Luzon
Luzon, island of
the northern Philippines, bounded by the Babuyan Channel on the north, the
Philippine Sea on the east, the San Bernardino Strait on the south, and the
South China Sea on the west. Luzon is the largest of the
Philippine Islands. Along the irregular coastline is Manila
Bay, sheltering one of the finest
harbors in Asia. The coastal areas of Luzon
are mountainous, with several ranges extending north to south, but the island's
central interior is a broad, fertile plain watered by the Agno and Pampanga
rivers. The island has two large lakes, Laguna de Bay and Lake
Taal. The Cagayan
River, the longest river of the Philippines,
flows generally north for 350 km (220 mi).
Agriculture is the chief industry on Luzon. The
important crops are rice, corn, sugarcane, coffee, tobacco, mangoes, coconuts,
and bananas. Mineral deposits here are mainly gold, iron, copper, manganese,
and chromite. Among the other industries are fishing, lumbering, shoe
manufacturing, and food processing. Major cities on Luzon
include Manila (capital of the Philippines)
and Quezon City.
During World War II (1939-1945), Manila
was one of the first Philippine sites bombed by the Japanese. Luzon
was quickly overrun, and the defenders made a valiant last stand on Bataan
Peninsula and Corregidor
Island in early 1942. Luzon
was liberated by American troops in early 1945. Area, 104,700 sq km (40,400 sq
mi); population (1990 estimate) 30,759,000.
How to cite this article:
"Luzon," Microsoft® Encarta® Online
Encyclopedia 2004
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