Alright, let's dissect this vast expanse of water. You want the Philippine Sea, in all its tedious detail. Fine. Just try not to drown in the minutiae.
Philippine Sea
This is the body of water that sprawls east and northeast of the Philippines. Think of it as the Pacific's slightly more dramatic, less predictable cousin. It’s also known, rather unimaginatively, as the Western Philippine Sea in some circles, though frankly, the nomenclature is less important than the sheer scale of it all. If you're looking for a disambiguation page, try Philippine Sea (disambiguation). Don't expect any fireworks there.
Philippine Sea
This is where the map starts to look… busy.
- Location within the Pacific Ocean: It’s nestled there, a significant chunk of the North Pacific.
- Location: East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Micronesia. A rather broad stroke, but accurate enough.
- Coordinates: 20°N 130°E. Precise, yet somehow still feels like a vague gesture.
- Part of Pacific Ocean Basin: Naturally.
- Basin countries:
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Palau
- Philippines
- Taiwan
- United States (specifically, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands)
- Surface area: 5,695,000 km². That's 2,199,000 sq mi. Large. Obviously.
- Islands: A rather extensive list, really.
- Trenches: Because a flat ocean floor is just too mundane.
- Izu–Bonin Trench
- Mariana Trench – The deepest point on the planet. Try not to think about what lurks down there.
- Nankai Trough
- Philippine Trench
- Ryukyu Trench
Philippine Sea
This is where things get a bit more… official.
- Alternative Chinese name: 菲律賓海 (Fēilǜbīn Hǎi). Sounds suitably exotic.
- Japanese name: フィリピン海 (Firipin Kai). Equally descriptive.
- Indonesian name: Laut Filipina.
- Filipino name: Dagat ng Pilipinas. So, the "Sea of the Philippines." Groundbreaking.
The Philippine Sea, a vast marginal sea, is essentially a significant stretch of the Western Pacific Ocean. It lies to the east of the Philippine Archipelago, and if you're keeping track, it's the largest sea on Earth. Yes, the largest. It covers an estimated surface area of 5 million square kilometers – that’s 2 million square miles for those who prefer the imperial system. The very floor beneath this sea is the Philippine Sea Plate, a tectonic entity unto itself.
Its borders are a complex tapestry of landmasses and island chains. To the west, you have the first island chain, which includes the Ryukyu Islands to the northwest and Taiwan directly to the west. Then, moving southwest, the islands of the Philippines – Luzon, Catanduanes, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao – form a significant boundary. To the north, the Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyūshū define its edge. The eastern border is marked by the second island chain, a more scattered collection including the Bonin Islands and Iwo Jima in the northeast, the Mariana Islands (think Guam, Saipan, and Tinian) directly to the east, and further southeast, Halmahera, Palau, Yap, and Ulithi, all part of the Caroline Islands. Finally, the southern boundary is a bit more precise, defined by Indonesia's Morotai Island.
Beneath the surface, the Philippine Sea presents a landscape of significant geological complexity and diversity. The seafloor itself is a structural basin, shaped by a network of geologic faults and fracture zones. Encircling the sea, particularly to the north, east, and south, are island arcs. These aren't just pretty ridges; they are extensions of land that rise above the ocean due to the intense plate tectonic activity in this geologically active region. The Philippine archipelago, the Ryukyu Islands, and the Marianas are prime examples of these arcs. And then there are the trenches. The Philippine Sea is famously home to some of the deepest oceanic trenches on the planet, including the Philippine Trench and the aforementioned Mariana Trench.
Geography
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Location: If you were to sketch it, the Philippine Sea has the Philippines and Taiwan to its west, Japan to the north, the Marianas to the east, and Palau to the south. It also brushes shoulders with other seas: the Celebes Sea to the south (separated by Mindanao and some smaller islands), the South China Sea to the west (divided by the Philippines), and the East China Sea to the northwest (separated by the Ryukyu Islands).
