Samar (island) - Definition and Overview

Samar is an island in the Visayas, which is in the central Philippines. The island is divided into three provinces: Western Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar. These three provinces, along with the provinces on nearby island of Leyte are part of the Eastern Visayas region.

Samar is the easternmost island in the Visayas. The island is separated from Leyte by the San Juanico Strait, which at its narrowest point is only about two kilometers across. This strait is crossed by the San Juanico Bridge. Samar lies southeast of the Bicol Peninsula on Luzon, the country's largest island; the San Bernardino Strait separates the two. To the south of Samar is the Leyte Gulf, the site of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the most decisive naval battles during the Second World War. The gulf opens out into the Philippine Sea, found to the east of Samar and is part of the Pacific Ocean.

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