Luzon

Luzon, island of the northern Philippines, bounded by the Babuyan Channel on the north, the Philippine Sea on the east, the San Bernardino Strait on the south, and the South China Sea on the west. Luzon is the largest of the Philippine Islands. Along the irregular coastline is Manila Bay, sheltering one of the finest harbors in Asia. The coastal areas of Luzon are mountainous, with several ranges extending north to south, but the island's central interior is a broad, fertile plain watered by the Agno and Pampanga rivers. The island has two large lakes, Laguna de Bay and Lake Taal. The Cagayan River, the longest river of the Philippines, flows generally north for 350 km (220 mi).

Agriculture is the chief industry on Luzon. The important crops are rice, corn, sugarcane, coffee, tobacco, mangoes, coconuts, and bananas. Mineral deposits here are mainly gold, iron, copper, manganese, and chromite. Among the other industries are fishing, lumbering, shoe manufacturing, and food processing. Major cities on Luzon include Manila (capital of the Philippines) and Quezon City.

During World War II (1939-1945), Manila was one of the first Philippine sites bombed by the Japanese. Luzon was quickly overrun, and the defenders made a valiant last stand on Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor Island in early 1942. Luzon was liberated by American troops in early 1945. Area, 104,700 sq km (40,400 sq mi); population (1990 estimate) 30,759,000.