The Island Province is strewn on a 4,500 square kilometers-expanse of territorial waters at the Luzon Strait and Balintang Channel, where the Pacific Ocean merges with the China Sea. The area is a sealane between the Philippines and the southern parts of Japan, China, Hongkong and Taiwan. The islands are characterized by gently rolling hills, cliffs and black and white sand beaches.
LOCATION
Batanes is about 860 kilometers (approx. 525 miles) from Manila in the northernmost tip of the Philippine Islands. Basco, the capital town is about 280 kilometers north of Aparri and about 190 kilometers south of Taiwan.
AREA AND POPULATION
Its area is about 230 square kilometers. The inhabited islands of Batan, Itbayat and Sabtang occupy an area of 209.30 square kilometers. The other islands are Dinem, Amianan, Dequey, Ivuhos, North, Mavudis and Siayan. Batanes has population more or less than 16,000.
CLIMATE
Wind and rain constantly sweep the islands, but the notion that it is constantly battered by typhoon is wrong. Batanes is blessed with cooler, balmier climate. It enjoys practically four seasons, the best one being summer (March -June).
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION
Batanes has six municipalities, 29 barangays and a lone congressional district. The six municipalities are Ivana, Uyugan, Mahatao, Basco, the capital and the island municipalities of Sabtang and Itbayat.
LANGUAGE/DIALECT
The mother tongue of Batanes is Ivatan, spoken by 93.94 percent of the total households.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Visiting the island province is best during the periods from January to June.
ACCESSIBILITY BY AIR
Batanes is served by Chemtrad (Tuguegarao - Basco) and Sea Air (Manila-Basco)
Facts based on:
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