7107 Islands

Abstract

The fact that it is made up of 7107 islands defines the character of the Philippines as a terraqueous country where maritime activities, issues and concerns are central to the life of people, most of them having settled on or near the coasts, some even living on water (the Badjao “sea gypsies” of Sulu archipelago). The 7107 number is used as a symbol of the nation. The Philippine archipelago, as part of the “Pacific ring of fire”, shares characteristics with Japan and Indonesia in terms of geological origin and the risks of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. The chapter gives a summary presentation of the main physiographic features of the country (mountains and plains, lakes and rivers, peninsulas and inter-island seas) and its geophysical origin within the general scheme of plate tectonics. It also includes statistical comparisons with other island or archipelagic countries and raises some questions about the effects of the split of the country between many islands big and small.