Davao Gulf | |
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Davao Gulf near Talikud Island, south of Davao City
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Location | Mindanao Island |
Coordinates | 6°30′00″N 125°58′35″E / 6.5000°N 125.9763°ECoordinates: 6°30′00″N 125°58′35″E / 6.5000°N 125.9763°E |
Type | gulf |
Etymology | Davao |
Settlements |
Davao Gulf is a gulf situated in the southeastern portion of Mindanao in the Philippines. It has an area of 308,000 hectares. Davao Gulf cuts into the island of Mindanao from Philippine Sea. It is surrounded by all five provinces in the Davao Region. The largest island in the gulf is Samal Island. Davao City, on the gulf's west coast, is the largest and busiest port on the gulf. The Bagobo, a tribe known in Davao, are living in the Davao Gulf. With the thrust of Davao City towards Information Technology and IT-Enabled Services (ITES), Davao City and the Davao Gulf area have also earned the moniker Silicon Gulf.
The gulf water is regarded as one of the most diverse cetacean habitats in the nation, being home for at least 10 species of toothed whales and dolphins such as Sperm Whales and Beaked Whales. Also Whale Sharks are seen frequently. Furthermore, several ecological phenomena have been observed in the Davao Gulf such as a previously unknown predator of the Crown-of-Thorns starfish, new species records and species discoveries underlining the uniqueness of the marine resources in the Davao Gulf.