Masbate

SORSOGON PROVINCE

Location: It is bounded on the north by the Province of Albay, on the east and northeast by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the San Bernardino Strait and the west and northwest by the Ticao and Burias Passes.The Province of Sorsogon is located at the southernmost tip of the Bicol Peninsula.

Land Area:
The province has an irregular coastline with good harbors in Bulan, Magallanes and along the shore of Sorsogon Bay. It covers an area of 2,119.0 square kilometers.
Mountains sprawl along the northeastern part of the province.
The tallest peak is Mount Bulusan, an active volcano 1560 above the sea level, Lake Bulusan lies on its slopes.
The major rivers are the Cawayan River in Sorsogon town and the Putiao River in Pilar.
The capital town lies on the slender rock of land that joins the province´s two parts separated by Sorsogon Bay. Except for landlocked Irosin, all the towns lie along the coast.

Political Division:
Sorsogon has 14 municipalities, one city and 541 barangays with two congressional districts.

Population:With a population of 650,535 in May 1, 2000, it had a population density of 307.0 persons per square kilometer. Sorsogon was the fastest growing province in the region with an average annual growth rate of 2.04 percent between 1995 and 2000.

Dialect: Bicolano is the predominant dialect but because it is a gateway to the Visayas, their version is a unique mixture of Visayan and Bicol dialects

Climate: The eastern half of the province has no dry seasons but with very pronounced maximum rain period from November to January, while the western half has rainfall more or less evenly distributed throughout the year.
Sorsogon lies at the hearth of the typhoon belt.

Economy:
The fertile soil due to past volcanic eruptions and year round rainfall make Sorsogon a major producer of abaca. It is said the province produces the best hemp in all of Bicol. Other crops widely grown are coconut and rice.
The province also has a significant fishing industry as rich fishing grounds surround it.
Deposits of sulphur, kaolin, limestone and coal are largely untapped. Its rich marine resources yield various products such as fish, crabs, clams, mollusks and seaweeds.

History:In 1570, Fathers Alonzo Jimenez and Juan Orta of the Augustinan ORder led a group sent to explore the island of Luzon. Upon reaching its southern shores, they found a small fishing village at the mouth of Ginangra River in what is now Magallanes town. The village, called Gibalong by its residents, became the first Christian settlement in Luzon. Later, the friars called the whole Bicol region "Tierra de Ibalaong".
When the Spaniards had settled in Gibalong, they set out to further explore inland. Upon reaching a small river emptying into what is now Sorsogon Bay, they asked a native they met for the name of the place. The native, not understanding Spanish and thinking they were asking for directions, answered, "Solsogon" meaning "trace the river by going upstream". Through constant use, Solsogon became Sorsogon.
Sorsogon was established as a province on October 17, 1894.

Distinct:Sorsogon is known for its historic and panoramic places such as the "baluartes" in Sta. Magdalena, Bacon, Matnog, Casiguran and Bulusan; the "Tulong Gapo" and Rizal Beaches in Bacon and Gubat, respectively; the Irosin Church in Irosin; the tranquil Bulusan Lake and the geologically young Bulusan Volcano in Bulusan.

PROVINCES