Bicol is a peninsula located in southeastern Luzon, in the Philippines. It covers an area of about 4,630 square feet (12,000 square kilometers). The peninsula has a long, deeply indented coastline. A string of volcanoes lies in the east and northeast. They include Isarog, Iriga, Mayon, and Bulusan. Fertile stretches of level land, enriched by volcanic ash, lie between the mountains. These areas include the Bicol Valley and the plain of Daet.
Abacá and coconuts are the principal crops grown in Bicol. Both plants thrive in the rich soil and benefit from the rainfall, which is evenly distributed throughout the year. Abacá is a plant related to the banana. Its leafstalks are the source of Manila hemp, a water-resistant fiber used to make rope and paper. Copra (dried coconut meat) and coconut oil are major exports of the Philippines.
