Editing Geography of the Philippines (section)

===Luzon===
[[File:Northern Philippines (Luzon).jpg|thumb|left|[[Luzon]] in a satellite image]]

{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
 | align = right
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 200
File:La Paz Sand Dunes.jpg
 | image1 = La Paz Sand Dunes.jpg
 | alt1 = The La Paz sand dunes in Laoag, part of the Ilocos coastline
 | caption1 = The La Paz sand dunes in [[Laoag]], part of the Ilocos coastline
 | image2 = UpperUma2206.jpg
 | alt2 = Pasil Valley in Kalinga, part of the Cordillera Central mountain range
 | caption2 = Pasil Valley in [[Kalinga (province)|Kalinga]] of the Cordillera Central
 | image3 = Gabaldon,NuevaEcijajf9578 06.JPG
 | alt3 = The Sierra Madre Mountains as viewed from San Antonio
 | caption3 = The Sierra Madre Mountains viewed from [[Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija|Gabaldon]]
 | image4 = Manila Bay with Mount Arayat.jpg
 | alt4 = The plains of Central Luzon, with Mount Arayat in the background
 | caption4 = The plains of Central Luzon, showing [[Manila Bay]] with [[Mount Arayat]] in the background
 | image5 = SanNarciso,Zambalesjf0676 14.JPG
 | alt5 = The Zambales Mountains as viewed from San Narciso
 | caption5 = The Zambales Mountains as viewed from [[San Narciso, Zambales|San Narciso]]
 | image6 = Mount Banahaw volcano complex as seen from Cardona, Rizal.jpg
 | alt6 = Laguna de Bay at Cardona, with the Banahaw volcano complex in the distance
 | caption6 = Laguna de Bay at [[Cardona, Rizal|Cardona]], with the [[Mount Banahaw|Banahaw volcano complex]] in the distance
 | image7 = Legazpi view from Lamba.jpg
 | alt7 = Mayon Volcano
 | caption7 = [[Mayon Volcano]] overlooking the city of [[Legazpi, Philippines|Legazpi]].
}}

==== The Batanes and Babuyan islands ====
The [[Batanes]] and [[Babuyan Islands]] are situated on the northernmost extremity of the Philippines at [[Luzon Strait]] facing Taiwan. It contains the northernmost point of land, the islet of Y'Ami in the Batanes Islands, separated from Taiwan by the [[Bashi Channel]] (c.{{convert|80.4672|km|sp=us}} wide).

==== Western Luzon ====
This region stretches from [[Mairaira Point]] in [[Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte]] in the north to [[Cochinos Point]] in [[Mariveles, Bataan]] in the south. The terrain ranges from coastal plains to rugged mountains bordered by the [[South China Sea]] in the west and the [[Cordillera Central (Luzon)|Cordillera Central]] and [[Zambales Mountains|Zambales mountain range]]s in the east. Western Luzon is known for its beaches, surf spots and historic towns.

==== Cagayan Valley ====
{{further|Cagayan Valley}}Nestled between the Cordilleras in the west and the [[Sierra Madre (Philippines)|Sierra Madre]] mountain ranges in the east is the Cagayan Valley, also the name of [[Cagayan Valley|the administrative region]] which it covers. Through its center runs the country's longest river, the [[Cagayan River|Cagayan]], flowing in a northward direction before emptying its waters in the [[Luzon Strait]] at the town of [[Aparri, Cagayan|Aparri]].

==== Cordilleras and Caraballos ====
{{further|Cordillera Central (Luzon)|l1=Cordillera Central}}The Cordilleras and [[Caraballo Mountains|Caraballos]], together with the Sierra Madre Range, form the main mountain system in Northern Luzon.

The Cordilleras consists of two, sometimes three, mountain ranges that are found in northwestern central Luzon. The first, called ''Caraballo del Sur'', forms the nucleus of the system and has its highest peaks in the border between the provinces of [[Abra (province)|Abra]], [[Ilocos Norte]] and [[Cagayan]]. ''Caraballo Occidentalles'', is further divided into two ranges, the Cordillera Norte and Cordillera Central.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sagmit |first1=Rosario S. |last2=Soriano |first2=Nora N. |title=Geography in the Changing World |date=1998 |publisher=Rex Book Store |isbn=9712324516 |page=76}}</ref> They line the central portions of the [[Cordillera Administrative Region]].

The Caraballos (''Caraballo de Baler'') start where the Sierra Madre and the Cordilleras meet. They are found south of Cagayan Valley, northeast of the Central Luzon Plains.

==== Sierra Madre Mountains ====
Lying in the eastern portion of Luzon is the longest mountain range in the Philippines, the [[Sierra Madre (Philippines)|Sierra Madre]], stretching from [[Quezon City|Quezon]] province in the south to [[Cagayan]] in the north. 80 percent of the mountain range is [[tropical rainforest]], which is diminishing from rampant illegal logging activity. The range serves as the eastern wall of Luzon Island that protects inhabitants from [[tropical cyclone]]s usually coming from the Pacific Ocean.

==== Central Luzon Plains ====
The largest plain of the nation is situated in the [[Central Luzon]] region and produces most of the national rice supply, earning itself the nickname "''Rice Bowl of the Philippines''". The plains encompass the provinces of [[Bulacan]], [[Nueva Ecija]], [[Pampanga]], [[Tarlac]] and [[Pangasinan]].

==== Manila-Katagalugan plains ====
South of the Central Luzon plains lies the largest inland freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, [[Laguna de Bay]]. To the east of the lake is a plain that stretches westward to [[Manila Bay]]. Large rivers from bays and mountain springs traverse the plain. In the northern part of the region, that is, [[Manila]] and [[Rizal (province)|Rizal]], most of the plain had been converted into cities and towns, and are thus industrialized. Lying east of the lake is the southern terminus of the Sierra Madre mountain range at northern [[Quezon|Quezon province]].

To the southwest of Laguna de Bay is the nation's third largest lake, the [[Taal Lake|Taal]], bordered to the north by the [[Tagaytay Ridge]], a [[ridge]] stretching from southern [[Cavite]] to northern [[Batangas]] provinces.

==== Bondoc Peninsula ====
{{further|Bondoc Peninsula}}The Bondoc Peninsula is located in the southeastern part of Quezon Province.

==== Bicol Peninsula ====
Southeast of Laguna de Bay lies the [[Bicol Peninsula]], connected to [[mainland]] Luzon by the [[Tayabas Isthmus|isthmus of Tayabas]]. The predominantly flat landscape features several solitary peaks, usually [[List of active volcanoes in the Philippines|active volcanoes]], which include [[Mount Iriga|Iriga]], [[Mount Mayon|Mayon]] and [[Mount Bulusan|Bulusan]].

The peninsula has an irregular [[coastline]] that features large bays and gulfs, which include [[Lamon Bay]], [[San Miguel Bay]], [[Lagonoy Gulf]], and [[Albay Gulf]] to the north, and the [[Tayabas Bay]], [[Ragay Gulf]] and [[Sorsogon Bay]] to the south.