Encyclopedia

Sulu Archipelago

Also found in: Dictionary, Wikipedia.

Sulu Archipelago

a chain of over 500 islands in the SW Philippines, separating the Sulu Sea from the Celebes Sea: formerly a sultanate, ceded to the Philippines in 1940. Capital: Jolo. Pop.: 619 668 (2000). Area: 2686 sq. km (1037 sq. miles)
Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Sulu Archipelago

 

a group of islands located between the islands of Borneo and Mindanao; part of the Philippines. Population, 427,000 (1970). The Sulu Archipelago covers an area of 2,688 sq km. It extends 335 km from southwest to northeast and forms two chains and 13 island groups, including about 400 islands and reefs. The largest islands are Jolo and Tawi-Tawi. The larger islands are composed mainly of crystalline rocks; the smaller islands are coralline. The highest elevation is 790 m, on Jolo Island. The climate is humid equatorial; precipitation ranges from 2,000 to 3,200 mm per year. The islands have tropical forests. Rice, corn, and coconuts are the main crops. The population also engages in fishing and pearl diving. The capital is the town of Jolo.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Mentioned in
References in periodicals archive
There are smaller groups that include the Banguingui, Samal and the Bajau of the Sulu Archipelago; the Yakan of Basilan and Zamboanga del Sur, the Illanun of Lanao provinces and Davao and Sangir of Davao, the Molbog of southern Palawan and the Jama Mapuns of Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi Island.
The US State Department warns against all non-essential travel to the Sulu archipelago, where the group is active.
citizens of the risks of travel to the Philippines, in particular to the Sulu Archipelago, the island of Mindanao, and in the southern Sulu Sea area.
The second incident was the invasion of an area of Sabah in East Malaysia by around 100 armed men, who claimed the territory on behalf of the Sulu Sultanate (the Sulu Archipelago now being a part of the Philippines).
But in parts where there is an advisory against all kinds of travel, particularly in the southwest Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, the official said they may have to take in more considerations because of the high threat of violence from secessionist groups and those who may want to "undermine" the peace agreement.
It also called on Americans to defer non-essential travel to the Sulu archipelago, a chain of islands off Mindanao where Al-Qaeda-linked militants are active.
One month ago, hundreds of armed followers of Jamalul Kiram III crossed over from the southern Philippine island province of Tawi-Tawi, part of a chain of islands known as the Sulu archipelago, to assert a historical land claim in neighbouring Malaysia's Sabah State.
The group of 100 armed men has refused to move from the village they have occupied for nearly a week, despite pleas from both the Malaysian and Philippine govern ments to return to the Sulu archipelago on the Philippine side of the sea border.
The majority of the essays, however, concentrate on waters between the southern Philippines and Borneo, centered on the Sulu Archipelago. James Warren adds to his indispensable work on the Sulu Zone with a chapter on the workings of the Sulu slave market between 1800 and 1850.
Department of State has updated its travel warning about the risks of terrorist activity in the Philippines, particularly in the Sulu Archipelago and on the island of Mindanao.
Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.