Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 47 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 541.3 sq km
land: 541.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: three times the size of Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 125.5 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated
by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy
season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation
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-rising
hills in center, mountains in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism
(especially from Japan)
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 11%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 45% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively
rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
Environment - current issues: extirpation of native bird
population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an
exotic species
Geography - note: largest and southernmost island in the
Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North
Pacific Ocean
Background: 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.
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