Luzon

Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines at 105,000 km². Luzon also refers to one of the three major island groups in the country along with Visayas and Mindanao. Luzon is also the home of the country's capital, Manila.

Table of contents 1 The Island 2 Regions and Provinces 2.1 Ilocos Region[?] (Region I) 2.2 Cagayan Valley (Region II) 2.3 Central Luzon[?] (Region III) 2.4 CALABARZON (Region IV-A) 2.5 MIMAROPA[?] (Region IV-B) 2.6 Bicol Region (Region V) 2.7 Cordillera Administrative Region[?] (CAR) 2.8 National Capital Region (NCR)

The Island Luzon includes a large plain of ~11,000 km² and a river valley of ~10,000 km². The northern part of the island is closed in by mountains on the east and west, and the valley thus demarcated extends southward for ~190 km, with an average width of ~60km. Flowing north through this valley is the Cagayan River.

There is a narrow plain along the west coast of Luzon and the central section of the island consists of a plain which extends ~190 km north of Manila Bay, to the Lingayen Gulf[?]. This plain is bordered, on the east and west, by mountains.

The southern section of Luzon is a partly-mountainous volcanic region, with numerous beaches, bays, and gulfs.

See also: Geography of the Philippines

Regions and Provinces Politically, the island group of Luzon is divided into 7 regions which are further subdivided into provinces.

Ilocos Region[?] (Region I)

Ilocos Region is located in the northwest portion of the main island. Its provinces are:

• Ilocos Norte[?]
• Ilocos Sur[?]
• La Union[?]
• Pangasinan[?]

Cagayan Valley (Region II)

Cagayan Valley is located in the northeast portion of the main island. Running through its center is the country's longest river, Cagayan River. Its provinces are:

• Batanes[?]
• Cagayan[?]
• Isabela[?]
• Nueva Vizcaya[?]
• Quirino[?]

Central Luzon[?] (Region III)

Central Luzon contains the largest plain of the country and produces most of the country's rice supply. Its provinces are:

• Aurora
• Bataan
• Bulacan
• Nueva Ecija
• Pampanga
• Zambales

CALABARZON (Region IV-A)

CALABARZON, one of the newest regions of the country, was previously a part of Southern Tagalog (Region IV). It is one of the most populated areas of the country. The name of the region is actually an acronym that stands for its provinces, which are:

• Batangas
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Quezon
• Rizal

MIMAROPA[?] (Region IV-B)

MIMAROPA, one of the newest regions of the country, was previously a part of Southern Tagalog (Region IV). It contains most of the islands in the Luzon group. The name of the region is actually an acronym that stands for its provinces, which are:

• Marinduque
• Mindoro Occidental[?]
• Mindoro Oriental[?]
• Palawan
• Romblon

Bicol Region (Region V)

Bicol Region occupies the Bicol Peninsula at the southeastern end of Luzon island. Its provinces are:

• Albay
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Masbate
• Sorsogon

Cordillera Administrative Region[?] (CAR)

CAR, located in the Cordillera mountains of Northern Luzon, is a special region for the indegenous tribes of these mountains. Its provinces are:

• Abra[?]
• Apayao[?]
• Benguet[?]
• Ifugao[?]
• Kalinga[?]
• Mountain Province[?]

National Capital Region (NCR)

NCR is a special administrative region that contains the capital of the country, Manila, and is more popularly known as Metro Manila. It is the only region in the country that has no provinces.