Leyte (redirected from Leyte Island)

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)