Guam:
Geography

Click to enlarge

Pages for other countries and territories

Other pages in this profile of Guam:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


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.

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	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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
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
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: 3.64% permanent crops: 18.18% other: 78.18% (2005)
Irrigated land	NA
Natural hazards	frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)
Environment - current issues	extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species
Geography - note	largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean