diff --git a/.kiro/specs/beach-litter-mapping/tasks.md b/.kiro/specs/beach-litter-mapping/tasks.md
index bd956cb..1baf4d6 100644
--- a/.kiro/specs/beach-litter-mapping/tasks.md
+++ b/.kiro/specs/beach-litter-mapping/tasks.md
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
   - Implement filter state management and map updates
   - _Requirements: 2.4, 2.5_
 
-- [ ] 5. Create heat map visualization
+- [-] 5. Create heat map visualization
   - Integrate Leaflet.heat plugin
   - Implement heat map toggle control
   - Configure heat map intensity based on report density
diff --git a/src/components/map/MapFilters.tsx b/src/components/map/MapFilters.tsx
index 8cf72c7..52bd418 100644
--- a/src/components/map/MapFilters.tsx
+++ b/src/components/map/MapFilters.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ interface MapFiltersProps {
   onFiltersChange: (filters: FilterState) => void;
   onToggleClusters: () => void;
   showClusters: boolean;
+  onToggleHeatmap: () => void;
+  showHeatmap: boolean;
 }
 
 export function MapFilters({
@@ -13,6 +15,8 @@ export function MapFilters({
   onFiltersChange,
   onToggleClusters,
   showClusters,
+  onToggleHeatmap,
+  showHeatmap,
 }: MapFiltersProps) {
   const [isExpanded, setIsExpanded] = useState(false);
 
@@ -127,6 +131,28 @@ export function MapFilters({
             </button>
           </div>
 
+          {/* Heat Map Toggle */}
+          <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+            <label htmlFor="heatmap-toggle" className="text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">
+              Heat Map
+            </label>
+            <button
+              id="heatmap-toggle"
+              onClick={onToggleHeatmap}
+              className={`relative inline-flex h-6 w-11 items-center rounded-full transition-colors ${
+                showHeatmap ? 'bg-blue-600' : 'bg-gray-200'
+              }`}
+              role="switch"
+              aria-checked={showHeatmap}
+            >
+              <span
+                className={`inline-block h-4 w-4 transform rounded-full bg-white transition-transform ${
+                  showHeatmap ? 'translate-x-6' : 'translate-x-1'
+                }`}
+              />
+            </button>
+          </div>
+
           {/* Date Range */}
           <div>
             <label className="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 mb-2">
diff --git a/src/components/map/MapView.tsx b/src/components/map/MapView.tsx
index d7d8040..df10b93 100644
--- a/src/components/map/MapView.tsx
+++ b/src/components/map/MapView.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import 'leaflet/dist/leaflet.css';
 import 'leaflet.markercluster/dist/MarkerCluster.css';
 import 'leaflet.markercluster/dist/MarkerCluster.Default.css';
 import 'leaflet.markercluster';
+import 'leaflet.heat';
 import type { Report, CleanupEvent, FilterState } from '@/types';
 
 // Fix for default marker icons in Leaflet with Vite
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ export function MapView({
   onMarkerClick,
   onMapClick,
   showClusters = true,
+  showHeatmap = false,
   center = [53.3498, -6.2603], // Dublin, Ireland default
   zoom = 7,
 }: MapViewProps) {
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ export function MapView({
   const mapInstanceRef = useRef<L.Map | null>(null);
   const markersLayerRef = useRef<L.LayerGroup | null>(null);
   const clusterGroupRef = useRef<L.MarkerClusterGroup | null>(null);
+  const heatLayerRef = useRef<L.HeatLayer | null>(null);
 
   // Initialize map
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -99,6 +102,7 @@ export function MapView({
       mapInstanceRef.current = null;
       markersLayerRef.current = null;
       clusterGroupRef.current = null;
+      heatLayerRef.current = null;
     };
   }, []);
 
@@ -221,6 +225,57 @@ export function MapView({
     markersLayer.addTo(map);
   }, [reports, events, filters, showClusters, onMarkerClick]);
 
