<P> The Philippines is an archipelago that consists of 7,641 islands with a total land area of 343,448 square kilometers (132,606 sq mi). The 11 largest islands contain 95% of the total land area . The largest of these islands is Luzon at about 105,000 square kilometers (40,541 sq mi). The next largest island is Mindanao at about 95,000 square kilometers (36,680 sq mi). The archipelago is around 800 kilometers (500 mi) from the Asian mainland and is located between Taiwan and Borneo . </P> <P> The Philippine archipelago is divided into three island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao . The Luzon islands include Luzon itself, Palawan, Mindoro, Marinduque, Masbate, Romblon, Catanduanes, Batanes and Polilio . The Visayas is the group of islands in the central Philippines, the largest of which are: Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Siquijor, Biliran and Guimaras . The Mindanao islands include Mindanao itself, Dinagat, Siargao, Camiguin, Samal, plus the Sulu Archipelago, composed primarily of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi - Tawi . </P> <P> The Philippine archipelago lies in Southeast Asia in a position that has led to its becoming a cultural crossroads - a place where Malays, Hindus, Arabs, Chinese, Spaniards, Americans, and others had interacted to forge a unique cultural and racial blend . The archipelago numbers some 7,641 islands, and the nation claims an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles (370 km) from its shores . The Philippines occupies an area that stretches for 1,850 kilometers (1,150 mi) from about the fifth to the twentieth parallels north latitude . The total land area is 343,448 square kilometers (132,606 sq mi). Only approximately 1,000 of its islands are populated, and fewer than one - half of these are larger than 2.5 square kilometers (1 sq mi). Eleven islands make up 95 percent of the Philippine landmass, and two of these--Luzon and Mindanao--measure 105,000 square kilometers (40,541 sq mi) and 95,000 square kilometers (36,680 sq mi), respectively . They, together with the cluster of islands in Visayas in between them, represent the three principal regions of the archipelago that are identified by the three stars on the Philippine flag . The Philippines is broken up by the sea, which gives it one of the longest coastlines of any nation in the world . </P> <P> Off the coast of eastern Mindanao is the Philippine Trench, which descends to a depth of 10,430 meters (34,220 ft). The Philippines is part of a western Pacific arc system characterized by active volcanoes . Among the most notable peaks are Mount Mayon near Legazpi City, Taal Volcano south of Manila, and Mount Apo in Mindanao . All of the Philippine islands are prone to earthquakes . The northern Luzon highlands, or Cordillera Central, rise to between 2,500 meters (8,200 ft) and 2,750 meters (9,020 ft), and, together with the Sierra Madre in the northeastern portion of Luzon and the mountains of Mindanao, boast rain forests that provide refuge for numerous upland tribal groups . The rain forests also offer prime habitat for more than 500 species of birds, including the Philippine eagle (or monkey - eating eagle), some 1,100 species of orchids, and some 8,500 species of flowering plants . </P>

Where does the philippines lie in term of latitude