Navotas, Coastal fishing city in Metro Manila, Philippines
Navotas is a coastal city on the northern edge of Metro Manila that spreads across several neighborhoods along Manila Bay. Roads run parallel to the shore while canals and small harbors cut through the inner urban area.
The settlement was officially established on December 20, 1827, and remained a small municipality that lived from fishing. It later gained city status and became a major hub for marine products.
The name comes from water plants that once grew in the coastal waters and shaped the area. Fishermen bring their boats back early in the morning when traders are already waiting on the quays to inspect the catch and negotiate prices.
Many streets are narrow and run between residential areas and businesses linked to the fish trade. Public transport such as jeepneys and motorcycle taxis connect the neighborhoods with each other and with nearby cities in northern Manila.
The harbor ranks among the three largest fish centers in Asia and processes tons of marine life daily that come from different regions of the Philippines. On some days the market halls become so full that buyers can hardly move between the stalls.
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