Manila Bay

Manila Bay is a natural harbour which serves the Port of Manila (on Luzon), in the Philippines. Strategically located around the capital city of the Philippines, Manila Bay facilitated commerce and trade between the Philippines and its neighbouring countries, becoming the gateway for socio-economic development even prior to Spanish occupation. With an area of 1994km2, and a coastline of 190km, Manila Bay is situated in the western part of Luzon and is bounded by Cavite and Metro Manila on the east, Bulacan and Pampanga on the north, and Bataan on the west and northwest. Manila Bay drains approximately 17000km2 of watershed area, with the Pampanga River contributing about 49% of the freshwater influx. With an average depth of 17m, it is estimated to have a total volume of 28.9 billion cubic metres (28.9 cubic km). Entrance to the bay is 19km wide and expands to a width of 48km. However, width of the bay varies from 22km at its mouth and expanding to 60km at its widest point.The islands of Corregidor and Caballo divides the entrance into two channels, about 2mi towards the North and 6.5mi wide on the South side. Mariveles, in the province of Bataan, is an anchorage just inside the northern entrance and Sangley Point is the former location of Cavite Naval Base. On either side of the bay are volcanic peaks topped with tropical foliage: 40 km to the north is the Bataan Peninsula and to the south is the province of Cavite.