Mindanao

Mindanao, island of the Philippines, the second largest after Luzon and southernmost of the country's major islands. The island is about 480 km (300 mi) long and very irregular in shape, with an area of 94,630 sq km (36,537 sq mi). The Zamboanga Peninsula in the west is nearly divided from the main part of the island by Iligan Bay on the north and Illana Bay on the south. The coastline is marked with many bays and headlands, which afford shelter to ships during storms. The island is mountainous, and the mountains are covered with forests of teak, ironwood, cypress, and ebony. The highest summit is the volcano Apo, 2,954 m (9,690 ft) above sea level. The principal rivers are the Río Grande de Mindanao and the Agusan. The soil is exceedingly fertile and produces corn, rice, coconuts, bananas, pineapples, and abaca, or Manila hemp. Gold, copper, iron, and coal are the chief mineral resources. Stock farming is the most important economic activity of Mindanao. The chief cities on the island are Zamboanga, Davao, Butuan, Iligan, and Cagayan de Oro. Population (1990 estimate) 14,536,000.