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Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines and one of the three island groups in the country, with Luzon and Visayas being the other two. It is home and the historic stronghold to almost all of the country's Muslim or Moro population, comprising many ethnic groups such as the Maranaos and the Tausugs. A bitter independence struggle has been waged by various Muslim factions for five centuries against successive occupiers. Spanish, American, Japanese and Filipino government forces failed to quell their desire to separate from the largely Christian nation. Due to decades-long land-grab schemes and the subsequent influx of emigrants to the region, the majority of Mindanao's population is now predominantly Christian, a regional issue that fuels the anger of poor and displaced Mindanaoan Muslims and the separatist movements that had been fighting for hundreds of years.
In recent years, the area has come under scrutiny with the rise of Islamic terrorist organizations tied to the Middle East conflict. Mindanao is a staging ground for such terrorist groups as Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah that undermine the more moderate and nationalistic aspirations of independence seekers like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
As an island in the southern part of the country, Mindanao is the second largest at 94,630 square kilometers, only about 10,000 km² smaller than Luzon. The island is mountainous, and is home to Mount Apo, the highest mountain in the country. To the west of Mindanao island is the Sulu Sea, to the east is the Philippine Sea, and to the south is the Celebes SeaMaitum,_Sarangani The Celebes Sea of the western Pacific Ocean, bordered on the north by the Sulu Archipelago and Sulu Sea and Mindanao Island of the Philippines, on the east by the Sangi Islands chain, on the south by Sulawesi, and on the west by Borneo..
The island group of Mindanao encompasses Mindanao island itself, plus the Sulu ArchipelagoSulu Archipelago is an island chain in the southwest Philippines. It is considered to be part of Moroland by the local independence movement. The native language is Sama. The island chain is one of two partial land bridges to Borneo and is an important mi to the southwest. The island group is divided into six regionsMap of the Philippines showing the island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Map of the Philippines showing all the regions and their provinces. A region rehiyon in Filipino) is a administrative subdivision in the Philippines. As of 2002, there are 1, which are further subdivided into 25 provincesMap of the Philippines showing all the regions and their provinces. See the A province lalawigan or probinsya in Filipino) is the primary local government unit in the Philippines. As of 2002, there are a total of 79 provinces. The provinces are grouped in.
See also Geography of the Philippines.