fˈɑːɹðɚɹ ˈɪnlənd, ðə kˈoʊstəl plˈeɪn ɡˈeɪv wˈeɪ tə hˈɛvili fˈɔːɹɪstᵻd mˈaʊntɪnz ðæt ˈɔfɚd ɡɹˈeɪt dᵻfˈɛnsɪv pətˈɛnʃəl tə dʒˌæpənˈiːz fˈoːɹsᵻz.
Farther inland, the coastal plain gave way to heavily forested mountains that offered great defensive potential to Japanese forces.