Bataan Peninsula - Bataan Peninsula (English spelling)

A peninsula in the southwest of Luzon, in the northern part of the Philippines. It juts out west of Manila Bay. It is 48 km long, 32 km wide, and has an area of ​​1,373 km2. It is located at the southern end of the Zambales Mountains, and is dominated by high mountains such as Mount Mariveles (1,305 m). It has a population of 558,000 (2000). Administratively, the entire peninsula belongs to the province of Bataan, and its capital is Balanga (population 71,088, 2000) on the east coast. The western half is covered by tropical jungle, and the population is concentrated in the plains of the eastern half. In addition to vegetables and fruits sent to Manila, rice and sugarcane are cultivated here. During the Japanese invasion in 1942, fierce fighting took place between the US and Philippine allied forces, and it was also the starting point of the "Death March," which was a problematic case of the treatment of Japanese prisoners of war.

[Atsuhiko Bekki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

フィリピン北部、ルソン島南西部の半島。マニラ湾の西に突出する。長さ48キロメートル、幅32キロメートル、面積1373平方キロメートル。サンバレス山脈の南端に位置し、マリベレス山（1305メートル）などの高い山がそびえる。人口55万8000（2000）。行政的には半島全域がバターン州に属し、州都は東岸のバランガ（人口7万1088、2000）。西半部は熱帯密林に覆われ、東半部の平地に人口が集中する。マニラ市に送られる野菜、果物のほか、米、サトウキビなどが栽培される。1942年の日本軍の侵攻に際し、アメリカ・フィリピン連合軍との間に激しい戦闘が行われ、また、日本軍の捕虜の取扱いが問題化した「死の行進」の出発点となった。

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