Leyte

Leyte (lā`tē, –tā), island (1990 pop. 1,689,756), 2,785 sq mi (7,213 sq km), one of the Visayan Islands, the Philippines, between Luzon and Mindanao. A fertile agricultural land, it is the nation's leading producer of sweet potatoes and bananas and a major producer of corn and peanuts. It has commercial coconut plantations and extensive forest reserves; lumbering is an important industry. In World War II, Leyte was occupied by the Japanese in early 1942. It was the scene of the first main American landing (Oct. 20, 1944) in the campaign to recover the Philippines. That landing was followed by the battle of Leyte Gulf (Oct. 23–26, 1944), widely considered one of the greatest naval engagements of all time, in which American naval forces destroyed the Japanese fleet.

Bibliography

See T. J. Cutler, The Battle of Leyte Gulf (1994) and E. Thomas, Sea of Thunder (2006).

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Leyte

Island (pop., 2000: 1,952,496) of the Visayan group, eastern Philippines. Occupying an area of 2,785 sq mi (7,214 sq km), it lies southwest of Samar Island, with which it is linked by a 7,093-ft (2,162-m) bridge. Known to 16th-century Spanish explorers as Tandaya, it was under Spanish rule until the late 19th century. Under U.S. control in the early 20th century, its population grew rapidly. During World War II it was occupied by the Japanese, who were ousted by U.S. forces in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. It has two major cities, Ormoc and Tacloban.

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Leyte

an island in the central Philippines, in the Visayan Islands. Chief town: Tacloban. Pop.: 1 362 050 (1990). Area: 7215 sq. km (2786 sq. miles)

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Leyte 

an island in the Philippine archipelago, north of the island of Mindanao. Length (from north to south), 183 km. Area, 7,200 sq km. Mountain terrain predominates, with elevations up to 1,350 m (Mount Lobi). In the west Leyte is composed of sandstones, shales, and coral limestones, and in the east it is composed of alluvial deposits. The island is capped by numerous extinct volcanoes. It has a subequatorial, monsoonal climate, with up to 2,000 mm of precipitation per year. Evergreen and deciduous (monsoon) tropical forests are found on the island. There is cultivation of coconut palm, sugarcane, abaca, and corn. Tacloban is the chief city and port.