Batanes: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Batanes is the northernmost and the smallest, both in terms of population and land area, among the provinces of the Philippines. The province lies on a group of islands (called the Batanes Islands) in the Luzon Strait and is part of the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Basco and is separated from the Babuyan Islands of Cagayan province by the Balintang Channel and from Taiwan by the Bashi Channel. The northenmost island is Mavudis Island. The other islands are Misanga, Ditarem, Siayan, Itbayat, Dinem, Batan, Sabtang, Vuhus, and Diadekey. Only Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtang are inhabited. Batanes is about 190 kilometers south of Taiwan.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Province of Batanes

No seal available

Region: Cagayan Valley (Region II)

Capital: Basco

Founded: —

Population:
2000 census—16,467 (smallest)
Density—79 per km² (11th lowest)

Area: 209.3 km² (smallest)

Divisions:
Highly urbanized cities—
Component cities—
Municipalities—6
Barangays—29
Congressional districts—1

Languages: Ivatan, Ichbayaten, Ilocano

Governor: Vicente S. Gato (2001-2004)

People and Culture

Political

Batanes is subdivided into 6 municipalities.

Municipalities

Physical

Batanes lies on a group of islands collectively called Batanes Islands and they are the northernmost islands of the Philippines. They are located between the Babuyan Islands (belonging to Cagayan Province) and Taiwan. The islands are sparsely populated and subject to frequent typhoons.

The three largest islands are Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtang. The northernmost is Mavudis Island.