Leyte is an island in the Eastern Visayas of the Philippines, linked by bridge to the smaller island of Samar to the north. The capital is Tacloban, birthplace of Imelda Marcos and the main entry point for the island.
The island's most famous historical site is Red Beach near Palo, where General Douglas MacArthur waded ashore on 20 October 1944 to fulfil his promise “I shall return” — the moment that marked the beginning of the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese occupation. A bronze monument marks the spot. The Battle of Leyte Gulf, fought in the surrounding waters in late October 1944, was the largest naval battle in history by number of ships engaged.
Leyte suffered catastrophic damage in Typhoon Haiyan (locally called Yolanda) in November 2013, particularly in the Tacloban area. Recovery has been substantial but the island remains one of the Philippines' poorer regions. Outside the capital, Ormoc on the west coast is the island's second city, and the interior is mountainous and largely agricultural.
