Leyte (pronounced /ˈleɪti��/ in English) is an island in the Visayas group of the Philippines.

The island measures about 180 km (110 mi) north-south and about 65 km (40 mi) at its widest point. In the north  it nearly joins Samar, separated by the San Juanico Strait, which becomes as narrow as 2 km (1.2 mi) in some places. The island province of Biliran is also to the north of Leyte and is joined to Leyte island by a bridge 

across the narrow Biliran Strait. To the south Leyte is separated from Mindanao by the Surigao Strait. To the

east, Leyte is somewhat "set back" from the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, Samar to the northeast and

Dinagat to the southeast forming the Leyte Gulf. To the west are Cebu and Bohol.

Leyte is mostly heavily forested and mountainous, but the Leyte Valley in the northeast has much agriculture.

Politically, the island is divided into two provinces: (Northern) Leyte and Southern Leyte. Territorially, Southern

Leyte Province includes the island of Panaon to its south. Biliran Island, to the north of Leyte Island, was

formerly a sub-province of Leyte, and is now a separate province, Biliran Province.

The chief cities of Leyte are Tacloban City, on the eastern shore at the northwest corner of Leyte Gulf, and

 Ormoc City, on the west coast.

Leyte today is notable for the geothermal electric power plants near Ormoc.