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Cebu
(sabooґ), island, 1,702 sq mi (4,408 sq km), one of
the Visayan Islands, the Philippines, between Leyte and
Negros. The coastal plains are intensely cultivated and
densely populated. The island was important agriculturally,
but overpopulation and soil depletion have virtually halted
production. There are coal and copper deposits. Fertilizer
is made from local pyrite, and seaweed farming and processing
is a growing industry. Magellan landed on the island in
1521; the remnants of the wooden cross he planted is a major
tourist attraction. The island, with several small adjacent
islands, comprises Cebu province, the capital of which is
the city of Cebu(1990 pop. 610,417), the second (after Manila)
most important harbor and city in the Philippines. With
its excellent port, which handles both interisland and overseas
shipping, it is the trade and manufacturing center of the
Visayan Islands.
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