the title of the largest not only in terms of the size of the territory it occupies, but also in terms of population. Luzon is home to more than 46 million people. In the world it ranks 17th in size.

Geographical position

The island of Luzon is located in the Pacific Ocean. Its western and east side washed by South China and In order to find Luzon on the map, you can use the following coordinates: 16°04′30″ north latitude and 121°00′11″ east longitude.

And Taiwan is separated from it by the Luzon Strait. Administratively belongs to the state of the Philippines.

Relief

Like many others large islands A Philippine archipelago, Luzon has a mountainous topography. There are a lot of active and extinct volcanoes on its territory. The most high point The island reaches almost 3,000 m. This is Mount Pulog. The remaining relief formations mostly have medium heights.

In the northwestern part of the island there is one of the largest mountain systems- Central Cordillera. It occupies one sixth of Luzon (more than 18 thousand km 2). This mountainous region quite well populated. 2% of the total population of the Philippines lives here. This amounts to more than one million inhabitants.

The Sierra Madre is a mountain range that is located in the eastern part of the largest of the islands of the Philippine archipelago. It is separated from the Cordillera massif by a river valley. Zambales are the lowest mountain formations, located closer to the south.

There is a plain in Luzon. It is called Central Luzon. Located between the Zambales and Sierra Madre massifs. The plain occupies an area of ​​11 thousand km 2. It is in this area that the most fertile lands of the Philippines are located. In the middle of the plain there is another mountain - Arayat.

Inland water resources

The coastline of the island is heavily indented. Thanks to this, there are many bays and bays here. Their greatest number is concentrated in the western and southern sides. The largest are Lingayen and Manila Bays.

Any area where mountainous terrain predominates has a lot of rivers. Luzon is no exception. Let's take a closer look at some of them.

The Pampanga River flows in province of the same name. Its length is 260 km. Originates in mountain range Sierra Madre flows into Manila Bay. built on it a large number of ponds and irrigation canals.

The Cagayan River is the largest waterway in the Philippine archipelago. Its channel runs along the northeastern part of the island. Length - about 500 km. It originates in the Caraballo mountains. It flows into the Babuyansky Strait. It is thanks to this river that residents have the opportunity to grow crops. The soil in the valley is very fertile, so rice, bananas, citrus fruits and grains grow well here.

An equally important waterway is the Pasig River. It is relatively small in size, the channel is only 25 km long. However, despite this, it plays an important role for the state, as it passes through the central part of the capital. It originates in Laguna de Bai. It flows into Manila Bay.

In addition to rivers, there are also lakes on the island. The largest is Laguna de Bay. Moreover, it is the largest not only on the island, but in all of Southeast Asia. Its area reaches almost 1,000 km2. Another large body of water located in Luzon is Taal Lake. It was formed in the crater of an extinct volcano.

Climatic features

Typhoons dominate the territory of the island of Luzon. Within one year, their number can reach 20. The climate is subequatorial monsoon. The division of seasons here is not the same as on the mainland. Locals It is divided into three periods:

• From March to May - summer. During this time the highest temperatures are observed.
• There is precipitation from June to November. This period is usually called the rainy season.
• Winter months are December, January, February.

More than 2,000 mm of precipitation falls annually. On the island of Luzon, the southwest monsoon blows from May to October, and dry air masses predominate from November to April. The average annual temperature is +26°C.

Vigan city

This city is a landmark of the Philippine Islands. The population here is almost 10,000 people. Vigan is included in the UNESCO Heritage List. On the territory of the city, buildings from the times of Spanish colonization have been preserved. There are a lot of unique architectural structures. The most impressive thing is Cathedral St. Paul's. Mena Crisologo Street brought world fame to the city. Currently, buildings from the 16th-17th centuries are still preserved on it.

Volcano Pinatubo

The volcano is currently active. The last time an eruption was recorded was 25 years ago. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that for 600 years it was considered extinct. Until 1991, its height was about 1,800 m, but at the moment it has decreased and is almost 1,500 m. The volcano is located near the capital of the Philippines - Manila. This distance is almost 90 km. Its eruption in 1991 killed almost 1,000 people. An Air Force base and a US Naval base were destroyed. This earthquake was recognized as the most powerful and destructive in the twentieth century. But it reached 6 points.

Pinsal Falls

The island of Luzon can also be proud of one of its most famous attractions - the Pinsal Falls. These turbulent water streams are surrounded by many myths and legends. At their top there are several ponds that are shaped like a human foot. According to local legend, the lakes were formed at a time when the giant Angalo passed through these places.

This place with waterfalls is surrounded by unique picturesque surroundings. The beauty of the cascades is simply enchanting. The waters of the stream fall from a height of 85 feet. Next to them is a source of hot water.

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