Leyte Gulf

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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, at 10°50′N 125°25′E / 10.833, 125.417Coordinates: 10°50′N 125°25′E / 10.833, 125.417.

The gulf is bounded on the north by the island of Samar, which is separated from Leyte on the west by the narrow San Juanico Strait, and on the south by Mindanao, separated from Leyte by the Surigao Strait. Dinagat Island partly encloses the gulf to the southeast, and the small Homonhon Island (notable as the first landfall of Ferdinand Magellan after completely crossing the Pacific. He had previously discovered Guam and resupplied there. That was his only landfall on the trans-Pacific voyage), sits astride the eastern entrance to the gulf. It is approximately 130 km (80 mi) north-south, and 60 km (40 mi) east-west.

This area was also home to the largest naval battle of the second world war, the Battle of Leyte Gulf.