Tawi-Tawi Island

Tawitawi Island (also spelled Tawi Tawi or Tawi-Tawi) is a Philippine island in the Sulu Archipelago between the Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea, about 64 km east of Borneo. It is the main island of Tawi-Tawi Province.

Tawitawi has an area of 580.5 km2, making it the 21st largest island of the Philippines, and the 3rd largest island in the Sulu Archipelago (after Basilan and Jolo). It has a shoreline length of 152.2 km, and a maximum elevation of 549 m.

Tawitawi Island is of volcanic origin and irregular in shape, about 55 km long and between 10 and 23 km wide. It is hilly and heavily wooded, with splashes of white sandy beaches and rock-bound coasts.

The island is subdivided into 4 municipalities (Bongao, Languyan, Panglima Sugala, and Tandubas). The inhabitants are mostly Sama people, speaking Sama–Bajaw languages and of Muslim conviction.