Panglao Island facts for kids
Alona beach on Panglao Island
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 Location in Philippines
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Bohol Sea |
| Coordinates | 9°36′N 123°49′E / 9.600°N 123.817°E |
| Archipelago | Visayas |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 68,051 |
Panglao Island is a beautiful small island in the Philippines. It is located in the Bohol Sea, which is part of the Central Visayas Region. This island is very popular for tourists. People love its amazing beaches and the colorful coral reefs nearby.
Contents
Exploring Panglao Island's Geography
Panglao Island covers an area of about 91.12 square kilometers (35.18 square miles). In 2010, about 68,051 people lived there. This means it has a population density of about 747 people per square kilometer.
Where is Panglao Island Located?
The island is in the northern part of the Bohol Sea. It is southwest of the larger island of Bohol. It is also east of Cebu island. Panglao is separated from Bohol by a narrow channel called the Tagbilaran Strait. Two bridges connect Panglao to the city of Tagbilaran on Bohol.
There are also a few smaller islands close to Panglao. These include Gak-ang, Pontod, and Balicasag.
Panglao's Unique Landscape
Panglao Island has a varied landscape. You can find flat areas, hills, and even some mountainous parts. The island is mostly made of limestone. This type of rock dissolves easily, which creates caves and sinkholes.
One special geological spot is the Hinagdanan Cave. This cave has an underground water source. Since Panglao does not have any rivers or lakes, this cave is a very important source of fresh water for the island.
Amazing Marine Life in Panglao
Panglao Island is famous for its incredible underwater world. Scientists have found many new species here.
Discovering New Species
During a special project called the Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project, scientists made exciting discoveries. They found about 250 new species of crustaceans (like crabs and shrimps). They also found between 1,500 and 2,500 new species of mollusks (like snails and clams). These discoveries were made in the waters around Panglao and Balicasag islands.
The project showed that Panglao has more different kinds of marine life than even Japan or the Mediterranean Sea!
A Proposed World Heritage Site
Because of this amazing biodiversity, the Philippine government suggested Panglao Island as a World Heritage Site in 2006. This would recognize its global importance for nature.
How Panglao Island is Governed
Panglao Island is part of the Bohol province. It is divided into two main areas called municipalities. These municipalities are further split into 22 smaller areas called barangays, which are like neighbourhoods.
| Municipality | Area (km²) |
Population (2010) |
Pop. density (per km²) |
Barangays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dauis | 43.33 | 39,448 | 910 | 12 |
| Panglao | 47.79 | 28,603 | 599 | 10 |
| TOTAL | 91.12 | 68,051 | 747 | 22 |
Related pages
Images for kids
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Panglao Island, Bohol
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Balicasag Marine Sanctuary
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Alona Beach overview
See also
In Spanish: Isla de Panglao para niños
