Mavulis Island is the northernmost of the Batanes Islands and the northernmost island in the Philippines. It is part of the archipelagic province of Batanes. The island is uninhabited but it is guarded by the military. It is also frequently visited by local fishermen (mostly from Itbayat and Basco) for fishing adventures.
Native name: Y'Ami Amianan | |
|---|---|
 Satellite image of the island | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Luzon Strait |
| Coordinates | 21°6′47″N 121°57′6″E / 21.11306°N 121.95167°E |
| Archipelago | Batanes Group of Islands |
| Area | 1.1 km2 (0.42 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
Philippines | |
| Region | Cagayan Valley |
| Province | Batanes |
| Municipality | Itbayat |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
| Additional information | |
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The island has a newly constructed military and fishermen shelter, a water desalination plant, a helipad, lighthouse, and a flagpole on the top of the hill in the island.[1][2][3]
The island also hosts the northernmost flagpole in the country.[3]
This island is closer to Taiwan than the capital Manila, at 733 km away from Manila, and 98 km to the nearest Taiwanese territory (uninhabited Hsiao-lan-yu island (Lesser Orchid)), and 142 km from Cape Eluanbi, the southernmost point of Taiwan mainland.[not verified in body] The distance to Taipei is 272 miles (473 km).
Alternative names
editOlder Batan natives also called the island Dimavulis or Dihami, meaning "north" in Ivatan. By some members of the Spanish colonial government it was called Diami, and it is known as Yami or Y'Ami on most American colonial-era maps of the Philippines. The latter should not be confused with the aboriginal Yami of Taiwan who live on islands farther north beyond Philippine territorial limits, but are geographically, culturally and linguistically related to the Ivatan people. The island is also called Amianan, meaning "north" in Ilocano.
Geography
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The island is part of the Luzon Volcanic Arc, and is located 141 km (88 mi) southeast of the southern tip of Taiwan's main island and 98 km (61 mi) to the nearest Taiwanese island, the "Lesser Orchid Island". The distance to Luzon is 288 km (179 mi). The island is 2.2 km (1.4 mi) long and up to one kilometre (0.62 mi) wide. The highest point, Y'Ami Hill, is 219 metres (719 ft) high. The island is rocky on the coasts but covered in lush vegetation, including mangrove, vuyavuy palms and other native shrubs. Coconut crabs are found on the island in large numbers.
Development
editIn 2016, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command pushed for the establishment of a Marine detachment on Mavulis Island to affirm Philippines' sovereignty over the northernmost point of the archipelago. The Marine detachment was opened in 2018, with a fisherman's shelter completed in 2019 and turned over to the local municipality for maintenance and operation.[4][5]
In May 2021, the Department of Defense of the Philippines announced the electrification of the island through a solar power station, with a back-up diesel generator. This was done through the help of the One Meralco Foundation. The DND also announced the commissioning of a desalination plant to provide potable water to personnel assigned to the island.[6]
In October 2023, the Armed Forces of the Philippines inaugurated a new naval detachment as headquarters for military troops on the Island. "This island underscores the strategic importance of this detachment. It serves as our watchful sentinel in the northernmost beaches of our maritime borders, ensuring the security and sovereignty of our homeland," Fernyl G. Buca, AFP Northern Luzon Command said.[7]
In March 2024, "The plan to construct a US-funded civilian port in Mavulis Island, developed in coordination with the Philippine military, aims to accommodate fleeing Filipino workers in Taiwan in the event of a crisis" Governor Marilou Cayco said. Philippine Naval chief Toribio Adaci Jr. added the country needed to improve its capabilities against possible threats of conquest or invasion. The United States Army will arrive in April to discuss the possibility that new facility could be an alternative to island's western side.[8]
Gallery
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Aerial view of the island, 1935 -
Sec. Delfin Lorenzana leads a toast of the water produced by the desalination plant at Mavulis Island.
See also
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External links
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Media related to Mavulis Island at Wikimedia Commons
References
edit- ^ Mangosing, Frances (28 May 2019). "Multi-purpose shelter for fishers, troops unveiled in northernmost PH isle". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ Dumlao, Artemio (26 April 2019). "Fishermen's shelter completed on Batanes island". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ a b Baccay, Oliver T. "Raise your flag". pia.gov.ph. Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- ^ Alindogan, Jamela. "Why Philippines is building military base near Taiwan". Al-Jazeera. Al-Jazeera. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ Martin, Victor (29 May 2019). "Philippines establishes fishermen's shelter in Batanes". Philstar.com. Philippine Star. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ "Desalination plant installed in PH's northernmost outpost". Department of Defense. Department of Defense of the Philippines. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ "AFP inaugurates naval detachment on Batanes' Mavulis Island". GMA Integrated News. October 18, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
- ^ "Philippines to build US-funded port on island facing Taiwan". South China Morning Post. March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.