+  // Update heat map when reports, filters, or showHeatmap changes
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!mapInstanceRef.current) return;
+
+    const map = mapInstanceRef.current;
+
+    // Remove existing heat layer if it exists
+    if (heatLayerRef.current && map.hasLayer(heatLayerRef.current)) {
+      map.removeLayer(heatLayerRef.current);
+      heatLayerRef.current = null;
+    }
+
+    // Only create heat layer if showHeatmap is true
+    if (showHeatmap) {
+      const filteredReports = getFilteredReports();
+
+      // Convert reports to heat map data points
+      // Format: [latitude, longitude, intensity]
+      const heatData: [number, number, number][] = filteredReports.map((report) => {
+        // Calculate intensity based on quantity level
+        const intensityMap = {
+          minimal: 0.3,
+          moderate: 0.5,
+          significant: 0.7,
+          severe: 1.0,
+        };
+        const intensity = intensityMap[report.quantity] || 0.5;
+
+        return [report.latitude, report.longitude, intensity];
+      });
+
+      // Create heat layer with configuration
+      if (heatData.length > 0) {
+        heatLayerRef.current = L.heatLayer(heatData, {
+          radius: 25, // Radius of each heat point in pixels
+          blur: 15, // Amount of blur
+          maxZoom: 17, // Maximum zoom level for heat layer
+          max: 1.0, // Maximum intensity value
+          gradient: {
+            0.0: '#0000ff', // Blue for low intensity
+            0.3: '#00ffff', // Cyan
+            0.5: '#00ff00', // Green
+            0.7: '#ffff00', // Yellow
+            0.9: '#ff8800', // Orange
+            1.0: '#ff0000', // Red for high intensity
+          },
+        }).addTo(map);
+      }
+    }
+  }, [reports, filters, showHeatmap]);
+
   // Handle geolocation
   const handleGeolocation = () => {
     if (!navigator.geolocation) {
diff --git a/src/pages/MapPage.tsx b/src/pages/MapPage.tsx
index d38a32b..23c4a1e 100644
--- a/src/pages/MapPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/MapPage.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export function MapPage() {
   const [selectedReportId, setSelectedReportId] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [filters, setFilters] = useState<FilterState>({});
   const [showClusters, setShowClusters] = useState(true);
+  const [showHeatmap, setShowHeatmap] = useState(false);
 
   // Sample data for demonstration (will be replaced with API data in later tasks)
   const sampleReports: Report[] = [
@@ -119,6 +120,10 @@ export function MapPage() {
     setShowClusters(!showClusters);
   };
 
+  const handleToggleHeatmap = () => {
+    setShowHeatmap(!showHeatmap);
+  };
+
   return (
     <div className="h-screen flex flex-col">
       <div className="bg-white border-b border-gray-200 px-4 py-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8">
@@ -134,6 +139,7 @@ export function MapPage() {
             reports={sampleReports}
             filters={filters}
             showClusters={showClusters}
+            showHeatmap={showHeatmap}
             onMarkerClick={handleMarkerClick}
             onMapClick={handleMapClick}
           />
@@ -143,6 +149,8 @@ export function MapPage() {
             onFiltersChange={setFilters}
             onToggleClusters={handleToggleClusters}
             showClusters={showClusters}
+            onToggleHeatmap={handleToggleHeatmap}
+            showHeatmap={showHeatmap}
           />
         </div>
       </div>
diff --git a/src/types/leaflet-heat.d.ts b/src/types/leaflet-heat.d.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd82b33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/types/leaflet-heat.d.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+// Type declarations for leaflet.heat plugin
+import * as L from 'leaflet';
+
+declare module 'leaflet' {
+  interface HeatLayerOptions {
+    minOpacity?: number;
+    maxZoom?: number;
+    max?: number;
+    radius?: number;
+    blur?: number;
+    gradient?: { [key: number]: string };
+  }
+
+  interface HeatLayer extends Layer {
+    setLatLngs(latlngs: Array<[number, number, number]>): this;
+    addLatLng(latlng: [number, number, number]): this;
+    setOptions(options: HeatLayerOptions): this;
+  }
+
+  function heatLayer(
+    latlngs: Array<[number, number, number]>,
+    options?: HeatLayerOptions
+  ): HeatLayer;
+}