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Geography | |
---|---|
Location | Sulu Sea |
Coordinates | 10°51′N121°01′E / 10.850°N 121.017°E /10.850; 121.017 |
Total islands | 45 |
Major islands |
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Area | 50 sq mi (130 km2) |
Highest elevation | 251 m (823 ft) |
Highest point | Mount Bonbon |
Administration | |
Region | Mimaropa |
Province | Palawan |
Municipality | |
Demographics | |
Demonym | Cuyonon |
Population | 48,959 (2020) |
TheCuyo Archipelago orCuyo Islands, is a group of about 45 islands lying to the northeast of thePhilippine island ofPalawan.[1] It lies south ofMindoro and between Northern Palawan andPanay. It is centered on the largest island of the archipelago,Cuyo Island, with an area of 22 square miles (57 km2) and is about 9 miles (14 km) long.
The 45 islands and islets of the archipelago form a total land area of 50 square miles (130 km2).[2] Cuyo is divided into two island groups. To the north is theQuiniluban group. To the south is the Cuyo group, where the centers of the three municipalities namely Cuyo, Agutaya, and Magsaysay are located.
Geologically, the islands are related to the main island ofPalawan. They are positioned on the western edge of theLuzon Arc.[2] Cuyo island is volcanic. The northern islands ofQuiniluban seem to be uplifted coral atolls, although the heights of some of the peaks strongly suggest volcanic uplift. There have been plans before to establish the Cuyo Archipelago as a separate province from Palawan, just like what happened when Batanes became independent from Cagayan province.[2] Many other islands of the group are purely corallian.[2]
Cuyo is divided in three municipalities, namely Cuyo, Agutaya, and Magsaysay:
Altogether, 45,718 people inhabit the Cuyo group of islands.[3]
Some of the main islands, or island groups, are: