Mindoro

Mindoro, island of the western Philippines, near the island of Luzon (from which it is separated by the Verde Island Passage). The island has low coastal strips, but an elevated plain occupying the interior rises to 2,581 m (8,469 ft) above sea level at Mount Halcon in the north central part. Dense forests of ebony, mahogany, and other trees cover the mountains. The island is the only region in the world where the tamarau, a small water buffalo, exists.

The chief agricultural crops are coconuts and rice. Mindoro and several outlying islands constitute the provinces of Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental. The chief town of the island is Calapan. Area, 9,700 sq km (3,800 sq mi); population (1990), 832,642.