Camotes Sea | |
---|---|
![]() An outrigger on the sea near Olango Island | |
Location | Visayas |
Coordinates | 10°30′0″N 124°20′0″E / 10.50000°N 124.33333°ECoordinates: 10°30′0″N 124°20′0″E / 10.50000°N 124.33333°E |
Type | sea |
Basin countries | Philippines |
Settlements |
The Camotes Sea is a small sea within the Philippine archipelago, situated between the Central Visayan and the Eastern Visayan regions. It separates Cebu from Leyte hence is bordered by Cebu to the west, Leyte to the east and north, and Bohol to the south. At its center are the Camotes Islands, but it also contains Mactan Island, Olango Island, Lapinig Island (in Bohol), and various other small islets.
Northwards, the sea is connected to the Visayan Sea. Southwards, it is connected to the Bohol Sea (also called the Mindanao Sea) in two ways: to the SW by the Cebu Strait (and its 3 channels, the Mactan, the Olango, & the Hilutangan), and to the SE by the Canigao Channel.
The Camotes Sea also contains the Danajon Bank, which is a double barrier reef in the Philippines, which is a very rare geological formation, and there are only 6 double barrier reefs in the world. It comprises two sets of large coral reefs that formed offshore on a submarine ridge due to a combination of favorable tidal currents and coral growth in the area.
Weather patterns
The Camotes Sea is subject to quick–changing weather patterns:
As a rule of thumb, the Philippines' Amihan weather pattern (a cool northeast wind) begins sometime in November or December and ends sometime in May or June. There may, however, be wide variations from year to year.[1]
Throughout the rest of the year, the Philippines experiences the west or southwest wind; south west monsoon, which in turn is referred to as the Habagat. The Habagat season is characterized by hot and humid weather, frequent heavy rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the west.
The main indicator of the switch between the Amihan and Habagat seasonal patterns is the switch in wind direction. In most years this transition is abrupt and occurs overnight. In some years there is a period of perhaps a week or two where the wind will switch between Amihan and Habagat patterns several times before settling into the pattern for the new season.
See also
- Geography of the Visayas — the central island group of the Philippines.
- Cebu Strait — the strait between the islands of Cebu and Bohol, which connects the Camotes Sea to the Bohol Sea (west part).
- Canigao Channel — the strait between the islands of Bohol and Leyte, which connects the Camotes Sea to the Bohol Sea (east part).
- Danajon Bank — the only double barrier reef of the Philippines.
- Silot Bay — bay in Liloan, Cebu connected to the sea.
References
- ^ "Philippines : Weather". Lonely Planet (travel guidebook).