Jolo

Largest island of the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines, situated to the southwest of Basilan Island; area 894 sq km/345 sq mi. The main town is Jolo, capital of Sulu province; population (2001 est) 86,400. The island is mountainous with a considerable amount of arable land; rice, coconuts, fruit, and cassava are grown.

Jolo was the centre of the Muslim separatist rebellion against the Marcos regime in the mid-1970s. It is now part of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, following agreement between the rebels and the government of Fidel Ramos in 1996. Jolo was also the location to which hostages held by Muslim rebels were taken in the summer of 2000.