It is the northernmost part of the Philippines and is also the smallest province, both in terms of population and land area. The island group is located about 162 km north of Luzon and about 190 kilometers south of Taiwan, separated from the Babuyan Islands of Cagayan Province, Luzon, by the Balintang Channel and from Taiwan by the Bashi Channel. The provincial capital is Basco on Batan Island and
the only other inhabited islands are Itbayat and Sabtang. The northernmost island of the province, making it the northernmost island in the Philippines, is Mavudis (Yami) Island. Other islands in the chain are Misanga, Siayan, Ivuhos, and Dequey. The province is officially in the region of Cagayan Valley. The islands are part of the Luzon Volcanic Arc.