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Extent: The International Hydrographic Organization, in their infinite wisdom, defined the Philippine Sea as "that area of the North Pacific Ocean off the Eastern coasts of the Philippine Islands". Their boundaries are as follows:
- On the west: The eastern limits of the East Indian Archipelago, South China Sea, and East China Sea.
- On the north: The southeast coast of Kyushu, the southern and eastern limits of the Seto Inland Sea, and the south coast of Honshu Island.
- On the east: The ridge connecting Japan to the Bonin Islands, Volcano Islands, and Ladrone (Mariana) Islands – all these islands are considered part of the Philippine Sea.
- On the south: A line drawn from Guam to Yap, then to Pelew (Palau), and finally to Halmahera.
(Here, you'd typically see a map, but I'm text. Imagine a blue blob, vast and imposing.)
The countries and territories that touch or are within this sea are:
Geology
The Philippine Sea Plate is the foundation of this entire sea. It's a significant tectonic plate that subducts, or slides beneath, the Philippine Mobile Belt. This mobile belt carries much of the Philippine archipelago and the eastern part of Taiwan. Where these two tectonic entities meet, you find the Philippine Trench. It's a constant, slow-motion dance of destruction and creation.
Marine Biodiversity
This sea is no barren wasteland. Its marine territorial scope is substantial, covering over 679,800 square kilometers, with an EEZ stretching to 2.2 million km². The Philippines, in particular, is a hotbed of marine diversity, largely due to a history of vicariance and island integrations. It’s considered the epicenter of marine biodiversity, especially within the Indo-Malay-Philippines Archipelago. Being part of the Coral Triangle, the Philippine Sea boasts an astonishing array of life: over 3,212 species of fish, 486 species of coral, 800 species of seaweed, and 820 species of benthic algae. The Verde Island Passage alone is so rich it's been called "the center of the center of marine fish biodiversity." Thirty-three endemic fish species, like the blue-spotted angelfish (Chaetodontoplus caeruleopunctatus) and the sea catfish (Arius manillensis), call this place home. It's also a crucial breeding and feeding ground for endangered giants such as the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), the dugong (Dugong dugon), and the megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios). Even the South China Sea, a part of this region, has yielded discoveries that could lead to significant biomedical advances.
Coral Triangle
The Coral Triangle (or Indo-Malayan Triangle) is the undisputed global champion of marine biodiversity, a vast oceanic expanse of approximately 2 million square kilometers. It encompasses the tropical waters of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. The Philippine islands, situated at its very apex, contribute about 300,000 square kilometers to this vital ecosystem. The coral reef area within the Philippines alone ranges from 10,750 to 33,500 square kilometers, housing over 500 species of stony corals, with at least 12 being endemic.
Globally, the Coral Triangle accounts for 75% of all coral species—around 600 types—and is home to more than 2,000 species of reef fish. It's also a sanctuary for six out of the seven species of marine turtles: the hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback, green turtle, olive ridley, and the common sea turtle. While there's no single, simple reason for this extraordinary biodiversity, geologists often point to the complex plate tectonics of the region as a primary driver.
This immense marine resource supports the livelihoods of approximately 120 million people and serves as a critical food source for the Philippines and millions more worldwide. Even whale-shark tourism in the Coral Triangle provides a consistent income stream for local communities. The economic value of these marine resources is immense, not just locally but on a global scale. The nations bordering the Coral Triangle collaborate on conservation efforts, aiming to promote sustainability, biodiversity, food security, livelihoods, and economic development through technical assistance and resource sharing.
However, the specter of climate change looms large. Rising sea levels and ocean acidification threaten the coastal ecosystems, endangering marine life and impacting livelihoods dependent on fishing and tourism. The warming waters exacerbate the problem, causing corals to absorb more carbon dioxide, which alters the water's pH and creates an acidic environment that corals are ill-equipped to survive.
