Leyte Island

Leyte Island Latest News

A 6.7 magnitude earthquake has hit Leyte Island in the Philippines recently.

About Leyte Island

• It is a large island in the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines. 
• It is the eighth-largest island in the Philippines and the sixth most populated.
• It spans 7056 sq.km. with a coastline of 969 km.
• In the north it nearly joins the island of Samar, separated by the San Juanico Strait, which becomes as narrow as 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) in some places.  
  • The San Juanico Bridge (2.16 kilometers) connects the islands of Leyte and Samar.
• Most of Leyte is covered in thick forests and mountains. However, the Leyte Valley in the northeast is a major farming area.
• The two biggest cities on Leyte are Tacloban, located on the eastern coast, and Ormoc, on the west coast, with the latter hosting geothermal power plants.
• History: 
  • The island was known to 16th-century Spanish explorers as Tandaya. 
  • Its population grew rapidly after 1900, especially in the Leyte and Ormoc valleys. 
  • In World War II, U.S. forces landed on Leyte (October 20, 1944), and, after the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Japanese were expelled. 
• Economy: 
  • Most people on Leyte are farmers, growing crops like rice, corn, coconuts, and bananas. 
  • Fishing is also an important activity.
  • The island has some valuable minerals like manganese, and people also quarry sandstone and limestone.

Source: DEVD

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