Guam

Location:

Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Border Countries:

Terrain:

volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in center, mountains in south

Geography:

largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

Capital:

Hagatna (Agana)

About Guam

Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The military installation on the island is one of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific.

Population:

175,877 (July 2008 est.)

Language:

English 38.3%, Chamorro 22.2%, Philippine languages 22.2%, other Pacific island languages 6.8%, Asian languages 7%, other languages 3.5% (2000 census)

Religion:

Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)

Phone Service:

modern system, integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers

Currency:

US dollar (USD)

Climate:

tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season (January to June), rainy season (July to December); little seasonal temperature variation

Natural Hazards:

frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)