Homonhon

Homonhon
Homonhon
Location within the Philippines
Geography
Coordinates 10°45′20″N 125°44′21″E / 10.75556°N 125.73917°E / 10.75556; 125.73917Coordinates: 10°45′20″N 125°44′21″E / 10.75556°N 125.73917°E / 10.75556; 125.73917
Adjacent bodies of water
Area 105.2 km2 (40.6 sq mi)[1]
Coastline 57.5 km (35.73 mi)[1]
Highest elevation 384 m (1,260 ft)[1]
Administration
Region Eastern Visayas
Province Eastern Samar
Municipality Guiuan

Homonhon Island is an island in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines, on the east side of Leyte Gulf. The 20-kilometre (12 mi) long island is part of the municipality of Guiuan.

Montoconan, an islet just off the northwest corner of Homonhon, is also part of the approximately 7,500 islands comprising the Philippine Archipelago. The island is one of the early Pacific contact sites between the East and the West.

History

During the first circumnavigation of the globe, Ferdinand Magellan's three surviving vessels passed the Marianas, but did not land,[2] even though he was out of food after crossing the Pacific Ocean. Yet he landed on the island of Homonhon on March 16, 1521, where his crew managed to gather some food[3] despite Homonhon being uninhabited at that time. However, he was detected by the boats of Rajah Culambu of Limasawa, who guided him to Cebu, on April 7.[4] Thus Rajah Calambu was an ally of the Datu of Cebu.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Islands of Philippines". Island Directory. United Nations Environment Programme. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  2. ↑ W.D. Brownlee (Master Mariner), 1974. The First Ships Around the World ISBN 0-8225-1204-1, p.44.
  3. ↑ Richard Humble, The Voyage of Magellan, Franklin Watts [1988] ISBN 0-531-10638-1 p.20.
  4. ↑ Laurence Bergreen, Over the Edge of the World : Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe HarperCollins Publishers [2003] ISBN 0-06-621173-5



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