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Guam ( / ˈɡwɑːm / ⓘ GWAHM; Chamorro: Guåhan [ˈɡʷɑhɑn]) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. [4] [5] Guam's capital is Hagåtña, and the most populous village is Dededo. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States, reckoned from ...
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Guam, island and unincorporated territory of the United States in the North Pacific Ocean, the largest, most populous, and southernmost of the Mariana Islands. It lies about 5,800 miles (9,300 km) west of San Francisco and 1,600 miles (2,600 km) east of Manila.
Hagåtña (Agana) is the capital. Major settlements are Dededo, in the north-central part of the island, Machanao, in the north, and Apotgan, on the west coast.
The island is sharply divided into a northern limestone plateau with a general elevation of about 500 feet (150 metres) and a higher area of volcanic hills to the south. The plateau is covered with a thick growth of jungle, while the volcanic hills support mainly sword grass. The hills rise to an elevation of more than 1,000 feet (300 metres); their lower slopes to the east (and also, in part, to the west) are covered with younger limestones, generally similar to those of the northern limestone plateau. The island rises to 1,332 feet (406 metres) at Mount Lamlam, in the southwest. To the southeast of Mount Lamlam is another major hill, Mount Bolanos (1,240 feet [378 metres]).
Guam has a pleasant tropical climate tempered by the northeast trade winds and the north equatorial ocean current that flows west across the Pacific. Temperatures range between approximately 70 and 90 °F (20 and 30 °C) and are fairly even throughout the year. Average annual precipitation is about 95 inches (2,400 mm), three-fourths of which falls in storms during the wet season, generally starting in May or June and lasting through November. The evenness of the climate is punctuated by destructive typhoons (tropical cyclones) that occur at irregular intervals.
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Native Guamanians, ethnically called Chamorros, are of basically Malayo-Indonesian descent with a considerable admixture of Spanish, Filipino, Mexican, and other European and Asian ancestries. Chamorros and other Micronesians constitute about half the population. Nearly one-third of the people are Asians, notably Filipinos and Koreans, and there is a small minority of people of European ancestry. About three-fourths of the people are Roman Catholic, and one-eighth are Protestant.
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The Chamorro language is an Austronesian language that has, over time, come to incorporate many Spanish words. The word Chamorro is derived from Chamorri, or Chamoli, meaning “noble.” English and Chamorro are the official languages; although Chamorro is still used in many homes, English is the language of education and commerce. Because of the number of tourists and investors from Japan, Japanese is increasingly also used.
The development of Guam into an important U.S. military base brought about profound changes in the island’s agricultural patterns after World War II. Foodstuffs were imported in increasing amounts at the expense of local cultivation, and Guam now imports most of its food.
The U.S. armed forces are represented at multiple military facilities on Guam. Andersen Air Force Base and its annexes are concentrated at the northern end of the island. U.S. Navy facilities, located around the island, include a naval air station, a naval base with a ship repair yard, communications centres, and a hospital. Work at the military facilities has drawn many islanders away from their former lives of subsistence agriculture and fishing.
Tourism is the most prominent component of the economy, with more than a million visitors arriving per year. There are several luxury hotels along Tumon Bay, which has been highly developed as a tourist area. An international airport links Guam with other Pacific islands, Asia, and Hawaii and the continental United States.
Poultry farming, garment-finishing plants, and oil refining are important earners. Guam is a duty-free port, and this status has attracted a number of small manufacturing companies from countries in Asia and has also prompted some immigration. Major imports—mostly from the United States and Japan—include food products, motor vehicles and parts, and shoes and other leather products. The leading exports are motor vehicles and parts, fish and other food products, scrap metal, and tobacco products. Finland, Japan, and the Federated States of Micronesia are the main export destinations.
Feb 3, 2024 · Guam is a destination like no other, with miles of sandy beaches, coral reefs, waterfalls, and cultural heritage. Explore its history, nature, and culture with first-hand experience and discover its stories, events, and attractions.
Feb 25, 2021 · Guam is an organized unincorporated territory of the United States in Micronesia, located in the Western North Pacific Ocean. It is the southernmost and largest island in the Mariana Island chain, covering an area of 540 sq.km (210 sq mi). The island has a diverse geography, culture, and history, and is home to the capital city of Hagatna.
- THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE CHAMORU. Guam’s indigenous people have been calling the island home for thousands of years and are called CHamoru. It describes the people, language, food and culture of Guam.
- THE REST OF GUAM LOOKS NOTHING LIKE TUMON. Guam’s tourist center, Tumon, is a great place to rest, shop and dine. It also has some of the island’s many gorgeous beaches.
- YOU WILL HAVE SHARK’S COVE TO YOURSELF. If you explore outside of Tumon Bay, you’ll find beaches with almost no people. Some of them require some hiking like Shark’s Cove to get to while others it’s just a drive away.
- RENT A CAR/RIDE OR HOP ON A BUS OR TAXI TO GET AROUND. Guam’s public transportation system is not great, so budget time and money to hire a car, bus or taxi.
Guam is a sunny and scenic destination in the Western Pacific, with a rich history and culture. Learn about its attractions, activities, cuisine, shopping, and more.
Guam is the largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago. While it shares strong linguistic and cultural similarities with the remaining islands of the archipelago, it is politically distinct: Guam is an unincorporated territory of the United States of America, while the remaining islands of the archipelago comprise the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
