Philippines+Geography

= We have almost landed, look out your window for a view of the Philippines. =
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=__ Physical Geography __ =

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=Land: = The Philippines lies in the heart of Southeast Asia. The country is made up of a chain of islands, 7,107 to be exact, and is the 12th largest country in the world. The capital of the Philippines is Manila, home to over 100 million people. The country is divided into 3 geographic areas or islands, they are: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The topography consists of mostly mountains and narrow coastal lowlands. Mount Apo is the countries highest peak(Geography of the Philippines, About.com, 2010). Mount Apo is a flat topped mountain that stands at 9,691 feet and is considered a potentially active stratovolcano, which is located on the island of Mindanao (Mount Apo, Phil-islands.com, 2011).

=Water: = Since the Philippines is made up of many islands it is fully surrounded by water. These bodies of water consist of: South China Sea, South Celebes Sea, Sulu Sea, Pacific Ocean, and the Philippine Sea. The country itself has ample amounts of water resources, surface water and groundwater. Unfortunately due to the neglect of environmental policies, 58% of the groundwater is contaminated, which comes from industrial and untreated waste water. Due to this factor only about 1/3 of the groundwater supply is considered safe for public consumption. It is estimated that in the next 15 years the rivers will be severely affected and more contaminated. In 2004 the government recognized this problem and has implemented a water management system in hopes to save the accessible water that is left (Water supply and sanitation in the Philippines, Wikipedia.org, 2011). How would this hurt the United States if we knew that our natural resource of water is contaminated and disappearing?

Pictured at the left is the Pasig River in the Philippines, one of the most polluted rivers in the world.

=Weather & Climate:  =  The beautiful climate of the Philippines is tropical marine, with a re-occurring monsoon in the northeast through the months of April to October (cooler months), and again in the southwest from November to March (warmest months). During the wet and dry seasons the temperature is usually high, relatively humid, and rainfall comes in abundance ([|Climate of the Philippines,Wikipedia.org, 2011]). The average temperature is 86 degrees Fahrenheit, which is comparable to Illinois summer months! Can you imagine it being that warm all year long? Would you like that, or do you enjoy having four seasons each year?

= = = = = __ Biological Geography __ =

=Plants: = A native plant to the Philippines includes the flowering plant akapulko, a shrub with yellow blooming flowers growing wild in the tropical climate. This plant in particular serves as a herbal medicine and is widely used by the people of the Philippines. Due to its anti-fungal properties it is commonly found in soaps and shampoos as well ([|Akapulko, Herbal Medicine, Medicalhealthguide.org, 2011]). Next the sampaguita jasmine is the national flower for the Philippines. Its attractiveness and fragrance makes it a popular choice, and also used to make perfumes (Jasminum sambac,Wikipedia.org, 2011). Ampalaya is another popular plant growing in the Philippines, its a subtropical vine. It is known for its production of fruit that is bitter in taste. Although it is very common in Asia, its real native area is still unknown (Bitter melon, Wikipedia.org, 2011).



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== =<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Animals: =

= **Tarsier** = ======== ====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">The tarsier is a small monkey found throughout the Philippines. These monkeys enjoy spending time in trees. They have light-brown coats and huge, round eyes. Some tarsiers have cream-colored coats. Their eyes are deep-yellow and their hands and ears are very tiny. Tarsier monkeys also have long, brown tails and typically weight less than 3 lbs [|(Native Plants & Animals in the Philippines, Ehow.com, 2011)]. ====

= **Carabao** = ======== ==== The carabao, also called water buffalo, is the national animal of the Philippines. These animals are large work animals that look similar to cows. Their coats are dark brown and they have horns that extend out on both sides of their head. They are used to plow fields and transport items. They are peaceful animals that like to roll around in the mud (Native Plants & Animals in the Philippines, Ehow.com, 2011). ====

References

Akapulko, Herbal Medicine. (n.d.). //Complementary Medicine: Alternative + Conventional Medicine//. Retrieved December 7, 2011, from http://www.medicalhealthguide.com/articles/akapulko1.htm

Amanda, B. (2010, July 26). Geography of the Philippines - Learn the Geography of the Philippines. //Geography Home Page - Geography at About.com//. Retrieved December 7, 2011, from http://geography.about.com/od/thephilippinesmaps/a/thephilippinesgeography.htm

Bitter melon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2011, November 26). //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Retrieved December 7, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_melon

Climate of the Philippines - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2011, December 4). //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Retrieved December 7, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Climate_of_the_Philippines

Ince, S. (n.d.). Native Plants & Animals in the Philippines | eHow.com. //eHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Discover the expert in you. | eHow.com//. Retrieved December 7, 2011, from http://www.ehow.com/list_6618561_native-plants-animals-philippines.html

Jasminum sambac - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2011, December 6). //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Retrieved December 7, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasminum_sambac

Mount Apo – attracts lots of hikers all over the world | Philippine Islands - Beautiful Destination To Visit. (2011, November 5). //Philippine Islands - Beautiful Destination To Visit//. Retrieved December 7, 2011, from http://www.phil-islands.com/mount-apo-attracts-lots-of-hikers-all-over-the-world

Water supply and sanitation in the Philippines - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2011, November 20). //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Retrieved December 7, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_th