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Location:
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South
China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
Total Area: 300,000 sq km
Land Area: 298,170 sq km
Comparative Area: slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 36,289 km
Maritime Claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Dontinental Shelf: to depth of exploitation
Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 nm
Territorial Sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline
as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped
area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth
International Disputes: involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly
Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei;
claims Malaysian state of Sabah
Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest
monsoon (May to October)
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Natural Resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold,
salt, copper
Land Use:
Arable Land: 26%
Permanent Crops: 11%
Meadows and Pastures: 4%
Forest and Woodland: 40%
Other: 19%
Irrigated Land: 16,200 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
Current Issues: uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil
erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of
coastal mangrove swamps which are important fish breeding grounds
Natural Hazards: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck
by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides, active volcanoes,
destructive earthquakes, tsunamis
International Agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but
not ratified - Desertification, Tropical Timber 94
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