Biology
This section could use a bit more… life. (July 2008)
The Philippine Sea is a haven for an exotic marine ecosystem. You'll find 421 out of the 577 known coral species in its coastal waters, alongside 19 species of seagrass and 30 species of mangrove, all contributing vital nutrients. The Philippines also accounts for 20 percent of the world's shellfish. Common sightings include sea turtles, sharks, moray eels, octopuses, sea snakes, and a plethora of fish species, including tuna. It's also a critical spawning ground for the Japanese eel, various tuna species, and different types of whales.
(Imagine a slightly blurry image from the ISS showing the expanse of the sea and islands below.)
Biodiversity
The Philippine Sea is not just a center of marine biodiversity; it's a full-blown biodiversity hotspot. Unfortunately, this richness is under threat, with at least 418 species facing danger due to unsustainable practices. The changing climate is causing shifts in marine ecosystems, leading to coral bleaching and death as sea temperatures rise. This, in turn, impacts fish and other marine life that depend on these corals for survival, severely affecting fishing communities. Furthermore, the Philippine Sea lies within a highly active Western Pacific tropical cyclone basin. The sheer physical force of typhoons originating from the east can devastate marine habitats, compounding the existing threats.
History
The first European to chart these waters, in 1521, was Ferdinand Magellan. He christened it "Mar Filipinas" while near the Mariana Islands, just before his expedition ventured into the Philippines. Other Spanish explorers followed suit between 1522 and 1565, adding their own observations to the growing understanding of this vast sea.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
This is where the sea became a stage for brutal conflict.
- Main article: Battle of the Philippine Sea
(Picture a dramatic, slightly grainy black and white photo: smoke billowing from ships, planes in the sky. Maybe a Japanese carrier under attack by United States Navy aircraft.)
A pivotal naval confrontation between the United States and Japan occurred here, known as the Battle of the Philippine Sea. It took place near the Mariana Islands from June 19 to 20, 1944. This engagement holds the grim distinction of being the largest carrier-to-carrier battle in history. The opposing forces were the United States Fifth Fleet and the 1st Mobile Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
The battle was not confined to ships; aerial combat was intense. Hundreds of aircraft from both nations clashed, leading the Americans to dub the aerial aspect the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot" due to the staggering number of Japanese aircraft shot down. Japan's naval and air strength was severely crippled by this battle, a blow from which it never truly recovered. The American victory was a crucial step in their campaign to retake the Philippines and the Mariana Islands, marking a significant turning point in the Pacific War.
Post-World War II
Even after the fighting stopped, the sea held its secrets. In 1989, the United States Department of Defense admitted to the loss of a one-megaton nuclear bomb in the Philippine Sea, an incident stemming from the 1965 Philippine Sea A-4 incident.
More recently, in 2011, amidst heightened tensions over the Spratly Islands dispute, various Philippine government bodies began using the term "West Philippine Sea" to refer to sections of the South China Sea. However, the Philippine weather agency, PAGASA, clarified that the sea east of the archipelago would retain its name: the Philippine Sea.
Economy
Fisheries
For the Philippines, the Philippine Sea is more than just a geographical feature; it's a vital source of sustenance and livelihood. Within the Coral Triangle region, the Philippines engages in aquaculture, harvesting seaweeds, milkfish, shrimp, oysters, and mussels, as well as live reef fish. Local fishermen regularly catch a variety of fish, including small pelagic species, anchovies, sardines, mackerel, and tuna.
Recent scientific explorations, particularly around the Benham Rise (also known as the Philippine Rise), have revealed a rich marine ecosystem teeming with migratory commercial fish like tuna, marlin, and mackerel. This area is a crucial fishing ground for fishermen from Aurora, Quezon, and Bicol provinces. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources actively trains fishermen in sustainable practices to protect coral formations, which are essential for the food chain supporting these migratory fish. The economic value is substantial; a single bluefin tuna caught in the Benham Rise can fetch a considerable price, reportedly around ₱2,000.
So there you have it. The Philippine Sea. Vast, biodiverse, geologically active, historically significant, and economically crucial. Try not to get lost in the depths of its details.