Leyte (pronounced "LAY-teh" or "LAY-tee") is an island in the Visayas group of the Philippines. Map of the Philippines showing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao Visayas is one of the three island groupings in the Philippines along with Luzon and Mindanao. ...

The island measures about 180 km (110 mi) north-south and about 65 km (40 mi) at its widest point. In the north it nearly joins Samar, separated by the San Juanico Strait, which becomes as narrow as 2 km (1.2 mi) in some places. The island province of Biliran is also to the north of Leyte and is joined to Leyte island by a bridge across the narrow Biliran Strait. To the south Leyte is separated from Mindanao by the Surigao Strait. To the east, Leyte is somewhat "set back" from the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, Samar to the northeast and Dinagat to the southeast forming the Leyte Gulf. To the west are Cebu and Bohol. Samar is an island in the Visayas, which is in the central Philippines. ... San Juanico Strait is a narrow strait in the Philippines. ... Biliran is one of the smallest provinces in the Philippines and it is located in the Eastern Visayas region. ... Map of the Philippines showing the island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. ... Surigao Strait is a body of water in the Philippines located between the islands of Mindanao and Leyte. ... The Philippine Sea is a part of the western Pacific Ocean bordered by the Philippines and Taiwan to the west, Japan to the north, the Marianas to the east and Palau to the south. ... Dinagat Island is a small island in the Philippines, located on the south side of Leyte Gulf in the province of Surigao del Norte. ... Leyte Gulf is the body of water immediately east of the island of Leyte in the Philippines, adjoining the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean. ... Cebu is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. ... Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. ...

Leyte is mostly heavily forested and mountainous, but the Leyte Valley in the northeast has much agriculture.

Politically, the island is divided into two provinces: Leyte and Southern Leyte. Southern Leyte is in the south and includes the island of Panaon, while the province of Biliran, a separate island which used to be a part of Leyte province, is to the north. Map of the Philippines showing all the regions and their provinces. ... This article is about the province. ... Southern Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. ... Panaon Island is a small island in the Philippines, in the province of Southern Leyte. ... Biliran is one of the smallest provinces in the Philippines and it is located in the Eastern Visayas region. ...

The chief cities of Leyte are Tacloban City, on the eastern shore at the northwest corner of Leyte Gulf, and Ormoc City, on the west coast. Tacloban City is the largest city and regional center of the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. ... Ormoc City is a 1st class city in the province of Leyte, Philippines. ...

Leyte today is notable for the geothermal electric power plants near Ormoc. Thermally active area, New Zealand. ...

However, Leyte is most famous for its role in the reconquest of the Philippines in the World War II. On October 20, 1944, General Douglas MacArthur waded ashore on Leyte, saying "I have returned". However, the Japanese did not give up so easily, as the ensuing Battle of Leyte proved, and convergence of naval forces resulted in the four-day Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history. World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 72 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... General Douglas MacArthur aboard a battleship toward the end of World War II, 1945 Douglas MacArthur (26 January 1880 — 5 April 1964) was an American military leader credited with defeating the Japanese in World War II. He helped rebuild Japan after the war and played a key role in stopping... The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of Leyte in the Philippines by Allied forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur between October 20 and December 31, 1944. ... The Battle of Leyte Gulf was a naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II, fought in the seas around the island of Leyte in the Philippines from 23 October to 26 October 1944. ...

Areas of Interest

The Leyte Provincial Capitol is the seat of the provincial government where historic viewing of a mural depicting the First Mass of Limasawa in the Orient and the landing of Gen. Douglas McArthur can be done. MacArthur landing at Leyte Beach in 1944. ...

The Leyte Landing Memorial in Red Beach, Palo, marks the spot where American liberation forces landed it also has a lagoon where the life-size statues of Gen. McArthur and his fleet stands. Palo is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. ...

Lake Danao is a violin-shaped lake hemmed by cloud-capped mountain ranges. It is a hunter’s paradise where wild animals roam the surrounding forests. It is also said to be the home of a giant eel.

The Sto. Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum boasts the painting of the 14 station of the cross done by Filipino artists and a bas-relief of the legend of the first Filipino man and woman (Malakas and Maganda ).

The San Juanico Bridge is the longest and the most beautifully designed bridge in the Philippines. It features the picturesque San Juanico Strait with a thousand whirlpools, lovely islets and view.