Guam (Chamorro: Guåhån) is an island in the western Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. An unincorporated territory of the United States of America, Guam gets most of its visitors from East Asia, especially Japan.
The Northern Region of Guam is comprised of large swaths of land controlled by the U.S. Military (primarily Andersen Air Force Base) toward the northernmost end of the island, and the villages of Dedeco and Yigo just south of the military base. Dededo is by far the largest village on Guam, with a population exceeding 50,000. The Northern Region also contains Ritidian Beach, one of the most isolated, beautiful beaches in Guam.
Guam became a U.S. territory in 1898 and placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy. The Guam Organic Act of 1950 conferred U.S. citizenship on Guamanians and established the territory’s government. The Act also transferred Federal jurisdiction over Guam from the U.S. Navy to the Department of the Interior.
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.
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.
Typhoon Karen was the most powerful tropical cyclone to strike the island of Guam, and has been regarded as one of the most destructive events in the island’s history. It was first identified as a tropical disturbance on November 6, 1962, well to the southeast of Truk.
Karen devastated Guam with wind gusts estimated up to 280 km/h (185 mph). Ninety-five percent of homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving at least 45,000 people homeless. Communication and utilities were crippled, forcing officials to set up water distribution centers to prevent disease. Total losses on the island amounted to $250 million. Despite the severity of the damage, only 11 people were killed. In the wake of the storm, a massive relief operation evacuated thousands to California, Hawaii, and Wake Island. Thousands more were sheltered in public buildings, and later tent villages, for many months. More than $60 million in relief funds were sent to Guam over the following years to aid in rehabilitation. Though the storm was devastating, it spurred new building codes and a revitalized economy.
Typhoon Mawar (a Malaysian name that means “rose”) hammered Guam on May 24, 2023. It brought widespread flooding and 140 mile-per-hour winds, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane. No deaths were reported on Guam, which is home to bases for the U.S. Navy and Air Force, but officials said the restoration of basic services to some parts of the island could take several weeks.