MINDANAO. iitt•n'dl-nEu','j. The second in importance and, according to the latest official estimate. the first in size of the Philippine Islands. It is the southernmost of the large islands of the archipelago, between latitude 5' 21' and 9° 50' N., and between longitude 121° 53' and 129° 28' E., about 220 miles northeast of Borneo and 270 miles north of Celebes (Map: Philippine Islands, 12). It is bounded on the north by the and seas separating it from the islands of Leyte, Bohol. Cob& and Negros, the narrowest of these channels being the Strait of Surigao, 7 miles wide, separating the northeastern extremity of the island from 1 in the east Mindanao is bounded by the Payitic Ocean, on the south by the Celebes Sea, and on the west by the Sulu Sea.
.?_xn CONFIGURATION. As :Mindanao has never been thoroughly surveyed, its area can only be given approximately. It has been estimated a.. low as 36,237 square miles, including its dependent. islands. The official estimate of 1902, however, gives as the area of the mainland, 45,559 square miles, which is larger than that for Luzon q.v.), and of the 264 dependent islands, 1162 square miles, making a total of 46.721, which, even excluding the dependent islands, is larger than that of the State of Pennsylvania. danao, like Luzon, is very irregular in outline. It consists of a main hotly about 300 miles long from north to south and ISO miles broad, with a long, irregular peninsula stretching in a semi circle for ISO miles from the centre of the west ern coast, where it is connected by an isthmus between the Bay of Iligan on the north, and the Bay of 111ana in the south. There are numerous other large and small bays on all sides of the island, among which the large and deep Bay of Davao indenting the south coast is one of the finest and largest of the archipelago. Of the dependent islands the principal (with their areas in square Miles) arc the following: Cam4rufn (63) off the north coast, Diniig,nt (25S) and Siargao (176) on the northeast. Stimal (178) in the Bay of Davao, Balut (42) and Sarangaui (2:1) to the southeast, Olutanga (36) south of the western peninsula. and Basilan (301) form ing with about 50 small islets a separate province at the extreme southwestern end.
Tocoun.\ city. The coasts as a rule consist. of sandy beaches interrupted by numerous rocky headlands. Almost everywhere the forest-cov ered mountains approach close to the shores, and the interior is in general very 11101Intainon-:, con taining the highest peaks in the Philippines, such as Mount Malindan:% 8637 feet high. in the northwestern part, and the volcano of Apo. 10.312 feet, west of Davao Ilay. The mountain system consists of a number of irregular, broken. and roughly parallel chains traversing the island from north to south, and including between them large and fertile river valleys. The configuration
of the mountains in ninny places bears evidence of having been influenced and etch originated by volcanic action. There are several active and a number ref extinct vole:times. while plains of vol canic matter as well as sulphur and hot springs occur. and the island is subject to frequent and violent earthquakes. „ Very little, however, is known of the geology of Mindanao.
Ilvpitocn.kenY. The two princinal river sys tems lie on eithcr side of the central mountain range. both of running almost the entire length of the island. on the east I hp running northward into the Bay of ButUan; on the west is the Rio Grande de Mindoro, rumune smith. then west into the Bay of 111ana, and rivaling in size the Cagayfin of Luzon. Both of these systems include several large lakes. Owing to the proximity of the mountains 10 the coasts. most of the remaining rivers of .Mindanao are short and torrential.
C1.1 kW:. Being situated al the southern end of the archipelago, within 10° of the equator, and being less exposed to cooling winds than the northern islands, :Mindanao has a hot and humid climate. 'The warm and moisture-laden south winds are particularly enervating, though the laud breezes from the mountains are cool and refreshing. The climate is more equable than that of Luzon, and the island is seldom touched by the typhoons, which rage only among the northern islands. The rainfall is very heavy, often exceeding 100 inches, and reaching some times 140 inches in a year. Several parts of the island are subject to destructive inundations.
Ft.olt.k and FAUN.1. (for general descrilition see Pll 11.1 PPIN Ls). The vegetation of •Minclanao, even compared with the rest Of the archipelago, is remarkably luxuriant. Almost the whole is land is covered with forests so interwoven with canes and vines as to form in many places an impenetrable jungle. The flora partakes of the character of that of Celches and the -Moluccas; cinnamon, nutmeg. and other spices, and betel nuts griw wild. and the forests abound in the most valuable building thither and cabinet woods.
The animal life is equally abundant and varied, including, besides the species common to all the islands, many species peculiar to :Mindanao. Monkeys are very minierials, and especially char aeteristie is the white monkey (.1/acueus Plrilip 1 teptilos. including venomous snakes, abound, and the rivers are infested with croco diles. Consult: Ninth:two, so historic y gcogra flu ( .)1allrid, 1894) : Gonzitlez Parrado, .1/euicr-ia actror do Ifite/uncio (lanila, 1893). See PHIL IPPI NE ISLANDS.