Davao and & Location

Land

Davao is located in the south-eastern corner of the island of Mindanao, in a region that also comprises the provinces of Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City. A well-endowed land, the province is bordered by swamps, jungles, sandy beaches, and high mountain ranges, most significant of which is Mount Apo, the country's highest peak at 10,311 feet above sea level. The city sits at the mouth of Davao Gulf, in the north-eastern part of Davao Province.

A total land area of 244,000 hectares makes it the world's second most extensive city and the country's fastest growing trade centre for East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA), an economic trade union participated in by Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. Its mild, pleasant climate with evenly distributed rainfall and low incidence of typhoons is ideal for agriculture.

In the south of the city, one can find the biggest tracts of arable lands where huge fruit plantations and ornamental flower gardens are located. Aside from bananas and pomelos (a kind of local grapefruit), other plantation products include abaca, ramie, corn, rice, coffee and coconuts. Its orchid gardens yield a wide variety of rare and endemic species such as the waling-waling (Vanda Sanderiana).


Fishing is also a major industry. Panga, the tuna fish's jaws, and the bariles, its belly, shares top-billing status with the redolence "King of Fruits" the durian. Davao's fine natural harbour, sheltered by Samal Island, makes it an international port where the region's agricultural, marine and manufacturing products are shipped. There are three government ports and 11 private ports servicing both interisland and foreign-bound vessels.

The city is at its coolest from November to February, when temperature averages 25^o Celsius and is at its hottest from March to May, when temperature rises from 28-32^o Celsius. August is the best month to observe local culture in all its splendour as the city celebrates Kadawayan sa Dabaw, a fruit and flower festival held every second week of August. It features street dancing, tribal shows, and an agro-industrial fair.