Leyte Gulf is a 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°N 125.417°E / 10.833; 125.417Coordinates: 10°50′N 125°25′E / 10.833°N 125.417°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 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.
Leyte Gulf was also the scene of the largest naval battle of the second world war, the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Once captured by the Allies, the islands in the Gulf became bases for the B-29's that bombed Japan in 1945.
Famous quotes containing the word gulf:
“I candidly confess that I have ever looked on Cuba as the most interesting addition which could ever be made to our system of States. The control which, with Florida, this island would give us over the Gulf of Mexico, and the countries and isthmus bordering on it, as well as all those whose waters flow into it, would fill up the measure of our political well-being.”
—Thomas Jefferson (17431826)