Manila Bay is the Philippine bay that contains the city of Manila and the island fortress of Corregidor.
The natural harbor lies on the western side of Luzon and fronts Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan. Its sheltered waters helped make Manila a major commercial and strategic center long before and during Spanish rule.
Corregidor stands near the bay’s entrance, where it and nearby Caballo Island divide the entrance into northern and southern channels. The island became famous for its military defenses, including installations built by the United States to protect the approach to Manila.
Manila Bay is sometimes confused with Subic Bay, another important harbor in the Philippines farther north on Luzon. Manila Bay is the one directly associated with the capital, Port of Manila, and Corregidor. It covers roughly 2,000 square kilometers and has a coastline of about 190 kilometers.