Leyte Gulf

Leyte Gulf
The gulf in Hinunangan, with the San Pedro and San Pablo Islands in the distance
Leyte Gulf Location within the Philippines
Location	Eastern Visayas
Coordinates	10°50′00″N 125°25′00″E / 10.8333°N 125.4167°E / 10.8333; 125.4167Coordinates: 10°50′00″N 125°25′00″E / 10.8333°N 125.4167°E / 10.8333; 125.4167
Type	gulf
Etymology	Leyte
Part of	Philippine Sea
Settlements	Abuyog Balangiga Basey Dulag Giporlos Guiuan Hinunangan Hinundayan Javier Lawaan MacArthur Marabut Mayorga Mercedes Palo Quinapondan Salcedo Silago Tacloban Tanauan Tolosa

Leyte Gulf is a gulf in the Eastern Visayan region in the Philippines. The bay is part of the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, and is bounded by two islands; Samar in the north and Leyte in the west. On the south of the bay is Mindanao Island, separated from Leyte by the Surigao Strait.Dinagat Island partly encloses the gulf to the southeast, and the small Homonhon Island and Suluan Island, sit astride the eastern entrance to the Gulf. It is approximately 130 km (80 mi) north-south, and 60 km (40 mi) east-west.

Several municipalities are situated on the coast of the gulf: Balangiga, Giporlos, Guiuan, Lawaan, Mercedes, Quinapondan and Salcedo. There are also eleven marine reserves in the gulf region.

Leyte Gulf was also the scene of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which extends to Surigao Strait during the Battle of Surigao Strait, the largest naval battle of World War II and started the end of Japanese occupation in the Philippines.

In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan stirred up a storm surge in Leyte Gulf, resulting to massive loss of lives, agricultural land and property along Leyte's shores.