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| Geography |
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Location |
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Southeastern
Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China
Sea, east of Vietnam |
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Area: |
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total:
300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km |
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Climate: |
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tropical
marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon
(May to October) |
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Natural
Resources: |
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timber,
petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper |
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Natural
hazards: |
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astride
typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic
storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes;
tsunamis |
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Environment
- current issues: |
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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 |
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PHILIPPINES
